Rating: 
Summary: Amateur Opinions in Print
Review: Grieder likes playing the role of a public intellectual- one who cuts through it all to see what is really going on. One who sees all that escapes supposed experts, particularly economists. What he sees is a destructive machine that is out of control. There is no one at the wheel of global capitalism, it is wreaking havoc, and will undo itself. To prove this point he describes capitalism and 'free market theory' with disparaging adjectives. To make his case he needs do explain why these theories are wrong and provide valid evidence. He does neither.His evidence is at best, anecdotal. At worst it is from questionable or unnamed sources. Discussion of the free market concepts he opposes is almost totally lacking. The author claims that free market economics is unscientific and derides it as 'dogma' and 'a value laden form of prophecy' (p48). But, he tells his audience little about these supposedly false ideas. In fact, he admits (p53) that he does not argue much with this 'dogma'. So he admits to evading a serious discussion of the concepts he slanders. He speaks in terms of absurdly simplistic supply and demand type reasoning, and mentions arbitrage, but he ignores the real issues that pertain to his subject matter. His chapter on wages and work ignores the issue of labor productivity- he barely mentions it (p67+76). The economic arguments that he dismisses hinge on marginal productivity, but it is not clear that knows anything about this supposed dogma. Instead, he focuses on income distribution between capital and labor. He sees international competition in labor markets as benefiting capital- consumers seem not to benefit from this at all. Later in this book (p122), he stumbles into the notion that competition benefits consumers, but fails to realize that he has damaged his own argument. Greider claims that the most successful Asian economies rejected Laissez Faire and free markets (p87). But, the most successful postwar Asian economies (including Japan) have some of the freest markets. They have some governmental intervention, but far less than other nations. This is not Laissez Faire in the strictest sense, but who would deny that Hong Kong has a high degree of Laissez Faire? Successful Asian nations developed after considerable (not complete) privatization and deregulation. He writes that the general claim by economists that free trade benefits people generally and causes only temporary and narrowly focused dislocation (p73) is wrong. His condemnation of trade theory is strong, yet he fails to demonstrate an understanding of important concepts, like the principle of comparative advantage. If he wants to engage in idle conjecture that is fine. But if he is going to claim that the experts are generally wrong, he could at least demonstrate a basic understanding of what the experts actually say. Greider is fond of labor unions. He employs a simplistic high wages=prosperity argument to argue that labor competition benefits capital only and is per see bad for workers (p59). Efforts to restrict competition do raise wages for some workers. It also renders other workers unemployable (productivity matters) Greider provides an example of this principle in action with his Thailand example of job losses following higher minimum wages (p 70). This contradicts his dismissal of economic theory. Greider also writes much about things like social cohesion, shared responsibility, and collective identity. These are catchy phases, but indicate little more than his own dissatisfaction with current trends. He claims that people are helpless in the face of global capitalism, but voluntary consumer spending drives it. There is 'someone' at the wheel of global capitalism- global consumers. Greider also has nice things to say about Veblen and Keynes (p51-2). In Veblen's case, there is some reason to show some admiration. Veblen was an interesting, though mistaken thinker. Keynes is a different matter. Greider tries to substitute discredited Keynesian ideas regarding overproduction for sound economic theory. He explains neither theory, provides no relevant evidence, and instead assumes the superiority of the demand-side economics of Keynes. This is mere conjecture rather than argument. Greider complains that America is the worlds 'buyer of last resort' that absorbs surplus production. We supposedly buy imported VCR's, TV's, cars, beer, and clothing not because we derive consumer satisfaction from these goods. We are desperately trying to prop up global Capitalism by spending beyond our means! This, of course, is doomed to failure because we cannot accumulate debt forever. So he accepts Keynesian theory, which promotes deficit spending, but complains about he practice of deficit spending. Greider admires Keynes' optimism about the supposed possibility of abundance (p440). Once having solved the economic problem, we can 'become social beings on a larger scale, discarding barbarism' and so on. Instead of private property in capital, we should have universal capital ownership- in other words, socialism. Greider dodges all the economic objections concerning socialism, all the incentive and knowledge problems. Instead he whines about how Capitalism induces 'infantile responses'- the pursuit of self interest and evasion of responsibility for collateral consequences of actions. This all reveals that Greider is merely a utopian dreamer. Limited life spans and physical resources put abundance permanently out of reach. Self interest is a part of human nature. As for evading responsibility, that is what socialism does. It socializes costs. Property rights enforcement under Capitalism forces people to bear responsibility for their actions. Some try to avoid this, but that is a violation of Capitalist ethics, not a consequence of them. Perhaps his most obvious error is in blaming industrial capitalism for the rise of Nazism (p38). Everybody knows that the treaty of Versailles and hyperinflation wrecked German economy and led to Hitler's rise to power- everybody but Greider. Grieder derides professional opinion rather than criticizing it. Of course, there is no reason why amateurs cannot criticize professional opinion. But Greider does not do this. He offers conjecture, derision, and utopian fantasies, but no substantive analysis. This book should not be taken seriously.
Rating: 
Summary: There is a clear and present danger to Globalism.
Review: I believe that globalism at its core tries to look good but the very same argument could have been said about Marx 100 years ago.Globalism is based on the ideas that somehow al nations should trade everything with each other: no matter what item or what place or (more importantly) what price.
This book proves that free trade can only work if countries are actually free on all sides.There is no point in trying to pretend that all countries are in the same situation economically.Commodities such as oil, coal, gas, labor, wood, electricity etc are different across the board.I'd like to paraphrase an old World war 2 quote that dealt with the situation that occured in German. When NAFTA took away auto union jobs, I did not care because I wasn't in a union. When GATT took away industrial jobs, I did not care because I didn't work in a factory. When the Fed kept a strong dollar I did not care because I wroked with imports. When FTA took away our soverignty I cared because I am an American. Globalism unilaterally takes power away from countries and people, giving it to corporations and NGO's (non governmental organizations) that have little being on the concerns of people. If you think what occured in the 80's to the UAW can't happen in the tech industry, you're wrong.Why would anyone pay $50,000 a year for a web developer when you can get one in India for a third to almost a tenth of that.The issue of place is irrelavent when we have computers as small as a person's hand and electricity from the sun. The only ways I can logically see in fighting globalism is boycotting major companies, buying from smaller more local ones, unionizing works (more particually in the 3rd world) and of course buying domestic.
Rating:
Summary: the laws
Review: I don't know where to start. Saving the world. The only world we'll ever have. Greider has some suggestions, which will be hard to implement, but as he says we've solved harder problems before. The system is a huge robotic monster tearing its way across the earth, consuming human life, nature, and its own excrement. It is out of control. No one can control it unless we organize ourselves into a more potent political scheme. And this we must do, else face a race to hell. The system has no needs, only wants. While we within it have both. Humans are not disposable machines, useful for what you can force them to do. But how else can the robot see us? Half of the people live on two dollars a day. And there's no reason why that stat can't become most of the people wage enslaved. Why pay a programmer $50,000 here when you can get one in India for a tenth of that? Indians can program just as well as Americans. To be fair, Americans don't deserve that much, while Indians deserve more. Maybe. Who says with intelligence, technology, and an entire world, we can't all be rich. Or at least have none of us starving. There are geniuses starving to death. Not that this isn't more of a tragedy than people eating chickens' eggs, which is the equivalent of directly torturing the birds yourself. Consciousness is consciousness. If a creature has it, this creature should be valued by us, and helped if possible. But how can we change things? That's like changing the laws of nature. But it's not impossible that we can learn how to do that, and give birth to god.
Rating:
Summary: Truly an eye opener
Review: I have learned so much from this book. In particular it has opened my eyes to the harmful effects of free trade, the potential for China to cripple economies throughout the world and how some of our government's power is being transferred to the capital markets. Before reading this book I was totally for free trade. But now I think that a tariff here and there may not be a bad thing. If you are interested in economics, finance, labor relations or free trade issues then you should definitely read this book. Here's my summary of Greider's comments: Free Trade & Wage Arbitrage
- Trade agreements between the US/Europe and various third- world countries is having and will continue to have a drastic impact on our economies. Given the significantly lower wages in 3rd world countries, companies are essentially wage arbitrageurs shifting production to low-wage countries such as China and Mexico. This production transfer is having a profound effect on the ability of US and Europe (particularly the US) to continue acting as the primary buyers of goods world wide. If Americans keep loosing jobs, how can they be expected to maintain their purchasing power? The same goes for Western European workers. If we can no longer be relied on as the world's largest market then the system will break down. The economies of Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, etc. are based on the fact that those countries will produce goods and someone else will buy them. Greider's does an excellent job of discussing the problem, albeit very slowly, and discussing possible solutions. -Capital Markets & Foreign Exchange
The ability of the financial markets to dictate national fiscal policy (via fluctuation interest rates on government bonds and the like) is crippling our government. Greider basically says that the capital markets just have too much clout and that US fiscal policy is too often guided by what the markets say. He says that the government should tax foreign exchange transactions, more companies should be employee owned and he also discusses a unique way to provide access to capital to millions who don't already qualify for loans. -Human Rights Violations
Globalization is creating an almost slave-like class of workers througout the 3rd world. Greider says that in order for this abuse to be eliminated the major markets of the world must demand that these countries abide by minimum global workers' rights standards. Improving worldwide worker income will also create more demand. This way the US doesn't have to be the buyer of last resort. My dislikes are: 1) This book is too long, almost 500 pages. At times Greider just takes a bit too long to get to the point. He likes to draw things out, epecially when detailing his worldwide visits/travels. 2) He goes a bit over-the-top at times with his doomsday scenarios. 3) His solutions are a bit slimplistic and idealistic. 4) His obvious liberal bias gets laid on a bit too thick at times. All in all, this book is good stuff. I think I'll try his other book: "Secrets of the Temple".
Rating:
Summary: Poor logic or economics
Review: I would like to begin by saying that I did not finish this book (read about 3/4). This is a sensationalist book for non-economists who wish to sound like they know economics. The premisse is that the world will be in trouble because productivity is rising too fast (faster than demand) and so prices will plummet, so will earnings, and so will standards of living. This is the old argument that leads to the conclusion that one day robots will do it all and there will be nothing for humans to do. It is an argument that has been refuted, as it is clear that, as soon as we are able to produce more of something than we can consume, we move on to produce other things that are needed. The author assumes there is a limit to things and services that can be produced, which has not been the case and there is no reason to believe that it will be. This is inane economics for the populist mind at its best.
Rating:
Summary: Poor logic or economics
Review: I would like to begin by saying that I did not finish this book (read about 3/4). This is a sensationalist book for non-economists who wish to sound like they know economics. The premisse is that the world will be in trouble because productivity is rising too fast (faster than demand) and so prices will plummet, so will earnings, and so will standards of living. This is the old argument that leads to the conclusion that one day robots will do it all and there will be nothing for humans to do. It is an argument that has been refuted, as it is clear that, as soon as we are able to produce more of something than we can consume, we move on to produce other things that are needed. The author assumes there is a limit to things and services that can be produced, which has not been the case and there is no reason to believe that it will be. This is inane economics for the populist mind at its best.
Rating:
Summary: A Close Look At Globalism
Review: I've been meaning to write about One World, Ready Or Not (1997) by William Greider for some time since I finished reading it a few weeks ago, but it is a difficult book to describe in detail given it's scope and content. I first encountered Greider in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine where he writes about politics and economics and was impressed by his intelligence and rational thinking. Needless to say, he is somewhat liberal and progressive. This book is an excellent look at globalism, especially how economic systems and policies affect the world. Some of these sections are bit difficult to follow, but I found his case studies of different companies and labor movements quite fascinating, especially the section about the airplane industry and Boeing in particular. He explained how Boeing parcels out parts contracts to countries that order airplanes as a sort of kickback for countries doing business with them. The section about the negative impact of free trade zones on the poor people who work in them is very telling. (For a more comprehensive look at the exploitation of third world workers see Naomi Klein's excellent No Logo, which is a good companion text to this). It is something that has troubled me since I saw a large group of peasant girls lining up at the gates of a textile factory in Cambodia, they looked like they were twelve, it was very Dickensian. The fact that they make around $20 a month for shoes that cost over $100, is absurd to me. I'd like to present some of the suggestions he has for reforming the global economic system, which has been spiraling out of control. All of them seem quite reasonable to me. 1. Tax capital instead of labor. 2. Reform the terms of trade to ensue more balanced flows of commerce, compelling export nations to become larger consumers of the global production. 3. Bring the bottom up-raising wages on the low end as rapidly as possible-by requiring trading nations to honor labor rights. 4. Forgive the debtor-that is, initiate a general write-off of bad debts accumulated by poorer nations. 5. Reform the objectives of central banks so they will support a pro- growth regime instead of thwarting it. 6. Refocus national economic agendas on the priority of work and wages rather than trade or multinational competitiveness, as the defining issue for domestic prosperity. As Greider mentions, none of the propositions I have suggested is especially radical or even new in historical terms, since they all have been actively employed at one time or another. Nonetheless, I don't really expect to see any of these reforms adopted given the fact that there's no real economic motivation to do so. The problem as Greider states it, is that there is no governing body with the best interests of workers overseeing economic policies. As a result the gap between the haves and have-nots will continue to extend. All in all, a very thought provoking look at global economics.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretend Marxism
Review: In this book the journalist Mr. Greider endeavors to forcast the future of the world economy. After pages of emotobabble, he makes several recommendations as if they could prevent a global economic implosion. The audience he seeks is certainly leftist. Mr. Greider puts a human face on globalization. In this I am appreciative-- for most people don't think about what is occurring elsewhere in the world, do not perceive how it affects them, and/or fall victim to the faith of market fundamentalism. We must always remember that we are dealing with people, not mere abstractions. In this he does a good job, with his usual dexterity with words. I thought this was going to be an anti-globalization book. Instead it takes on the "capitalists are your friends" tone often spewed from invertebrate liberals. "Oh, those poor billionaires, victims of this out-of-control system" I hear. As governments are becoming activists against their own workers, class warfare is an integral component of the issue, which Greider paints as random market forces. Fitting with the defeatist apathy of that generation, he presents an image of the economy as if it were Goethe's Der Zauberlehrling-- man helplessly falling victim to its own creation. I feel the economy is more vertically integrated than what he presents. Take blue chip companies for example. "In automotive, aerospace, airline, energy, electronic components, electrical, and steel industries the top five firms controls more than 50% of the global market and an even higher percent of the American market." [Derber] This pattern is the same with the superbanks, the media behemoths, IT with Microsoft and Cisco, et cetera.... Plus he could have not coochie-cooed the WTO as if this supranational corporate bureaucracy is harmless. In his economic argument, he fails to present is argument economically! Not that I agree with the drivel from the likes of Krugman or Friedman. Quite the opposite. In anycase, the reader should supplement this with works written by real economists in order to obtain a real grasp of the issues discussed.
Rating:
Summary: Provocative, Insightful, Compassionate Look at the 3rd Wave
Review: No one writes with more verve, insight, and human compassion than long-time Rolling Stone contributor and Editor William Greider. His perspective always centers on the human cost of social phenomena, and is always heartfelt, compassionate, and extremely well focused. In this book he centers in brilliantly on the ways in which the so-called "Third Wave" of global trading and commerce is poised to transform the social, economic, and political landscape of the countries in which it is being introduced. His writing skills are superb, and the ordinarily dry and stuffy stuff of economics come alive in this highly readable and quite entertaining work. In fact, reviewer Brink Lindsey of the Kirkus Review called this book "the best-written book on the global economy" he had ever read. Ditto, Mr. Lindsey, ditto. I also agree with his observations calling the prose energized, clear, and sharp. However, I disagree with the negative criticism many other critics and reviewers have voiced concerning Mr. Greider's conclusions herein, which seem to center on the fact that he is not an apologist, fellow-traveler, or celebrant of the new global forces. Indeed, Mr. Greider's perspective is more sanguine, expressing concern of the many ways in which this fundamentally anti-democratic new commerce tends toward becoming a revolutionary & extraordinarily well-focused force literally power-hosing the new wealth generated by this commerce in the direction of the rich and well placed at the expense of almost everyone else. Who can argue against the observation that we increasingly face an amazing conundrum when in face of the greatest sustained period of prosperity in the last forty years many people at the lower reaches of the socioeconomic spectrum are slipping farther and farther behind, that this prosperity is not acting to level the playing field, but, on the contrary is intensifying the distances and qualitative life styles of the affluent and the poor, or with the observation that consistently the indifferent, selfish and affluent conservative Republicans, ignoring the needs and problems of a majority of others, still demand a substantial tax refund for themselves at the expense of the rest of the populace? The truth speaks for itself in the sense that the governments of the world seem either uninterested or unable to regulate, limit, or meaningfully constrain the powers, policies, or dispositions of the multi-national corporations who now produce, distribute, and control the majority of the world's commercial efforts. These corporations seem to be primarily motivated by motives much less socially responsive or oriented than they are profit-centered. Unless one actually believes in the silly, self-serving and patently ridiculous nonsense about Adam Smith's 'invisible hand' of the market place, believing that somehow an unregulated and unconstrained world economy will automatically and magically manage and self-corrrect itself through the countervailing forces of the marketplace (can I sell you some of my old lottery tickets?), one must take heed of the plethora of examples one can readily observe concerning the changes in our social, economic, and political environment that stem from the effects of this new 'global economy'. In summary, Greider argues that the world is headed for a difficult & chaotic set of social & economic circumstances; disastrous levels of industrial plant overcapacity, unmanageable surplus goods, unemployable labor pools, frantic & often irrational stock speculation, unserviceable debts, and chronic massive unemployment. While all may seem to be wonderful to a casual observer watching along the surface, we are in fact skating bravely over the very thin ice of a totally new and revolutionary set of socioeconomic circumstances, and we should hardly be racing across this fragile and frozen expanse so quickly or so recklessly, trusting so blindly in so many anonymous corporate forces that historically have never bothered to concern themselves with the social, economic or political consequences following in the wake of their profit-oriented activities. Given the increasingly random & uncontrollable flow & use of capital, coming to terms with this emerging bulwark of the 'new world order' will be increasingly problematic. His conclusions are similar to those of neo-Luddite authors like Sales Kirkpatrick and Theodore Roszak, who have come to similar conclusions about the increasingly serious situation emerging concerning a technical, commercial, and economic world spiraling out of control. In my opinion, Greider's book is a heaven-sent call to arms; the first issued by a mainstream social critic whose argument we would all do well to consider.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit lengthy, but great detail.
Review: One World Ready Or Not by William Greider details one very important subject, which effects all of our lives. Greider goes into detail on the world economy, and how, "global capitalism" is destroying the world slowly, and unknown. Greider traves the world to interview hundreds of people, and ask them about his subject. Although Greider seems to streth the information out too much, he goes into great detail so that one will not be misinformed. Each chapter in his book shows a different world of economic problems. From China to South America he tells of each countries economic story. I would highly recomend this book for those interested in the details of global capitalism, but warn readers of its difficulty to understand some of his beliefs. I give this book 4 stars, the only drawback being Greiders ability to get to the point without writing too much.
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