Bill Millan writes at Blogging the Future:

Some here seem to have a problem with "globalization." I think Tom's major breakthough is that connectivity is happening to all of the countries in the world. It's inevitable. You don't get to choose whither you want it or not. You are going to get it anyway.

Societies have three choices about connectivity. They can try to stop it. They can ignore it. Or they can accept and facilitate it.

Tom's premise, IMO, is that connectivity lead to prosperity. Which leads to freedom. Countries which are in the gap now, but will join the "core" in the future, have all sorts of Governments now. They may have different kinds from us in the future. But one thing they will not have; as they become "new core," is a desire to promote war with other countries. And they will have a lot less people in those countries who want to attack us.

That is all we can ask. Tom is not promoting a "utopia."

The key thing that happens when you understand Tom's POV is that you leave your personal politics at the shoreline when you approach the rest of the world. This is not a "conservative/liberal" approach. It is an attempt to look at the world as it really is, understand what is happening, choose what works-connectivity-and help it happen.

Thanks, Bill