21–30 of 123 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Is this some kind of national pride thing where I should be rooting for my home country to win? What happens if Xi Jinping decides that he wants something that you do not want? He will not let you vote if one day his foreign policy goals involve nice Americans.
Just like the Chinese got no chance to vote on America's unilateral sanctions against Iran, but are still subjected to them.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
They're not the same. For example, it's the U.S. that has the world's largest prison population and the world's most expensive healthcare, etc. China has different issues.
You're right that they have different issues, different problems, different strengths. But what irks me is the "what-aboutism." If Texas executes handicap people, that's awful. But it makes China harvesting organs OK? The U.S. has a horrible track record in Latin America and (frankly) around the world, so China gets some "slack" in how many human rights activists or lawyers it jails each year? I understand I'm respon…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Is this some kind of national pride thing where I should be rooting for my home country to win? What happens if Xi Jinping decides that he wants something that you do not want? He will not let you vote if one day his foreign policy goals involve nice Americans.
Just like the Chinese got no chance to vote on America's unilateral sanctions against Iran, but are still subjected to them.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Is this some kind of national pride thing where I should be rooting for my home country to win? What happens if Xi Jinping decides that he wants something that you do not want? He will not let you vote if one day his foreign policy goals involve nice Americans.
Just like the Chinese got no chance to vote on America's unilateral sanctions against Iran, but are still subjected to them.
Are you somehow not aware of this? They were a founding member of the UN, and have been on the Security Council since it's beginning. They have abstained or voted yes on every UN action that involves the SC (international peace and security).
Meng violated additional US laws... which she is only subject to because she was operating in the US. Just as a US citizen is subject to Chinese laws when operating in China. Surely you're not suggesting that foreigners should be allowed to go into another country and violate their laws without consequence.
Count me skeptical about of some of these 'self-made' billionaires. Pinduoduo for example, as with many Chinese companies, has been accused of falsifying revenues to pump stock prices. Yes, this stuff happens in the US as well (we all remember Enron and Theranos), but to what extent, are the statements of these companies transparent and well-audited, and regulated by government differs by region. And Bitmain? Is it t…
Count me skeptical about of some of these 'self-made' billionaires. Pinduoduo for example, as with many Chinese companies, has been accused of falsifying revenues to pump stock prices. Yes, this stuff happens in the US as well (we all remember Enron and Theranos), but to what extent, are the statements of these companies transparent and well-audited, and regulated by government differs by region. And Bitmain? Is it t…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're right that they have different issues, different problems, different strengths. But what irks me is the "what-aboutism." If Texas executes handicap people, that's awful. But it makes China harvesting organs OK? The U.S. has a horrible track record in Latin America and (frankly) around the world, so China gets some "slack" in how many human rights activists or lawyers it jails each year? I understand I'm respon…
I guess it boils down to: if you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones
China being bad doesn't excuse the U.S, the U.S. being bad doesn't excuse China. But somehow, somewhere, in the rhetoric of HN (and let's face it, the internet) there's this idea that only the morally unimpeachable can criticize something. But in reality that just gives the worst actors carte blanche to do whatever the fuck they want - as long as it doesn't break some record or set a new standard for terribleness.
We're in a moral race to the bottom, and it doesn't help to say "because so-and-so did it." That just digs us deeper
An AirBnb IPO may tip it back towards the US. Or Pinterest, Palantir, Uber, Lyft, Slack, Postmates, Asana, Casper. Not really sure it should all be cast as a competition, but the wealth creation engine of the US is alive and well.
Matress Casper is a Tech company now?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Oh, OK, so we're going for... who, exactly?
Technical nihilism is all the rage but... can you really not tell the difference between be the U.S. and China on human rights? Of course, you could reply to this comment with some gross injustice, and I could counter. But I'm generally curious. And if you do believe that that U.S. and China are the same, I guess my next question, because arguments seem to lead this way - how do you feel about what-aboutism?