There’s two issues. The one is that prosperity is already very ambiguous, and in the context of nations we usually default to easily measurable things like GDP. This doesn’t define human well-being which is actually not so easy to measure. Look at the US as the richest nation on earth for a stark example. The question was asked in this way and without this clarification for a reason.
But the bigger issue is that it’s just the wrong question to ask. Any definition of prosperity for one massive people can be built upon the cruel subjugation and exploitation of others. And that’s exactly what happened and continues to happen under the “former” global colonial powers, as well as aligned governments (which includes a lot of puppets). Hence US foreign policy. Celebrating this as a victory of capitalism is either clueless or outright malicious.
I think that’s a fairly cynical take of the question that was asked. I’m not sure which peoples are being subjugated and exploited in South Korea. And in the context of North Korea, I’m not sure what your exact point is with regards to oppression, as it seems that issue is much more severe there.
The question remains: what should the question have been then? Population happiness then? Life expectancy? How would you measure which country is doing better, and in which comparison does NK come out on top over SK?
If you don’t feel like stating your opinion on which country is better off and why, then you could just say that outright or say nothing. You really don’t have to go to all of this trouble to pontificate about how it is unreasonable to even consider the matter. 😜
There’s two issues. The one is that prosperity is already very ambiguous, and in the context of nations we usually default to easily measurable things like GDP. This doesn’t define human well-being which is actually not so easy to measure. Look at the US as the richest nation on earth for a stark example. The question was asked in this way and without this clarification for a reason.
But the bigger issue is that it’s just the wrong question to ask. Any definition of prosperity for one massive people can be built upon the cruel subjugation and exploitation of others. And that’s exactly what happened and continues to happen under the “former” global colonial powers, as well as aligned governments (which includes a lot of puppets). Hence US foreign policy. Celebrating this as a victory of capitalism is either clueless or outright malicious.
I think that’s a fairly cynical take of the question that was asked. I’m not sure which peoples are being subjugated and exploited in South Korea. And in the context of North Korea, I’m not sure what your exact point is with regards to oppression, as it seems that issue is much more severe there.
The question remains: what should the question have been then? Population happiness then? Life expectancy? How would you measure which country is doing better, and in which comparison does NK come out on top over SK?
If you don’t feel like stating your opinion on which country is better off and why, then you could just say that outright or say nothing. You really don’t have to go to all of this trouble to pontificate about how it is unreasonable to even consider the matter. 😜
So prosperity for one people is worth any price to you?
I will take from your attempt to throw a “Gotchya!” at me that you acknowledge that you are unwilling to state your own opinion on the matter.