There is no "the West", there is no "the BRICS", there is no "the PIIGS"

There is none of the above, at least in the concept that they exist separately as an entity in their own little bubble. They represent a general grouping, yes, but that is it. Economics and politics works largely on a global scale these days. Our finances and economies are intricately intertwined, and it's time that people start accepting that.

If the West goes, certain parts of Africa, India, China, etc. are going to be suffering from a sudden and major lack of demand for their exports. No, they don't have the domestic demand to be able to make up for that, and, yes, they definitely do have a fairly large bit of dependency upon the West for their economic activity.

If the PIIGS go, you're going to find that Europe is right down the tubes. Following the money, you'll also find that it was the PIIGS's "irresponsibility" and such that had a sizable roll in the prosperity in the countries that are now calling them names. I.E. Germany can call names all it wants, but it was a ravenous buying by the PIIGS of its exports that has helped Germany maintain its good position.

There is no West, no BRICS, no PIIGS. Our finances, our credit markets, our economies...everything is intertwined. If one link in the chain goes, we're all screwed, and nobody is going to get out unscathed.

reply to post by AnIntellectualRedneck
Great.


So we're a one-world entity?

Not that I doubt you, but the inherent dangers are now, if one country fails, all countries have to prop up the failed one for risk of their own system.

I sense a cascade effect of sorts, occuring now with the euro and the ills that America is facing.

reply to post by AnIntellectualRedneck


Guess you have a valid point - they're not mutually exclusive of global trends, just geopolitical/economic zones given a tag or acronym for the sake of definition.

reply to post by beezzer


With the way they've set up the economies, we basically are. But what you said is the key point. One country goes, we all go, which makes the intelligent thing to do in reaction to be a breakup, rather than this insanity of drawing closer together that so many politicians seem to want to do.