If a person leaves rural poverty and is compelled to live in the technological dependency of the city, it is pragmatic to view him as a new customer for our products. We can and are expanding our markets southward, by way of the NAFTA and the WTO treaties. Those who do not see this a a positive development are shortsighted, since borders do not hold back either products, services or for that matter, money.

Clearly, the future lies in not reaching for the moon technologically, but rather in seeing that everybody has access to a dignified, satisfying life. We have the resources to feed the entire World, if we let our farmers be productive to their maximum potential and let Life and Human concerns override power as a reason for economic activity.

If we were to institute a minimum World Wage below which we would not purchase products imported to this country, we would immediately force higher wages in the "maquiladoras" overseas, and by the wage ripple effect, the wages of all workers in the poorest nations of the World. I believe that Americans would gladly pay a little more for their clothing and other imported items if they knew they were thereby helping to eradicate World poverty.

We can and should undertake to raise the standard of living in the developing world, because it is pragmatic for us and it is Right. Let us make this small first step as a start on that path to World Justice.

There is no "next thing" to bring us out of this stagnation. We must make the World enjoy the fruits of our inventiveness, and thereby achieve World Peace and Prosperity. There is an enormous amount of work to be done. Let's roll up our sleeves and just do it. But where is the money coming from?

Atlanta,
September 26, 1994