[afandian]

This sounds like an argument I hear about the nuclear deterrent in the UK. "This brings jobs to the area". There are plenty of serious discussions about the existential threat posed / mitigated / whatever by nuclear weapons without mixing in the incidentals like this. Of course it wins votes.

Big companies a century ago made a lot of cash out of exploiting slave labour overseas. And, I'm sure, plenty of people thought they couldn't live without whatever commodity they were getting for cheap on the back of foreign lives.

This hasn't stopped. We need to keep the dialogue open. The axes should be just as sharp for the new colonial powers.

Maybe it seems like there's a never-ending stream of history to be on the wrong side of, but that can't be an impediment to action.

(Apologies if the parent comment was satyrical)