פרסומים אחרונים במדור "חברה וכלכלה"

Thanks for the interesting article, Avi. What I feel is missing, and might supply an answer to the question whether Western Capitalism is good or bad for society, is the question of appreciation versus appropriation.

I'm less familiar with the examples you provide, and more familiar with world music (mostly Andean music and, more recently, African music). Naturally, these genres invoke a far more severe problem of misappropriation, because the people who produce the original music are indigenous cultures, often naive and unaware of the cynical use that Western industry does on their backs. When learning of musical styles in indigenous cultures, one must exercise caution not to do the following things:

1. "water down" the musical style, lose its quality and its original form.
2. claiming expertise where there isn't one.
3. hindering local musicians from making a living.

This is far better explained in an interesting article I recently read, "drumming for dollars":
http://www.chidjembe.com/drumdollars.html

Pink isn't well he stayed at the hotel
and they sent us along
As a surrogate band
And we're gonna find out where you fans really stand
Are they any queers in the theatre tonight? Get them up against the wall

i'm not sure, but i have a feeling that all these examples have one thing in common: they come from an age before the democratization of information, namely: the internet.
As globalization comes hand in hand (and in fact can't be accomplished without) information flowing freely around the globe, i think music might actually benefit from that, allowing greater cheaper (indeed, for free) global exposure, unbound by corporate interests.
much as the print revolutionized the world and made us all readers (as written material was cheaper and everywhere), so the internet makes us all publishers...

Shalom Shabazi?

‏¹http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970915.html

1990....October. In alliance with conservative Republicans, Cuban émigrés and the U.S. Congress pass the Mack Amendment, which prohibits all trade with Cuba by subsidiaries of U.S. companies located outside the U.S., and proposes sanctions or cessation of aid to any country that buys sugar or other products from Cuba

1992....February 5. U.S. Congressman Robert Torricelli introduces the Cuban Democracy Act, and says the bill is designed to "wreak havoc on the island."

1996....March 12. President Clinton signs the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act (also known as the Helms-Burton Act) which imposes penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba, permits U.S. citizens to sue foreign investors who make use of American-owned property seized by the Cuban government, and denies entry into the U.S. to such foreign investors.

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/coun...

http://www.heritage.org/about/
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

Given a green light by the Torricelli Act, US terrorists increased attacks. For instance, in October 1992, Comandos L shot up a hotel at Varadero Beach and publicly took credit. At a televised news conference in Florida three months later, the head of Comandos L announced plans for more raids against tourist targets in Cuba, proclaiming, “From this point on, we're at war”.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115600/

Charles Taylor
The Politics of Recognition