Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dude Love]

If you all think capitalism is bad why do you freely move to a country as capitalist as South Korea? Why not immigrate to Cuba or Venezuela? Thanks for your help as no communist has even been able to tell me.

[sock]

Just because I see the merits of socialism doesn't mean that I'm going to move to Cuba, moron.

In one sense, I live in a free market WORLD. I'm free to go anywhere I would like to find employment--and for a variety of reasons I've decided that the best employment opportunities for me are in South Korea at the moment.

However, if I were a doctor, or a farmer, or an international lawyer, or a Rhodes scholar, or an unwed teen mother, I might favor a country other than South Korea. I really don't base my decision of where to live solely on the system of government and/or economics in a given region, but on a host of other complex factors, just like you.

If you think that capitalism is so great, why don't you move to Somalia? I'm pretty sure they aren't going to be going commie or socialist anytime soon. Plus, you don't have to worry about those evil government social welfare subsidies, such as health care or reliable, affordable public transportation.

PS if you really want a sincere answer to your question, you should ask the people who HAVE immigrated to Cuba or Venezuela, not the people who chose to come to South Korea.

[Dude Love]

Sock, name calling is not necessary. To answer your question, I'm not moving to Somalia because living in accordance with my beliefs (political, religious, economic) doesn't require me to.
Of course you're free to go anywhere you like. That's a freedom democracy grants its people. I just find it hypocritical than people (not necessarily you) would decry big business and then move to South Korea.

[twg]

Sock arguing with a sock.

It's amusing.

[sock]

I wasn't name-calling. I was, as a professional psychologist who has read many of your posts, offering a diagnosis.

Your question suggests a lack of understanding of what the ideas (and realities) behind communism and socialism are all about. I suggest you do some research and then come back when you are ready to have a mature, serious conversation.

[Dude Love]

Why would you call government social welfare subsidies evil? Anyhow, here in capitalist South Korea health care is very inexpensive and puslic transportation is indeed reliable and affordable.
I'm sorry but I'm not aware of anyone who has immigrated to Cuba since the revolution or Venezuela ever. However, I personally know people who have left both countries, and every single Cuban didn't care if Castro died or wanted him to die.

[Pluto]

"If you all..."

That is a pretty loaded statement. You seem to imply that everyone here is a socialist/communist.

I am a part time MBA student that believes in the power of FREE markets in order to:
1. Expand economies
2. Provides the best opprutunites for everyone in a society, including the poorest.
3. Encourages competition which leads to innovation and a better consumer market.
4. et cetera, short on time, so I'll post more if people want to debate how much markets should be tinkered with, or whether they should be left alone.

[Dude Love]

Thanks, Pluto. I wasn't implying that everyone here is a socialist/communist, although I've met many. Thanks for offering your views without judging people or name-calling.

[sock]

[Big_Bird]

[Dude Love]

But you don't charge more than minimum wage, because you're not some capitalistic pig...I absolutely never said any system of economic was better than any other, I was just asking why people don't always live under the forms of government they claim to think are best.
A trained psychologist who's now in Korea teaching English? You must have been very successful in your home country.

[Son Deureo!]

I do seriously consider moving to PRC or Vietnam sometimes. Is that socialistic enough for you? Both were great places to visit and have plenty of teaching jobs available right now....

[Dude Love]

Son, thanks for a kind, reasonable reply. I've also been to the PRC and Vietnam. Both countries are communist in name only. They are both very much market economies. Curious how life in both countries has gotten better in recent years.

[Son Deureo!]

You may be right about PRC and Vietnam being communist in name only, but Venezuela is hardly 100% communist at this point either. I see no reason not to visit, and there is even an off chance I'll go there this summer as I'll be relatively close to Venezuela at that time.

Since I'm a U.S. citizen, I don't think I should have to explain why I haven't burned my bridges with my home country in order to live in Cuba. I can't even visit as a tourist without risking problems with my home government, as much as I'd love to.

Why do I live in ROK instead of Venezuela? Well, ROK was giving away free plane tickets and apartments when I came. If there were teaching jobs with similar conditions in Venezuela, or any other Spanish-speaking, country I'd have gone there in a heartbeat.

By the way, as far as I know, Venezuela does not boast a communist economy. They have nationalized their oil industry, but then again so has Mexico. That alone does not a communist country make. Most economists categorize it as a mixed economy.

[Dude Love]

Thanks for the reply, Son. I never said Venezuela was communist. I'm under the impression, however, that it's becoming increasingly socialized.
Why do you think it is that no socialist/communist countries are providing free plane tickets and accomodations? Anyhow, I'm still waiting for socialists/communists to tell me why they don't MOVE to countries with the forms of government they claim to support. To be perfectly honest, I think there's a certain snob value in some circles to claim to be a socialist and to pretend not to care about money. Be that as it may, I think it's great that some of us can disagree about politics and still have a friendly, mature argument, unlike others in this thread.