[quote=ImagingGeek]
of living in many 3rd world nations. Once independent agrarian people, capable of sustaining and feeding their families, are now among the poorest ad most destitute people on earth. And they are poor because of foreigners wanting to buy their goods - goods they manufacture at slave wages.
Something's missing there. How does somebody offering to buy your things make you poorer? You can always refuse to sell it.
You maybe have an unrealistically romantic view of unindustrialized societies.
No, I've spent a lot of time in them and have seen first hand the problems they face.
As for your first question, poverty isn't defined by money, but rather by your ability to meet your basic need.
Pre-globalization, most 3rd worlders lived on farms, and fed themselves/their families via their own farming. Clothing and shelter was also quite often supplied from their own land. They may not have had money, but they were generally able to meet their basic needs.
Fast forward to today - land has been lost to large-scale plantations. Many people have moved to the city, where they now produce goods. Many, despite working in factories, plantations, etc, don't make enough money to meet their basic needs - food, shelter and clothing.
Bryan
You
