"All of America's Problems"
I am starting to discover that I am an exception in the blogosphere, which seems to turn its collective noses up at the Olympics. Well, my family loves to watch the Olympics together, and it is a real event in our house these two weeks.
Anyway, I was watching Bob Costas interview President Bush last night, and he asked a question I would paraphrase as "how is the US going to exercise influence on China given China's increasing strength and all the problems we have in the US."
Now, I am the first one to criticize the US and its government on any number of dimensions, but when one pulls back to an international view, one has to have some perspective. What are these overwhelming problems we face when compared to the struggle for freedom and/or economic sufficiency in much of the world? The US media has developed a bedrock assumption that the US is some kind of wasteland in need of total overhaul, when in fact we are the example all the world emulates. Just look at the images from China -- sure there are a lot of unique cultural differences, but in many ways you see a people trying to be like us.
Solar Lad:
...given China's increasing strength...
Their strength will be DECREASING over the next two years, as their chief economic engine - manufacturing exports - keels over and dies.
Really, it reminds me very strongly of all of the wailing going on in the U.S. in the 80s about how Japan was going to take over the world and "buy America"...
How'd that turn out for them ?
August 11, 2008, 10:32 amLook for a similar situation to occur in a China near you.
ErikTheRed:
I like Costas as a sportscaster and sports analyst, but whenever he wanders out of those areas of discussion (race, economics, etc.) it's pretty clear he unthinkingly accepts the standard liberal canards, including some that flat-out contradict themselves within 15 seconds of conversation. Cringe-worthy stuff.
August 11, 2008, 12:49 pmDr. T:
"...in many ways you see a people trying to be like us."
They are trying to be like we are today: self-centered, indulgent, and focused on buying glitz, toys, and huge homes. To get free of the shackles of their autocratic government, the Chinese need to be like we were in 1776: outraged, brave, and revolutionary.
I believe that the Chinese leadership has bought time by allowing a bit of capitalism and consumerism while still restricting freedoms. If they can keep the lid on their citizens, China will be militarily and economically ready to take over southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and even New Zealand and Australia by 2020. The wealth from these nations will pacify Chinese citizens for another generation or two.
August 11, 2008, 3:56 pmSolar Lad:
...China will be militarily and economically ready to take over southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and even New Zealand and Australia by 2020.
Maybe someday, but not by 2020. China currently has almost no blue-water navy, little air-lift capacity, and no possible way to achieve air superiority vs. Australia.
If they wanted to fix that by 2020, they'd need to be addressing it NOW, which they ain't.
Not to mention that there's no way on Earth that any U.S. administration, of either party, would allow China to militarily annex the Philippines or Indonesia, and especially not New Zealand and Australia. Japan would back America in those cases.
August 11, 2008, 11:29 pmAngus S-F:
Indeed, that's why our border fences are built to keep folks out, unlike most Communist^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H totalitarian border fences, which are built to keep their citizens^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H subjects in.
August 12, 2008, 11:18 pmkevin:
this is stupid
October 31, 2008, 10:42 am