Historically the worldwide wage rates have been equal throughout the
earth. The only reason it changed over the last two centuries was the
industrial revolution. The problem today is the industrial/information
revoultion has come to China and India. The end result will be towfold,
real wages will decrease in the West caused by lower wages in the East.
Second, production will always seek out the lowest cost producer
including R&D. Wal Mart has said this year they will start bypassing the
US middlemen and buy directly from Chinese producers. Good bye front
companies. China is willing to give companies 20 years tax free to build
a factory. Just to stay even the US (DC idiots) must also. As for
protecting shipping lanes. Historically people have always been willing
to take the risk in order to get foreign goods, aka Lloyds of London. As
for the world being safe, since WWII the totals days of peace on earth
has only been one week. Perpetual war for perpetual peace. The 'Third
World" also has something that the West lacks, Belief. In Europe it is
the Muslims who are the future. In China Confucius is leading the way.
Never forget that something will always defeat nothing.