A lot of us here were liberals (both "left wing" and right wing) once.

Imperialist appropriation in the world economy: Drain from the global South through unequal exchange, 1990–2015 (60 min read)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095937802200005X

Rich countries rely on a large net appropriation of resources from the global South. Drain from the South is worth over $10 trillion per year, in Northern prices. The South’s losses outstrip their aid receipts by a factor of 30. Unequal exchange is a major driver of underdevelopment and global inequality. The impact of excess resource consumption in the North is offshored to the South.

Understanding Unequal Exchange: How does trade imperialism affect the global working class? (20 min read)

https://anticonquista.com/2021/05/19/understanding-unequal-exchange-how-does-trade-imperialism-affect-the-global-working-class/

"You cannot resist for very long a truth you discover for yourself." - NC