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Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

theguardian.com

141–150 of 224 posts

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#141
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s missing in most European places because there’s little need for it. When there is a need, Europe does pretty well. At least relative to the U.S. For example, Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice. It’s been very successful as far as I’m aware when it was heavily doubted before and throughout its development. On the other hand, the U.S. won’t even contemplate building something similar to protec…

To me, it’s better to compare China with India. Similar populations, yet the effects of different systems of government are extremely obvious.

They are only similar in size. Do you mean that size is the only factor when doing operating a government ?

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#142
post #88
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tell me one way that your statement doesn’t apply to the US or many other wealthy developed nations. The GINI coefficient is higher in the USA than it is in China. China in recent years has reduced inequality while the US has done absolutely nothing to curb discontent, the same discontent that has led to the election of a fascist leader. Don’t believe me, look up the data.

> China in recent years has reduced inequality After many years of increasing inequality > the US has done absolutely nothing to curb discontent, the same discontent that has led to the election of a fascist leader. I cannot imagine possible definition of "fascist" that would include the US and exclude China. China has far more fascist features than any other major country - personality cult, courts compliant with th…

I didn’t say China wasn’t fascist, I only said that the US is moving in that direction rapidly. I am talking about trends not necessarily the state of things at this moment.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#143
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> China in recent years has reduced inequality After many years of increasing inequality > the US has done absolutely nothing to curb discontent, the same discontent that has led to the election of a fascist leader. I cannot imagine possible definition of "fascist" that would include the US and exclude China. China has far more fascist features than any other major country - personality cult, courts compliant with th…

It seems some people have claimed the word fascist to mean something entirely different to what it actually means in an attempt to shut down conversations when things aren't going their way.

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Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#144
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a very interesting and fast-growing (video) niche of African Americans who have moved to China sharing their experiences of daily life in different Chinese areas ranging from these megacities to rural towns and villages. The common thread throughout these videos is how much safer it feels to be black in China vs. America, and more generally how welcoming and friendly China is to foreigners (in stark contrast…

Being black in the USA is a never ending nightmare, though. The United States of America is a complete shithole for so many people

This is not borne out by immigration data (to say the least):

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/27/key-findi...

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#145
post #15

Chongqing seems incredible on pictures and YouTube videos. No doubt it's a comfortable place to live for many people, and surely it isn't perfect, especially when it comes to things like air pollution. What amazes me is China's capacity to do development on a large scale, something that's completely missing in Europe. If we had efficient large-scale construction solved, we could really put a dent in the cost of livin…

It’s missing in most European places because there’s little need for it. When there is a need, Europe does pretty well. At least relative to the U.S. For example, Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice. It’s been very successful as far as I’m aware when it was heavily doubted before and throughout its development. On the other hand, the U.S. won’t even contemplate building something similar to protec…

> Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice

That's wild! How do you convince people in Latvia or Norway that they should help pay for infrastructure like that in Italy?

If Manhattan wants flood gates, NY will have to build them. At some point, they will probably have to because the cost of insurance will exceed the cost of the bonds needed to build.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s missing in most European places because there’s little need for it. When there is a need, Europe does pretty well. At least relative to the U.S. For example, Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice. It’s been very successful as far as I’m aware when it was heavily doubted before and throughout its development. On the other hand, the U.S. won’t even contemplate building something similar to protec…

Partly why this is an apples-oranges comparison is that Italy's federal government stepped in to make it happen (planning, land acquisition, funding, establishing federally-owned corporate structure). In the US, projects like this are governed just as much by states as they are the federal government, and since the 1970s we've had a strong and entrenched culture of not having the federal government step in to exert i…

They do spend on these things. The army corp of engineers is planning a 53 billion dollar project for nyc harbor and sea protection to be built in 2030 or so.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#147
post #15

Chongqing seems incredible on pictures and YouTube videos. No doubt it's a comfortable place to live for many people, and surely it isn't perfect, especially when it comes to things like air pollution. What amazes me is China's capacity to do development on a large scale, something that's completely missing in Europe. If we had efficient large-scale construction solved, we could really put a dent in the cost of livin…

The Netherlands grew by 1 million people between 2015 and 2025, roughly 6,5% increase in population. And (almost) everyone has a house. Except we don't build flats and suburban one-house-fits-all massive construction projects. We mostly do smallscale development times a 1000, in stead of one big one. We think it results in better cities. Though, it is true we should build even more.

[deleted]

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s missing in most European places because there’s little need for it. When there is a need, Europe does pretty well. At least relative to the U.S. For example, Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice. It’s been very successful as far as I’m aware when it was heavily doubted before and throughout its development. On the other hand, the U.S. won’t even contemplate building something similar to protec…

> Europe built the completely novel floodgates for Venice That's wild! How do you convince people in Latvia or Norway that they should help pay for infrastructure like that in Italy? If Manhattan wants flood gates, NY will have to build them. At some point, they will probably have to because the cost of insurance will exceed the cost of the bonds needed to build.

There are typically federal grants for major infrastructure projects. The Hoover Dam, for example, was entirely paid for by federal dollars. Many bridges also have federal backing and the interstate highway system is subsidized. This is because good infrastructure helps increase the GDP and benefits everyone in the country.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#149
post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything east of the Mississippi could be connected by high-speed rail. Chicago to NYC is about the same distance as Beijing to Shanghai (1200 km), and that only takes 4.5 hours in China. The fact that HSR doesn't make sense between LA and NYC is no excuse for not building it in the large parts of the country where it makes sense.

yeah exactly, the first benefit of trains is to substitute for short but frequent flights between major cities.

I think of this, every time it takes me more than 4 hours to "fly" 150 miles to the Chicago airport, when you count all of the overhead at the two ends, plus average delays and cancellations.

Actually, I take the intercity bus.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#150
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Western societies are blinded by the narrative their governments have fed them in the last 50 years: China Bad. But us in 3rd world countries have the ability to see both Western and Eastern societies' development and compare it ij a more unbiased way. Frankly the China bet looks more successful.

Are you willing to submit to my one party state and be ok with being disappeared if you have an unpopular opinion or being enslaved if you are the wrong minority?

Look I get it’s a little early to really draw that line in the US, but we were in a hell of a lot better position to have this argument a couple months ago.
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