moondoong, nobody can deny the right of each nation to develop. Obviously it is those that are competitive in the global markets that are going to develop faster whilst others fall behind. Whilst governments may subscribe to free trade, it is the citizens who have the final say. If all Australians had decided years ago to purchase only locally produced goods then our local manufacturing industry would still be alive, you cannot put the blame onto anyone else than your fellow citizens. Of course the prices would be sky high, the quality poor, and the designs outdated, but it would be all ours, especially so given that little of it would have made it onto the export market. I have often said that if all Australians were prepared to work as hard annd as long as Australian farmers do, for the returns they get, then Australia would be competitive in all global markets. But they don't, and they won't, will they?
You cannot blame conditions in any other nation for our current situation, it is of our own making.
