Name: Anonymous 2011-08-06 14:02
"Regarding this map [ https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/File:Country_foreign_exchange_reserves_minus_external_debt.png ], I want to add that my intention in adding this information to Wikipedia is not to accentuate the indebtedness of states in the OECD to private banks, nor to accentuate the relative difference in financial options and increased geopolitical power of China relative to states in the OECD. My intention is to reduce potential volatility and turbulence in the financial system by informing the general public of broad financial dynamics because these dynamics may adversely impact the welfare, security and stability-of-life for unrepresented and underrepresented populations as well as for everyone in society. I believe knowledge is power and broadly dispersed knowledge increases opportunities for peaceful incremental change as opposed to violent, volatile disruptions to the economic and geopolitical environment.
On a related issue, unfortunately, the publishing of this map and the dissemination of this particular knowledge related to debt may be used in the current, 2011, debate in the United States regarding debt reduction. Unfortunately, a singular focus on debt is being used to justify reduced funding for social welfare programs and reduced maintenance of aging infrastructure such as bridges and highways. And yet, this singular focus on debt is not similarly leading to calls for reduced military spending which comprises a relatively larger portion of the United States' discretionary budget than do social welfare programs. Personally, I regret the possible use of this map to undermine small budget items that benefit many people while ignoring large ticket items that benefit mainly the military sector of the economy. More jobs and long term benefits are created through these smaller programs than are created through spending on military items that are either destroyed, become obsolete or are decommissioned after a few decades of non-use.
This map accentuates debt levels and thus a singular, fixated attention on debt reduction at this moment in history may be an unintended consequence of the publication of this map and dissemination of this information — even during a financial crisis when many pragmatic economists are calling for temporary Keynesian type outlays to boost the economy. I agree with most economists that now is a time to avert increased market volatility and a major disruption to the world economic system and I believe Keynesian type temporary outlays are the best option for now. We can focus on the debt when the United States and world economies have stabilized. I am a fiscal conservative who is concerned with the United States' debt, but I am a pragmatist who believes that market volatility and turbulence is extremely detrimental to most people. I also am aware that during economic crises, individuals and institutions with excess wealth benefit the most and the resulting redistribution of wealth increases economic inequality while also increasing the monopolization of many private sector industries. These characteristics — unequal economic opportunity for entrepreneurs and for everyone; economic inequality generally; monopolization of industries; volatility of markets, interest rates, wages, and unemployment — are market characteristics that I believe hinder the progress of all of society. --Peace01234 (talk) 11:40, 20 July 2011 (UTC)"
Contributions by Peace01234:
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/wiki/Special:Contributions/Peace01234