Just read an interesting article on Yahoo. Apparently the number of defections from North Korea has recently reached 20,000. This is particularly striking considering they are essentially escaping from prison. Most of the defectors escape through China, but their destination of choice is South Korea. The article went on to describe the comprehensive system in place in South Korea to accommodate these new arrivals. There is some descrimination against them, but largely they are helped to assimilate into their new home. They are trained in basic computer skills and helped to find jobs. The stories they tell about life in the North are heartbreaking.
There's probably no better example in the world of the effects that different forms of government can have on a people. North Korea is larger and has more resources and fewer people than South Korea. They share a border with China and Russia, two potentially huge trading partners. South Korea is smaller, has more people and fewer resources, suffered more infrastructure destruction during the Korean War, and is surrounded on three sides by water (has to ship everything it imports or exports). Logic would suggest that North Korea should be the economic giant and South Korea the poorer neighbor. But not only is it the other way around, the contrast between the two countries is astonishing! And the main variable is the different forms of government-- a constitutional republic versus a dictatorship. It's very clear which one serves its people best.
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. Thanks for sharing!
