Globalization: What Can We Expect?

The term globalization has become very popular in recent times. The world is becoming more and more leveled economically and technologically than ever before. As Thomas Friedman discusses in his book The World Is Flat, these changes have come about as a result of advances of the web, outsourcing, and many other factors. Globalization is good in the sense that it is making the world a tighter knit place, but not everything about it is positive. Things such as losing jobs, immigration, and violations of human rights have come about because of globalization also. It makes us wonder, is globalization, or so called “leveling the playing field”, going to have good results or a dire outcome?

As Americans, the affects of globalization can really hit close to home. Many important, well-paying jobs can now be done by people in different countries who will do the work for much cheaper. Since the Y2K incident offshore outsourcing has become increasingly popular. The internet and email have made it possible for people on separate sides of the world to communicate. Jobs like radiology and accounting are just acouple of examples of what can be done by people in other countries for a decreased cost. This raises the question, in the future will Americans, and occupants of the more developed countries, have to rethink the careers they want to pursue?

Global competition is definitely escalating as time passes. The world is becoming smaller and more leveled with each advancement of technology. It is up to us to prepare for the undeniable changes that globalization will bring. We need to figure out how to best prepare so we are not taken without notice. Is there really a way we can be totally aware of the affects globalization holds in the future, or will we be left to wait and see?

-Greta

The Democracy of Blogging

Jessica Cutler, of Washingtonienne fame, thinks blogs are “the most democratic thing ever,” and she’s right. You don’t have to have a journalism degree to publish your own blog, and you don’t have to buy a newspaper or magazine to read them. You don’t even have to have your own computer and Internet connection. Just waltz in to your local library and read the blogs that interest you. Blogging gives everyone a chance to be an author, no matter who you are or where you live.

You don’t have to be a particularly gifted author, either. The very nature of blogging allows writers to suspend the rules of composition, and to attract attention, bloggers often put good manners aside, hurl insults, make accusations, and stir up controversy. If they happen to be wrong in what they say, it’s okay. It’s tough to get a libel charge leveled against a blogger, and besides, the offended party can simply set up his or her own blog and return the insults.

Is this a model of democracy that Americans should celebrate and export around the world? Or is this merely the yammerings of an unruly mob who have exploited the freedoms that democracy should protect?

J.