China

[Neoteny]

I can't pretend to fully understand the social courage of the average Chinese worker, but I'd imagine it's a bit pretentious to assume that they are scared shitless. I've heard quite a bit about burgeoning media outlets for free speech (despite the illegality of some of them) and it offers a little hope that these people really are people (<--------understated on purpose).

[brooksieb]

Well China's people are a very patriotic people like cleaning all the algae, we pretty soon could be making the shoes for them.....

[Juan_Bottom]

I was sort of under the impression that everyone knew by now that china was going to rise to prominence within our lifetimes. China already does high tech, mixes private enterprise in a political environment that is very complex, and has an incredible migrant workforce which can reduce pressure on wages upward.

Admittedly i didnt spend the time to go through each argument against it, but China is seriously no joke. Its hard to say much without being an alarmist, but there are just advantages that China has that other countries seemingly do not. Whether or not everything is going to be positive is a rather silly argument, things are never all good or bad when talking about the effects of highly industralized economies.

It probably wont be that long before you start hearing about Shanghai and other cities as the like, as being right on level of your London, Paris, New York type cities as far as global centers of importance. The fact that cities of over a million people more or less sprout up from nothing at a rather impressive rate, should be evidence to the fact that there is incredible movement and growth within China.
I was sort of under the impression that everyone knew by now that china was going to rise to prominence within our lifetimes. China already does high tech, mixes private enterprise in a political environment that is very complex, and has an incredible migrant workforce which can reduce pressure on wages upward.

Admittedly i didnt spend the time to go through each argument against it, but China is seriously no joke. Its hard to say much without being an alarmist, but there are just advantages that China has that other countries seemingly do not. Whether or not everything is going to be positive is a rather silly argument, things are never all good or bad when talking about the effects of highly industralized economies.

It probably wont be that long before you start hearing about Shanghai and other cities as the like, as being right on level of your London, Paris, New York type cities as far as global centers of importance. The fact that cities of over a million people more or less sprout up from nothing at a rather impressive rate, should be evidence to the fact that there is incredible movement and growth within China.

Eh? Sure they look good on paper, but that's about it. Refuse to pay up on their credit and what can they do?

Declare war? Nope. Sure they have a huge military, but one that's lacking in supplies. What'll they do, swim at us? Plus, it negates their allience with Russia, and Iran, leaving them alone to fight. I say China is only strong on paper.
Economically they do have very, VERY cheap and endless labor. But very little infastructure to stand on. Pave some roads already, geesh.
But one thing they do have, is patriotism...
I'd guess that war is more likely then Western Nations giving up their seats of power to any Asian Nation. It would be painful, but with a likely outcome.
It seems to me that the Chinese are still very much under control. It's just a matter of straightening things out back home. Am I alone in this viewpoint?

It probably wont be that long before you start hearing about Shanghai and other cities as the like, as being right on level of your London, Paris, New York type cities as far as global centers of importance.

I do agree with this!!!!!! I just don't see the Chinese as future world leaders.

[Hologram]

I think we've reached a kind of fork in the road, if you will. I don't know which way will take us which, but the U.S. can either begin its decline or remain a superpower, depending on the decisions of its leadership. Of course China is also going to be a superpower. I would rather there be two superpowers than one, but I doubt much would be different. The U.S. used to be a second-rate country and I'm sure it'll survive as one again. In fact, it might even be good for the country and possibly lead to another American rise.

[The1exile]

I would rather there be two superpowers than one

Except when it's them damn ruskies/communists/anti-americanists, eh?

[InkL0sed]

Yeah, I'm kinda OK with us being the only superpower...

Except I think China kinda qualifies already. They're just not the hyper-power that we are.

[Pedronicus]

I've nothing against the Chinese.
They make a decent take away when you get bored of curry. Thats right, I said it! - Sometimes I get bored of my beloved Curry.

[Grooveman2007]

Talk about an enviromental disaster. The Yellow river seems to be living up to its name. Not to mention the toxic amounts of sulfer dioxide and other nasty particles in their air. That along with the cancer wells that villagers are forced to drink from every day. Needless to say I'm still brushing up on my Mandrin.

[got tonkaed]

for what its worth...china is already putting in the infrastructure that will give it a high way system the size of the US, which will be of better quality, and privately maintained (though thats always a bit of a sketchy thing to say when you consider the meshing between public and private). In what wont take too long, china will have an infrastructure especially as far as roads go that will be of better quality than the US and will likely be better maintained.

Everyone is disregarding probably the biggest thing though when it comes to china as far as economic issues, and it is one that matters. China gets away with an incredible amount of intellectual property theft, which incredibly adjusts the technological gap between them and the rest of the worlds superpowers. Simply put, though everyone tends to think of china as racing to the bottom (and in ways they are) everytime high tech industry goes into china, they are more or less compelled by chinese businesses to share their tech, which is promptly stolen, used in copycat industry, eliminating a lot of the future profit for the companies which originally came in. When you consider even the basic economic advantage of running a business without having to pay very much money at all for your software, as opposed to having to pay thousands of dollars for it legitamatly, high tech industry is not far from china.

Obviously there are issues when you talk about the debt relationship that is complex, but china is in a stronger position or will be moving into a stronger position than most people seem to realize.

[tzor]

Talk about an enviromental disaster. The Yellow river seems to be living up to its name.

But how does it compare with the poluted Ganges in India?

[Dancing Mustard]

Talk about an enviromental disaster. The Yellow river seems to be living up to its name.

But how does it compare with the poluted Ganges in India?

Actually gangrene is usually kind of greenish... though I see how you made your mistake.

Anyway, get a hacksaw and cut off the infected area, then cauterize the wound. You'll be fine.

[Joodoo]

Talk about an enviromental disaster. The Yellow river seems to be living up to its name.

But how does it compare with the poluted Ganges in India?

I guess it's was quite expected since both countries were part of very ancient civilizations.

[Neoteny]

Talk about an enviromental disaster. The Yellow river seems to be living up to its name.

But how does it compare with the poluted Ganges in India?

Has that one killed off any dolphin species yet?

[Qwert]

I think that bigest advantage of China is human resources,something what other countries dont have(Chinese dominant population Han-92% in china 1,200,000,000,rest in all world 103,000,000)
From other side only 7,3% of people in america is american ancestry(USCB resources)less then 30,000,000.
(others-Germans 15,2%-Irish 10,8%-Africans 12,4%-Asian 4,4%-mexican 6%-Italian 5,2%-and others)

Immigration is now what keeps America growing. According to the UN the typical American woman today bears 1.93 children. That is below the 2.1 "replacement" rate required to keep a population stable over time, absent immigration. The Census Bureu estimates the US population will grow from 281 million in 2000 to 397 mil in 2050 with expected immigration, but only to 328 mil with zero immigration. "If we have zero immigration with today's low birthrates the American population would eventually begin to shrink.

I think that these is bigest problem for America,because without human resources,country can not live.

[suggs]

The real question will be whether China will be able to keep itself together. Sure, the USA is a federation, but China is far more diverse in terms if regionalism and cultures. It will be a miracle if it doesn't collapse.

The other point is that, since (to the Chinese), China IS the centre of the world, they have never had much interest in expansionism.
So, the "China threat" is greatly exaggerated.

[Joodoo]

The real question will be whether China will be able to keep itself together. Sure, the USA is a federation, but China is far more diverse in terms if regionalism and cultures. It will be a miracle if it doesn't collapse.

The other point is that, since (to the Chinese), China IS the centre of the world, they have never had much interest in expansionism.
So, the "China threat" is greatly exaggerated.

I can totally see what you're saying since I've lived there before...

[2dimes]

I think that bigest advantage of China is human resources,something what other countries dont have(Chinese dominant population Han-92% in china 1,200,000,000,rest in all world 103,000,000)
From other side only 7,3% of people in america is american ancestry(USCB resources)less then 30,000,000.
(others-Germans 15,2%-Irish 10,8%-Africans 12,4%-Asian 4,4%-mexican 6%-Italian 5,2%-and others)

Immigration is now what keeps America growing. According to the UN the typical American woman today bears 1.93 children. That is below the 2.1 "replacement" rate required to keep a population stable over time, absent immigration. The Census Bureu estimates the US population will grow from 281 million in 2000 to 397 mil in 2050 with expected immigration, but only to 328 mil with zero immigration. "If we have zero immigration with today's low birthrates the American population would eventually begin to shrink.

I think that these is bigest problem for America,because without human resources,country can not live.

I think the bigger issue with North American replacement population is lack of quality not quantity.Once the country returns to having to farm for thier own food the people won't be capable of the tasks needed.

Kids these days can't do nothing!

All those complaining about the human rights violations and stuff must be complainers that just like to exagerate and make things up, huh heavy?

[got tonkaed]

The real question will be whether China will be able to keep itself together. Sure, the USA is a federation, but China is far more diverse in terms if regionalism and cultures. It will be a miracle if it doesn't collapse.

The other point is that, since (to the Chinese), China IS the centre of the world, they have never had much interest in expansionism.
So, the "China threat" is greatly exaggerated.

I actually think there might be ways around this. Since people are migrating very quickly to cities, it quite possibly will emerge as primarily an area that caters to different globally competitive metropolises and chooses to (or continues) depending on how you view Mao's revolutionary measures. So i dont really believe there will be a huge issue in regards to keeping the country together.

Why the expansionist issue is actually an issue...when you introduce something like high capitalist industrial society to an area that has advantages suited for the system en masse, its rather difficult to beat back those type of ambitions. Seemingly there are millions of relatively young Chinese who believe that you can move money however youd like and make more money as a result. Those type of movements often lead to acquiring assets and in many cases the assets of foreign countries.

Im not saying anyones going to be flying a Chinese flag over their house, but China will very likely have a good chance at being the worlds most influential superpower.

[PLAYER57832]

Yeah, I'm kinda OK with us being the only superpower...

Except I think China kinda qualifies already. They're just not the hyper-power that we are.

Since China has about 1/4 of the worl'd population and has quickly embraced our level of technology (though not disbursed it yet), I's say they pretty much are THE super power.

We just don't want to acknowledge it yet.

[suggs]

Yeah, I'm kinda OK with us being the only superpower...

Except I think China kinda qualifies already. They're just not the hyper-power that we are.

Since China has about 1/4 of the worl'd population and has quickly embraced our level of technology (though not disbursed it yet), I's say they pretty much are THE super power.

We just don't want to acknowledge it yet.

No. Their global influence is much more limited. They have some say, yes (see the UN veto the other night).
But ultimately, they are dependant on the USAs good will.

[heavycola]

Yeah, I'm kinda OK with us being the only superpower...

Except I think China kinda qualifies already. They're just not the hyper-power that we are.

Since China has about 1/4 of the worl'd population and has quickly embraced our level of technology (though not disbursed it yet), I's say they pretty much are THE super power.

We just don't want to acknowledge it yet.

No. Their global influence is much more limited. They have some say, yes (see the UN veto the other night).
But ultimately, they are dependant on the USAs good will.

That works both ways when you consider the amount of US Treasury bonds held by the Chinese government. Enough to collapse America's economy if they cash them in, so I'm told. China pwns the US.

[suggs]

Dang.

[InkL0sed]

Yeah, and the size of our military is like exponentially greater than anything in existence?

US could like pwn the world by itself...

[suggs]

Yeah, and the size of our military is like exponentially greater than anything in existence?

US could like pwn the world by itself...

And yet, its only any good in Africa, and even then...

[Juan_Bottom]

Yeah, and the size of our military is like exponentially greater than anything in existence?

US could like pwn the world by itself...

And yet, its only any good in Africa, and even then...

Aren't you English?

That works both ways when you consider the amount of US Treasury bonds held by the Chinese government. Enough to collapse America's economy if they cash them in, so I'm told. China pwns the US.

Yeah, and they've actually threatened to do it too. It's funny though, if they do, then their economy will collapse... and will collapse the world. I think that if they did try to cash the cash, everyone(worldwide) would just ignore them. I saw it happen at a couple of banks when I was a settlement agent. Where a small bank would take a loan from some citizen to build a new branch... And then battle to keep him from asking for his money back.