That was supposed to be two separate thoughts. I didn't mean to imply you said that about the Chinese century. I was just referencing you constantly touting China.
Oh ok.
As for tooting, nah, I say both good and bad things. Many people try to paint JUST a negative system they read in some western magazine, its not all like that. Just like in America not all american are war mongers, its much more complex than that. You have liberals, conservatives, religious folks, homosexuals, racists, and non racists. People trying to paint China under one big evil commie brush is ignorant imo.
Wake me up when China isn't 93rd in PPP. You should know as a Sinophile that political power grows of the barrel of a gun. China gets more respect because of the nukes, the military, and the size of the population. The economy is powerful, but it's based on cheap goods. You're already seeing companies move production away from China. China isn't economically there. Not enough innovation to compete on the world stage as a true leader. Not enough consumerism. Now, if they ditched the Commies, I think they'd have no problem surpassing America in meaningful economic ways. I wish they'd institute some form of democratic socialism.
I think China gets more respect because of trade relations. The U.S isnt afraid of China militarily, but they thread lightly because they don't want to ruin trade relations. Same goes for neighboring countries. China has a philosophy right over might. I'm sure you're familiar with the Sun Yat-Sen's Pan-Asianism speech, right? It talks about how china would much prefer to have leverage with money rather than fists.
I've had this discussion with the chinese about democracy and altho they want it, as a culture, I don't think it'll work for them TBH. There's too many variables, corruption, at least with the commie system they can change laws and get rid of people overnight, with a republic system such as the one in the U.S, their growth would stall. Just look how republicans and democrats stall each other out ALL the fukking time, rejecting bills left and right. A place like china where 1.5 billion hans and 56 ethnicities, I don't think it'll work. They'd need to create something knew, a brand new system that isn't commie or democratic but in between, where they can pass bills at the same rate as their growth, keep regional rivalries contained, and corruption easily removable by the people while maintaining stability. Trying to model an ancient civilization with historical provines, with an american style democracy just won't work IMO.
As for as innovation, they know that themselves, why do you think Bill Gates has annual lectures out there? They're working on it, but I think the problem lies in their school system not society, once they get rid of the commie style schooling, and have more competitive systems as well as removing the damn restricted residential school districts, they might start to get innovative again.
I'm not too sure about that last statement. I've spent substantial time in no name Chinese cities and many are still bad. I've also been to every major US city and I've never seen one day that equaled the fukkery that is Beijing.
Beijing is pretty fukking bad, only other place I can think of as bad is Mumbai, their sewerage system is out in the open. :badtaste:
