Re: Ba'o VN: Cha^'t xa'm cha?y ve^` dda^u?

[Phan Thanh Lam <phtl@freenet.tlh.fl.us>]

Hi Lam,

I agree with your point of view but I wonder if others see the same 
relationships between foreign investments and the economy as we do.  Of 
course 
one would hope that there is balance and control o foreign investment but 
it is unjust to 
criticize Vietnamese professionals working for foreign companies.  Free 
market will determine where people work and in this 
global economy, it is dificult to get ahead by being isolated or relying 
on protectionism.  

Several years ago, in the U.S., when Pat Buchanan ran 
for president under the protectionism and nationalism slogans, I saw on 
TV pictures of some people burning Komatsu tractors and calling on people to 
buy John 
Deere tractors.  The irony was that the Komatsu ones were made in America 
and John Deere's were made in Japan.  Then people found out that Ford 
automobiles and tractors were made in Japan and Honda were manufactured in 
the U.S... and Pat Buchanan drove a Mercedes...

Foreign companies are in VN because they want to make profits (or feel 
that they can).  They are not there to "help the Vietnamese people".  But 
we can make their presence and investments beneficial for the Vietnamese 
people by having good regualtions to protect them as well as the 
consumers, and encouraging our professionals to learn from these 
companies while working for them as much 
as they could so that they can run Vietnamese companies later and compete 
with foreign firms.

Sincerly,

Phan Thanh Lam

On Fri, 2 May 1997, Hong Lam Vu wrote:

> ..... Tha^'t thoa't ddi dda^u? La`m cho khu vu+.c 
> co^ng ty nuo+'c ngoa`i thi` cu~ng va^~n o+? tre^n nuo+'c mi`nh chu+' ddi
> dda^u. Khu vu+.c CTNN ta.o co^ng a(n vie^.c la`m cho da^n mi`nh, la`m
> ta(ng truo+?ng sa?n xua^'t nuo+'c mi`nh ma` ta.i sao la.i bi. to? y' ha('t
> hu?i nhi? Dda'ng le~ pha?i mu+`ng cho cha^'t xa'm dduo+.c tra? luo+ng