181–190 of 349 posts
If certain corners of the Internet oft derided as right-wing whackjob conspiracy theorists are to be believed, not only is China betting that the West is in irreversible decline, but is covertly actively sewing the seeds of the factors driving that collapse.
The return on investment from their point of view is clear.
The west is in decline because progressive values don't promote strength. They focus on class and are inherently divisive. Ironically, they only blossom in strong societies. The decline will allow other societies with a more conservative philosophy to take over and it will be their turn in a few centuries to succumb to the same tragedy. The baizuo tragedy.
> because progressive values don't promote strength. Venice in the 1400s, London in the 1685-1700 Paris 1875-1914 vienna 1890-1914 London in the 1960s All of these cities flourished because they were progressive.
It's because we stopped focusing on creating things, and instead started laser focusing on making sure that everybody gets exactly the same amount of everything all the time. It's ridiculous. We are trust fund children who don't understand where the money came from, and it will be our undoing. Twitter, NYT, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and the like have monetized dividing us, and they have a multi-billion dollar a year budge…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> because progressive values don't promote strength. Venice in the 1400s, London in the 1685-1700 Paris 1875-1914 vienna 1890-1914 London in the 1960s All of these cities flourished because they were progressive.
Counter point: Islamic empires until the Ottoman empire collapse post WWI. They flourished, yet were not "progressive" in the modern Western sense of the word.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is cope. We've had numerous examples of third world style infrastructure failures (Flint water, Texas power outages) within the US that will likely continue. We have under invested in infrastructure for decades, while China has done quite the opposite. Freedoms are increasingly becoming an illusion in the West. Saying something unpopular or taboo on the internet (even if it were years ago) is likely to cut you o…
Why do I get the feeling that 'unpopular' is just a euphemism for 'racist' here. You're saying you want to cancel cancel culture? Like look, I'll give you that there exist an incredibly small fraction of people that actually embody the spectre you are trying to conjure here. We have so so many more pressing issues in this country than fear of wokeness--like the rise of domestic white-supremacist terrorism.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I disagree with some parts of this comment because I think it misunderstands that there are real, historical, unaddressed grievances commingled with an entitlement mindset. (The rich also have an entitlement mindset, as it turns out.) But the bit about schooling hit home for me. I'm supposedly in one of the most successful school districts of my city, but the stories I hear from parents ahead of me are disturbing. Th…
Just curious. How do you feel about Alabama advancing its "creation science" bill? Clearly, unequivocally there are reactionary trends taking us far in the opposite direction you say we are going. I will always take the path of science over the path of superstition and manufactured grievances.
But I would say that these trends are localized. The urban coasts are not the same as Alabama, and I see the error as springing from an identical root: the desire to control the narrative and impose a particular political conscience on the youth.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> because progressive values don't promote strength. Venice in the 1400s, London in the 1685-1700 Paris 1875-1914 vienna 1890-1914 London in the 1960s All of these cities flourished because they were progressive.
The problem here is the definition of the term "progressive". If you take it to mean "forward-looking" then yes, being progressive is a sure strategy for success in the long run, even if such success may come at a price in the short term. This, however, is not what most current "progressive" ideologies do, instead of looking forward they often look backward in time in search for grievances in need of redress. This, i…
In no way can you place the blame for the rise of identity politics squarely on progressives. I get the feeling that most people opposed to a more fair and equitable society are the ones currently benefitting the most from inequity.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is factually true. Chinese have access to poisoned shitty water that everyone has to boil first and that's not only because of that chi bullshit. Meanwhile I have access to delicious spring water from Alps. China has achieved only superficial changes that will bite them in the ass in the future.
Yeah except China actually cares about continuing that improvement. You've got that spring water now, but who is working on getting you a newer, better spring water, and has anybody called them a racist sexist misogynistic homophobic demon yet?
If you don't like being called a [racist, sexist, whatever], then either change or grow some thicker skin. People pointing out racially charged or misogynistic language in interpersonal situations is NOT causing widespread economic or industrial damage.
No municipal water supply in the US ever canceled an infrastructure project or a new filtration plant because of political correctness.
No, the worst that happens if somebody calls you a racist is... somebody called you a racist. You don't pay a fine, your business isn't seized, and -- most germane to your "point -- your water filtration plant isn't demolished.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
China is not worse than it was 50 years ago however it's development is unsustainable and superficial.
Numbers > adjectives Chinese has a booming middle class as well as a lot of poor people.
They have some massive negatives to deal with: - China is net food and energy importer. Look at last year for a preview of future food. The land they leased in Africa won't help in terms of climate shift, locusts, etc. Who is the number of one food and energy exporter? - China has an aeging population, and it's already a rapid shift. - China's infrastructure isn't as well built as other countries (see their most impo…
Chinas wealth is based on neither. So what? Many rich countries import energy. BTW, China is serious about fusion and thorium reactors.
" China has an aeging population, and it's already a rapid shift." Most countries do and this can still Change.
"- China's infrastructure isn't as well built as other countries and it will start degrading, and maintenance is a pain."
I am sure that the huge and extensive bullet train network in the US won't show any sign of aging very soon. Just kidding.
"- Supply chains are moving elsewhere." Unlikely, the Chinese type of clustering is hard to replicate. Lower things like textiles and assembly might move to Vietnam. Owned by Chinese companies.
"The US controls space, and will solidify it's grip in the next 3 years. "
Yes, sure. Good luck with that. Sure the Russian will also we happy about it. If I remember right, the next version of the S400 System can even shot satellites out of orbit, but I may be wrong.
"What do you do about automation, if it wipes out jobs for all the restive angry young men?" Chinese will be leading in automation. Not sure about the angry young man. A Chinese person seems to be happier and more able to endure things in my experience. Strangely, I found many very sensitive to hunger.
US vs China would be an interesting war. The US has very to no experience in fighting such a war. What most Americans don't know (and actually phrased to me in this way by my US professoer): The second world war was a German-Russian war in Europe. The US industrial might helped Russia, but the US fighting was negligible. Russia lost every two days as many people as the US in a ten year war against Vietnam. The US has never fought an equal opponent. Just as a word of caution.