Comments on: Foot Dragging Into A Bleak Future http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Black Jack http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/comment-page-1/#comment-27601 Black Jack Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:43:59 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/#comment-27601 I don't think it makes much difference, people are people. I see increasing wealth driving individuals toward more open self expression, not the other way around. Wealth isn't a substitute for civil rights, but a precondition for their acquisition. All men seek self determination, and those with economic power acquire it sooner rather than later. I don’t think it makes much difference, people are people. I see increasing wealth driving individuals toward more open self expression, not the other way around. Wealth isn’t a substitute for civil rights, but a precondition for their acquisition.

All men seek self determination, and those with economic power acquire it sooner rather than later.

]]> By: Bill Franklin http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/comment-page-1/#comment-27515 Bill Franklin Sun, 15 Oct 2006 08:41:21 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/#comment-27515 I agree with your analysis of Communism gents, but don't you think comparing the USSR's economic implementation of Communism to China's or Vietnam hybrid system (economically capitalist, politically "Communist") is not a fair comparison? I've been to Shen Zhen (near Hong Kong) and toured the so-called "sweatshop" factories run by US companies. I saw capitalism at work, albiet in a politically restricted way. Plus, (and it pains me to say this) there are some advantages to having a government run by engineers. Flush your civil rights down the toilet of course, but if "the country" needs more power, they build a power station. No "not in my backyard" protests; it just gets done. If congestion is bad and a highway is needed, they tear down a few villages and put one in. > Look for an emerging middle class to begin complaining about the > basics: No taxation without representation. Absolutely...but as long as people see their wealth increasing, I don't think this call will be a strong as you'd see in Western countries. Maybe it's a cultural thing...but the Chinese I've spoken to are more interested in making money than free speech. It will be an interesting 20 years. I agree with your analysis of Communism gents, but don’t you think comparing the USSR’s economic implementation of Communism to China’s or Vietnam hybrid system (economically capitalist, politically “Communist”) is not a fair comparison?

I’ve been to Shen Zhen (near Hong Kong) and toured the so-called “sweatshop” factories run by US companies. I saw capitalism at work, albiet in a politically restricted way.

Plus, (and it pains me to say this) there are some advantages to having a government run by engineers. Flush your civil rights down the toilet of course, but if “the country” needs more power, they build a power station. No “not in my backyard” protests; it just gets done. If congestion is bad and a highway is needed, they tear down a few villages and put one in.

> Look for an emerging middle class to begin complaining about the
> basics: No taxation without representation.

Absolutely…but as long as people see their wealth increasing, I don’t think this call will be a strong as you’d see in Western countries. Maybe it’s a cultural thing…but the Chinese I’ve spoken to are more interested in making money than free speech. It will be an interesting 20 years.

]]> By: Black Jack http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/comment-page-1/#comment-27462 Black Jack Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:29:25 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/#comment-27462 China can't maintain its communist oligarchy and continue to experience the rapid economic growth free markets produce. The two are incompatible. As individuals gain economic freedom they soon begin to seek political representation. Look for an emerging middle class to begin complaining about the basics: No taxation without representation. China can’t maintain its communist oligarchy and continue to experience the rapid economic growth free markets produce. The two are incompatible. As individuals gain economic freedom they soon begin to seek political representation.

Look for an emerging middle class to begin complaining about the basics: No taxation without representation.

]]> By: syn http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/comment-page-1/#comment-27432 syn Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:17:53 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/#comment-27432 China still remains under Communist rule which means its banking system is under Communist control. If the demise of the former Soviet Union is any indication, unless China removes Communist control of the money machine, it will eventually implode upon itself; it takes an enormous amount of capital to maintain a defense system while maintaining infrastructure and growth. The former USSR had an abundance of nukes yet was unable to sustain super-power status because it went bankrupt. By the year 2030, demographics indicate Russia will no longer exist unfortunately due to its suicidal abortion program and will most likely become another Islamic State-controlled country. When I lived in Moscow Russia in 1991 it was as if the country had stopped in time around 1963 and the only thing which has kept it alive was the infusion of free market captialism ie food stores from Ireland, America, Britian. Russia was ground down to the ground from having spent so much on military defense that it eventually needed capitalist societies to save it from complete inner implosion. Russia could no longer provide for itself and had no means to sustain it's controlled system and I believe that same will happen to China. I just saying that Communist countries will always fail no matter how many nukes it has and that Capitalism is a powerful defense weapon against any totalitarian ideology. If America wants to bring China down all we need to do is discontinue trade, of course this means Americans will be required to sacrifice short-term comforts. I would rather give up cheap Chinese produced products today than spend trillions in another arms race. China still remains under Communist rule which means its banking system is under Communist control. If the demise of the former Soviet Union is any indication, unless China removes Communist control of the money machine, it will eventually implode upon itself; it takes an enormous amount of capital to maintain a defense system while maintaining infrastructure and growth. The former USSR had an abundance of nukes yet was unable to sustain super-power status because it went bankrupt. By the year 2030, demographics indicate Russia will no longer exist unfortunately due to its suicidal abortion program and will most likely become another Islamic State-controlled country.

When I lived in Moscow Russia in 1991 it was as if the country had stopped in time around 1963 and the only thing which has kept it alive was the infusion of free market captialism ie food stores from Ireland, America, Britian. Russia was ground down to the ground from having spent so much on military defense that it eventually needed capitalist societies to save it from complete inner implosion. Russia could no longer provide for itself and had no means to sustain it’s controlled system and I believe that same will happen to China.

I just saying that Communist countries will always fail no matter how many nukes it has and that Capitalism is a powerful defense weapon against any totalitarian ideology. If America wants to bring China down all we need to do is discontinue trade, of course this means Americans will be required to sacrifice short-term comforts. I would rather give up cheap Chinese produced products today than spend trillions in another arms race.

]]> By: Bill Franklin http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/comment-page-1/#comment-27418 Bill Franklin Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:01:39 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/10/14/foot-dragging-into-a-bleak-future/#comment-27418 Personally, I disagree that China didn't want NK to get nukes. I think it's part of a larger plan that goes something like this- NK gets nukes. Japan reacts by going (militarily) nuclear itself, and formally develops its own defense infrastructure (all under the valid pretext of self defense). The need for US military defense of Japan becomes marginalized and all but disappears. China meanwhile resolves its infrastructure issue and is growing by leaps and bounds. China surpasses the US as Japan's #1 trading partner. Japan, under pressure from China, shifts policy support from US (which it no longer needs militarily or as much economically) to China. China, with the support of Japan, India, and Russia, becomes the new world superpower. The US, choking under its own debts, sees its power waning. Welcome to the Asian century. Personally, I disagree that China didn’t want NK to get nukes. I think it’s part of a larger plan that goes something like this-
NK gets nukes. Japan reacts by going (militarily) nuclear itself, and formally develops its own defense infrastructure (all under the valid pretext of self defense). The need for US military defense of Japan becomes marginalized and all but disappears. China meanwhile resolves its infrastructure issue and is growing by leaps and bounds. China surpasses the US as Japan’s #1 trading partner. Japan, under pressure from China, shifts policy support from US (which it no longer needs militarily or as much economically) to China. China, with the support of Japan, India, and Russia, becomes the new world superpower. The US, choking under its own debts, sees its power waning. Welcome to the Asian century.

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