My geography is so shamefully bad that I didn’t even try to identify any countries on the map, but your piece did cause me to look up the answers and to think about the sad reality that we’re no longer top trading partners with so many countries in South America. Your point about the importance of making local friends makes sense for both individuals and countries. I’m not sure what the upside is to dissing your neighbors and then attempting to bully them into giving you what you want. As you point out, a different strategy worked to our benefit following the Second World War. Thanks for another provocative read Mark.
I did get your gist, Mark, and admire your ability to be brief when talking about such fraught topics. I didn’t notice the sprinkling of A-holes, so perhaps they were subtle. I’ve been swearing a lot lately, which is very unlike me and a sign of how stressed I feel about our current politics. I’m trying to keep my head on straight.
You are always kind with your time and your comments Ruth. Thank you. I shared with my creative writing group at a meeting today how UNCOMFORTABLE I felt to sprinkle in A-HOLE through the post. I thought it necessary and appropriate but nevertheless also wondered could I have avoided that and still got my point across. I also am open to an alternate explanation of what I see. Always great to learn and see a different perspective. I'm glad you seem to have at least received the gist of what I was trying to say. I was happiest I kept it to 7 minutes.
This, alas, was a combination of (1) forgetting about the poll (2) realizing it was getting too long. I am hoping one of the countries you knew the location of was in deference to the ladies who prep your mangoes. I bet when you have 38 people in your apartment, they all leave as a friend.
I flunked the map test. I'm in the waiting room at my doctor's office right now, but I promise to look at a map of South America when I get home. I know my critters, but I have no knowledge of geography!
Very interesting post - I'm wondering how the heck the US became the asshole... And how do we get back to being the good guy?
Well it was meant to be fun not a test. Mine was only a hypothesis. When I read about what has happened in a pretty short period of time as far as our relationship with countries in the Western Hemisphere I was just surprised I guess. As for how we change stuff, I figure, like in relationships, it starts with picking up the phone and get to know each other again.
Totally different from what I expected of MEH, Mark. I loved this post.
I didn't know how our trade relationship with South America has changed, very interesting, indeed.
The reference to Getting To Yes reminded me of an excellent book that you might enjoy - Getting To Maybe. It was co-written by a professor of mine at the U of Minnesota in program evaluation, Michael Quinn Patton (a 2007 book). Fittingly, it is about changing the world. Not a textbook, it is very readable and wise.
P.S. I got the SA countries right, but not the territories.
Loved your WHOLE comment Mary -- thank you. The maps, as you know, were inspired by 'you know who '. I am not surprised by a history book lover would know their way around a map :) It would not have fit the post but the same unnerving trend is true in Central America and the Caribbean.
I will check out Getting to Maybe. It sounds like I would enjoy it. Getting to Yes is a 1981 book. Still relevant and updated a few times. It is far beyond business -- basically navigating life with some sensible guidelines on how to find common ground without being adversarial.
Great to hear from you Irene and thanks for commenting. I have a son who works in a science role at a place that processes crude oil from Alberta. They are a neighbor to Minnesota. We know them. They have something we want and need. They PREFERENTIALLY wish to sell to us rather than shipping it 1000s of miles away. They sell their product typically for more than $10 less per barrel than the oil we extract in the US. This is PERHAPS the best example of comparative advantage I can think of. I would imagine even the disinterested in ECON 101 could understand this. I struggle to understand WHY you would focus on BULLYING a friend who sells something you want at a fair price and they are in the neighborhood. I wish someone could explain it to me without yelling or resorting to faith in some amorphous strategy. It just seems like madness to me. A simple explanation would be a blessing right now to know that the parties remain grounded in reality.
My geography is so shamefully bad that I didn’t even try to identify any countries on the map, but your piece did cause me to look up the answers and to think about the sad reality that we’re no longer top trading partners with so many countries in South America. Your point about the importance of making local friends makes sense for both individuals and countries. I’m not sure what the upside is to dissing your neighbors and then attempting to bully them into giving you what you want. As you point out, a different strategy worked to our benefit following the Second World War. Thanks for another provocative read Mark.
I did get your gist, Mark, and admire your ability to be brief when talking about such fraught topics. I didn’t notice the sprinkling of A-holes, so perhaps they were subtle. I’ve been swearing a lot lately, which is very unlike me and a sign of how stressed I feel about our current politics. I’m trying to keep my head on straight.
I am glad Ruth. Perhaps this means that both of us are swearing a bit too much :(
You are always kind with your time and your comments Ruth. Thank you. I shared with my creative writing group at a meeting today how UNCOMFORTABLE I felt to sprinkle in A-HOLE through the post. I thought it necessary and appropriate but nevertheless also wondered could I have avoided that and still got my point across. I also am open to an alternate explanation of what I see. Always great to learn and see a different perspective. I'm glad you seem to have at least received the gist of what I was trying to say. I was happiest I kept it to 7 minutes.
What no quiz?
Maybe the map game was the quiz. I could name/locate three.
This, alas, was a combination of (1) forgetting about the poll (2) realizing it was getting too long. I am hoping one of the countries you knew the location of was in deference to the ladies who prep your mangoes. I bet when you have 38 people in your apartment, they all leave as a friend.
It was Brazil, Argentina and Chilie. I can't even spell the last one, obviously. Not proud.
You should think long and hard about this young lady the next time you buy a Ziploc® bag full of mango slices...
I flunked the map test. I'm in the waiting room at my doctor's office right now, but I promise to look at a map of South America when I get home. I know my critters, but I have no knowledge of geography!
Very interesting post - I'm wondering how the heck the US became the asshole... And how do we get back to being the good guy?
Well it was meant to be fun not a test. Mine was only a hypothesis. When I read about what has happened in a pretty short period of time as far as our relationship with countries in the Western Hemisphere I was just surprised I guess. As for how we change stuff, I figure, like in relationships, it starts with picking up the phone and get to know each other again.
Totally different from what I expected of MEH, Mark. I loved this post.
I didn't know how our trade relationship with South America has changed, very interesting, indeed.
The reference to Getting To Yes reminded me of an excellent book that you might enjoy - Getting To Maybe. It was co-written by a professor of mine at the U of Minnesota in program evaluation, Michael Quinn Patton (a 2007 book). Fittingly, it is about changing the world. Not a textbook, it is very readable and wise.
P.S. I got the SA countries right, but not the territories.
Loved your WHOLE comment Mary -- thank you. The maps, as you know, were inspired by 'you know who '. I am not surprised by a history book lover would know their way around a map :) It would not have fit the post but the same unnerving trend is true in Central America and the Caribbean.
I will check out Getting to Maybe. It sounds like I would enjoy it. Getting to Yes is a 1981 book. Still relevant and updated a few times. It is far beyond business -- basically navigating life with some sensible guidelines on how to find common ground without being adversarial.
A fascinating and informative post. Thank you.
Great to hear from you Irene and thanks for commenting. I have a son who works in a science role at a place that processes crude oil from Alberta. They are a neighbor to Minnesota. We know them. They have something we want and need. They PREFERENTIALLY wish to sell to us rather than shipping it 1000s of miles away. They sell their product typically for more than $10 less per barrel than the oil we extract in the US. This is PERHAPS the best example of comparative advantage I can think of. I would imagine even the disinterested in ECON 101 could understand this. I struggle to understand WHY you would focus on BULLYING a friend who sells something you want at a fair price and they are in the neighborhood. I wish someone could explain it to me without yelling or resorting to faith in some amorphous strategy. It just seems like madness to me. A simple explanation would be a blessing right now to know that the parties remain grounded in reality.