Pittsburgh G-20 meeting is about action, not symbolism
The event in September aims to make more progress on an action plan to guard against another global financial crisis.
Pittsburgh G-20 meeting is about action, not symbolism
Mike Armstrong, Inquirer Columnist
The most memorable images generated by any assemblage of world leaders gathered to discuss economic issues are the street scenes outside the meeting.
Protesters march, often in creative costumes. Their signs tell the world to just say “no” to capitalism, greed and globalization.
It will be the same next month when the leaders of Group of 20 nations put Pittsburgh on the world stage. Organizers of the event would like the location to stand as a symbol of the rise, fall and rise of capitalism in Western Pennsylvania.
But this will be no sight-seeing trip. The 10-year-old G-20 was born out of financial crises in the late 1990s. As the current financial mess spread worldwide last fall, the first meeting of the leaders of the G-20 nations took place in Washington Nov. 15.
Up till then, the annual G-20 summits were all financial, economic wonkiness organized and attended by the finance ministers and central bankers of 19 nations and the European Union. Nothing like a global recession to get their bosses’ attention, right?
And those leaders wanted action, not more studies. So at the close of the Washington meeting, the leaders of the G-20 (who are called the L-20) issued an action plan with 44 things that need to change to make sure a global crisis does not happen again.
Those include increasing the financial resources of the International Monetary Fund and enhancing accounting standards for the “valuation of complex, illiquid products.”
If you read the action list, you’ll realize why the protesters of globalization have a more memorable message. The L-20’s issues are about as exciting as a sewage treatment authority agenda.
Still, these 20 “systemically significant” nations account for two-thirds of the world’s population, and that’s why protesters bother. It’s the one place where the old guard economies of Europe and the United States deal as equals with the rapidly rising BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations.
That’s why thousands of protesters converged on London for the second L-20 summit in April. And they’re getting ready for Round Three in Pittsburgh. We already know the street theater will make better YouTube video. More important will be what actions, if any, the L-20 agree to pursue this time.
Globalization is restructuring our economy in ways unintended. The health care reform will continue to its successful conclusion where the government plays a bigger role, just like everywhere else around the world. China becomes wealthier not by financial manipulations, but by building an industrial capacity and public infrastructure to support it. Health care is assumed by all there, letting business unworried by sickness and its costs create wealth. The Mexican constitution guarantees health care for all, and especially focuses on women and children. Canada has their system as well. Only we burden business with the added cost feature of supporting the entire health care system for those of working age.
Mike Armstrong blogs about Philadelphia corporations and business-related topics. Contact him at 215-854-2980.
Reach Mike at marmstrong@phillynews.com.
