The economics of prostitution
Sex tourism is a direct result us being better off than them. A desperately poor family sends their daughter away to ‘work in the city’, a rich old American man flies across the world with a suitcase full of t-shirts and condoms. It’s the old story of rich and poor. We’re rich, they’re poor, so we get to buy their daughters. And as long as we’re buying, someone is sure to keep selling.
I use the example of sex tourism because it’s disturbing, yes even revolting, but it's not extreme. It isn't. It is practiced by millions all over the world. Most countries that I’ve been to have a prominent sex tourism industry – India, Thailand, Nepal, Ukraine. And Uganda’s sex industry, though relatively hushed, is still thriving. These countries are poorer than us rich countries, so we get to buy their daughters.
It happens in America too, poor women sell themselves to rich men. And we import. We buy the daughters of poor countries and have them shipped, over-nighted. Why not? We can afford it.
As I prepare to come back to America I'm thinking a lot of about economic disparity and I realize that it's more than that. It's economic injustice. Our wealth coupled with their poverty breeds injustice - like a sweaty sock breeds bacteria.
These thoughts crystallized while reading up on our presidential candidates. Each one talks about how to keep America at the top of the economic ladder, how to assure ourselves that our daughters won't be shipped away. And I can hardly blame them.
The problem is that as the reigning economic leaders of the world our protectionist policies don't just protect us. They inflict serious damage on the poor. Our economic policies are meant to benefit Americans, and only Americans, even if they are to the detriment of other countries and people, and even if the economic activities that they describe take place in those countries. Our power is so great that we can economically subjugate people in their own country. We can walk into their house and buy their daughters, as it were.
More about economic injustice to come.
I use the example of sex tourism because it’s disturbing, yes even revolting, but it's not extreme. It isn't. It is practiced by millions all over the world. Most countries that I’ve been to have a prominent sex tourism industry – India, Thailand, Nepal, Ukraine. And Uganda’s sex industry, though relatively hushed, is still thriving. These countries are poorer than us rich countries, so we get to buy their daughters.
It happens in America too, poor women sell themselves to rich men. And we import. We buy the daughters of poor countries and have them shipped, over-nighted. Why not? We can afford it.
As I prepare to come back to America I'm thinking a lot of about economic disparity and I realize that it's more than that. It's economic injustice. Our wealth coupled with their poverty breeds injustice - like a sweaty sock breeds bacteria.
These thoughts crystallized while reading up on our presidential candidates. Each one talks about how to keep America at the top of the economic ladder, how to assure ourselves that our daughters won't be shipped away. And I can hardly blame them.
The problem is that as the reigning economic leaders of the world our protectionist policies don't just protect us. They inflict serious damage on the poor. Our economic policies are meant to benefit Americans, and only Americans, even if they are to the detriment of other countries and people, and even if the economic activities that they describe take place in those countries. Our power is so great that we can economically subjugate people in their own country. We can walk into their house and buy their daughters, as it were.
More about economic injustice to come.
Labels: Economic Injustice, re:tithe
posted by James at 08:14
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