Re:Quality of life (Score 1)

I agree with your synopsis. In an integrated market, most things will settle to the lowest common denominator (I realize this is vastly oversimplified, but I'm mainly refering to standards of living and general income levels). The rub comes of the fact that the countries (and I am not just saying the USA) that bore the cost of research for raising the bar on what passes for a 'decent' standard of living, are now being expected to quietly let their jobs flee, and their income levels drop to a 'leveled' point as the 3rd world nations (what a con that word is) slowly raise their standards and levels of income up to meet it. This is all the function of a free market:creating a level competitive playing field.
What a crock!
The only ones to benefit in the end are the big corporations that act the part of the 'free market' and go profiteering around the world, exploiting nation after nation just to fill their coffers. I feel sorry for everyone on both sides of the ocean. It's not right.