A Superpower in turmoil

[FenderTL5]

In just a few months we have seen a country that prides itself on strength as a nation turn into a nation not coping and weak.

In the past months, we saw the USA grapple and wrestle back that curve that was climbing steeply re COVID infection and death rates. Now with the relaxation on restrictions, the rates of infection have climbed from 17000 to 25000 per day in just a week.

A president at odds with his own medical experts ie

• recommendations re isolation and social distance
• use of masks
• ingestion or injection of disinfectants
• Use of chloroquine

Riots and civil unrest across several states - some related to the a reaction against government-imposed COVID restrictions, and more recently, violent demonstrations of civil unrest against police killings.

Unemployment rates higher than the great depression
A sinking Dow Jones

Partisan divisions at their most divisive in the history of the USA
Gun Death Rates at 16500 in five months.

Each country has its issues and challenges. But as an outsider observing the USA this seems to be a country that's struggling with its own internal affairs above and beyond what other nations in the OECD are experiencing.

Is it as bad as it seems?

This is Trump's Great America.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Reverse engineering a product to make something similar is not a crime.

Rather depends on how similar something is. In China’s case they often throw another logo on product even using the exact same assembly lines and call it a new Chinese product.

One of the things that makes everyone hate their trade practices.

And yes copying and manufacturing something for profit without permission is indeed a crime.

 

[FireDragon76]

Rather depends on how similar something is. In China’s case they often throw another logo on product even using the exact same assembly lines and call it a new Chinese product.

If western multinationals don't like Chinese practices, it sure isn't reflected in their business practices in China.

Of course, westerners feeling entitled to exploit cheap Chinese labor at no real cost- that's classic colonialism.

 

[wing2000]

WARNING! WARNING! Your OP is in violation of the forum's SOP. Please edit to provide a link to a credible news source to support your opinion that a superpower is in turmoil.

LOL

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

If western multinationals don't like Chinese practices, it sure isn't reflected in their business practices in China.

Of course, westerners feeling entitled to exploit cheap Chinese labor at no real cost- that's classic colonialism.

Corporations are greedy and short sighted so their managers will take short term profit then jump ship. No skin off their nose if it means company is going to under in a decade when the Chinese copies come out.

Your definition of colonialism style exploiting is bit silly since it is China doing the exploiting.

They are just fine being the factory of the world.

 

[Sketcher]

In just a few months we have seen a country that prides itself on strength as a nation turn into a nation not coping and weak.

In the past months, we saw the USA grapple and wrestle back that curve that was climbing steeply re COVID infection and death rates. Now with the relaxation on restrictions, the rates of infection have climbed from 17000 to 25000 per day in just a week.

A president at odds with his own medical experts ie

• recommendations re isolation and social distance
• use of masks
• ingestion or injection of disinfectants
• Use of chloroquine

Riots and civil unrest across several states - some related to the a reaction against government-imposed COVID restrictions, and more recently, violent demonstrations of civil unrest against police killings.

Unemployment rates higher than the great depression
A sinking Dow Jones

Partisan divisions at their most divisive in the history of the USA
Gun Death Rates at 16500 in five months.

Each country has its issues and challenges. But as an outsider observing the USA this seems to be a country that's struggling with its own internal affairs above and beyond what other nations in the OECD are experiencing.

Is it as bad as it seems?

We've seen race riots before, just not during a global pandemic. No doubt the riots and protests are going to help spread the virus.

But it is simply not correct to say that partisan divisions are at their most divisive in our history. The years between 1861 and 1865 retain that easily. We're not there, we're not even close to there. People are talking to each other, not just fighting with each other.

 

[Aldebaran]

Where exactly are these flood of counterfeits? I have yet to see them, and I have bought alot of Chinese products over the years.

Reverse engineering a product to make something similar is not a crime.

Here's a starter: They even counterfeit our currency. Inside a Chinese Coin Counterfeiting Ring

 

[Zoii]

I'm only bringing up the physical violence in the streets. The real civil war in the West is between cultural Marxism and liberal democracy. That contest is pretty much over. Marxists 10, liberal democracy maybe 1.

I doubt that. What's your angst about socialist policies anyway... Take universal health care for example

 

[Zoii]

We've seen race riots before, just not during a global pandemic. No doubt the riots and protests are going to help spread the virus.

But it is simply not correct to say that partisan divisions are at their most divisive in our history. The years between 1861 and 1865 retain that easily. We're not there, we're not even close to there. People are talking to each other, not just fighting with each other.

Do you believe the USA is highly divise politically which impedes the capacity to legislate for the good of all

 

[Aussie Pete]

I doubt that. What's your angst about socialist policies anyway... Take universal health care for example

Socialist policies are one thing. Socialism is dangerous. Socialism means to place the means of production under the control of the state. Ask the people of the USSR how well that worked for them under communist rule (not that it was true communism), or China or North Korea now.

 

[Zoii]

Socialist policies are one thing. Socialism is dangerous. Socialism means to place the means of production under the control of the state. Ask the people of the USSR how well that worked for them under communist rule (not that it was true communism), or China or North Korea now.

I'm confused because your original statement concerned the West

The real civil war in the West is between cultural Marxism and liberal democracy. That contest is pretty much over. Marxists 10, liberal democracy maybe 1.

So you were saying that the west has declined because of socialist marxist policies in western nations - Now you turned 180 degrees saying it wasn't about socialist policies per se - just communism in places like USSR and China

Pete your message is pretty confused, mate. I think you should take some time to figure out what you do actually believe and back it up with data.... your philosophical statements are a bit mixed up

 

[Zoii]

I am however bewildered by whats happening.

The US dollar has sunk against the Australian dollar
Though, get this - the Dow Jones is doing OK.....I seriously don't understand these things...they make no sense to me.

But - several here have made the case that whats going on in the USA is a blip on the radar of an otherwise sound national program.

I dunno - The statements from the Whitehouse seem focused on the Presidents voting base with no focus on the survival of the nation. Its one mans self interest - not the nations.... can this be true?

In this presidency there has been a divergence from International cooperation coming from the USA. He has attacked the UN, and abandoned WHO, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Paris Climate Agreement, Transpacific trade pact, South Korean Trade pact, NAFTA, G7, Singapore Agreement, UNHRC, UNESCO, Iran Nuclear deal, WTO , GATT and has threatened numerously with ending NATO. These are all agreements the USA pressured countries to create and in one presidency ended the lot.

So whats it meant - I suppose it's a statement saying the USA acknowledges it does not any longer want to participate and influence international affairs and acknowledges the Rise and Rise of China. Abandoning the pacific has meant China is now the dominant force, militarily and economically in our region..... but I don't understand why the people of the USA think shrinking into themselves is such a good thing.

And all this while there is such domestic turmoil.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I'm confused because your original statement concerned the West



So you were saying that the west has declined because of socialist marxist policies in western nations - Now you turned 180 degrees saying it wasn't about socialist policies per se - just communism in places like USSR and China

Pete your message is pretty confused, mate. I think you should take some time to figure out what you do actually believe and back it up with data.... your philosophical statements are a bit mixed up

I said nothing of the sort. I am saying that the Western world is in danger of adopting socialism. There are forces that have an agenda to undermine democracy. The current wave of violence undermines democracy. Globalisation has also created much division as the few benefit at the expense of the many. The few have a vested interest in fomenting unrest. Cultural Marxism has its claws deep into the education systems of the Western world. If an individual tries putting forward a few facts that don't fit the current PC brigade's agenda, he/she will find that free speech is almost non-existent.

There are serious flaws even in the logic thought processes of this generation. I listened to a rant from a white student about Mr Trump's failed promises. He demanded to know why Mr Trump has not pulled out of Yemen (where I lived for a couple of years). He was presented with the fact that there are no US forces in Yemen. That, so it seems, is not good enough. Maybe Mr Trump should send forces to Yemen so he can pull them out. Or something.

I am however bewildered by whats happening.

The US dollar has sunk against the Australian dollar
Though, get this - the Dow Jones is doing OK.....I seriously don't understand these things...they make no sense to me.

But - several here have made the case that whats going on in the USA is a blip on the radar of an otherwise sound national program.

I dunno - The statements from the Whitehouse seem focused on the Presidents voting base with no focus on the survival of the nation. Its one mans self interest - not the nations.... can this be true?

In this presidency there has been a divergence from International cooperation coming from the USA. He has attacked the UN, and abandoned WHO, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Paris Climate Agreement, Transpacific trade pact, South Korean Trade pact, NAFTA, G7, Singapore Agreement, UNHRC, UNESCO, Iran Nuclear deal, WTO , GATT and has threatened numerously with ending NATO. These are all agreements the USA pressured countries to create and in one presidency ended the lot.

So whats it meant - I suppose it's a statement saying the USA acknowledges it does not any longer want to participate and influence international affairs and acknowledges the Rise and Rise of China. Abandoning the pacific has meant China is now the dominant force, militarily and economically in our region..... but I don't understand why the people of the USA think shrinking into themselves is such a good thing.

And all this while there is such domestic turmoil.

Mr Trump has tuned into the fact that very few people have benefited from globalisation. The rich have benefited the most and those who work to produce the wealth the least. I saw a figure quoted that 40% of Americans have less than $400.00 for an emergency expense. The Western world's greatest export is jobs. The irony is that some businesses are pulling out of China because it's getting expensive to operate there.

If Mr Trump can persuade/bully/bribe industry back to the USA, at least more people will have a real job. Beats delivering pizza or driving for Uber. It seems like Mr Trump does have the interests of the American people in mind. He needs their vote.

 

[Sketcher]

Do you believe the USA is highly divise politically which impedes the capacity to legislate for the good of all

No more than normal. That is literally built into our system of government by design.

 

[durangodawood]

USA is moving out on a knifes edge.

Look at the vast percentage of people who have basically no savings for any sort of disruption at all, working no-future service jobs.

An education system totally under-resourced for the task of both the educating and surrogate parenting that the contemporary economy demands.

A political system bought and paid for by those with vast means.

And an ever increasing segment of people who have been led away from the capacity to discern basic reality.

 

[Chesterton]

USA is moving out on a knifes edge.

Look at the vast percentage of people who have basically no savings for any sort of disruption at all, working no-future service jobs.

An education system totally under-resourced for the task of both the educating and surrogate parenting that the contemporary economy demands.

A political system bought and paid for by those with vast means.

And an ever increasing segment of people who have been led away from the capacity to discern basic reality.

Yeah but at least we don't have drop bears.

 

[durangodawood]

Yeah but at least we don't have drop bears.

My bike has drop bars. So there's hope.