China has advanced its economy dramatically in recent decades. They have industrialized and caught up to the west. But will they be able to take the lead on the world stage? Consider these questions:
1. Pulling oneself out of poverty is life’s low-hanging fruit – it does not solve all your problems, just the most obvious.
2. Moving from the village farm to the big city is exciting for the generation that makes the move. The next generation loses the benefits of farm life, hard work, practical lessons and life skills. In short, city folks focus on shallow and frivolous things and lose the wisdom if not the fortune of their parents. How will China prevent this?
3. Religion asks and answers questions that go beyond money but are essential to human happiness, growth and sustainability. Communism says: “religion is the opiate of the masses”; Chinese culture says: "get rich or die trying". How is that going to play out? I don’t think Confucius can carry this heavy load.
4. Can Chinese men keep invigorated Chinese women from … wandering west to Europe, Australia, the US? There is a strong mutual attraction at play here (Ch women and western men).
1. Poverty solves a lot of problems because it reverses economic flows: the poor change from an expense to the economy to an economic generator. The middle class it what drives an economy. 2. I disagree with your assessment on this. Rural to urban living changes skills and life outlook, but that change is neither good nor bad; it's just different. 3. The data is clear that the most religious nations are the poorest and least happy. The happiest and most prosperous nations score low on religious affiliation. 4. I'm not sure I understand this question. Chinese men and women can marry or live with whoever they want.
Marc, I'm just reading my response, and it sounds curt. It's not meant to be. I like the back-and-forth and the support for different opinions. So, to answer your question: yes, yeserday I was in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, in Tunisia.
"And you weaponize the system when necessary: cut a country off from dollar access, and you cut it off from global trade. This is the root of American power."
Developing innovative technologies, including innovative weapons systems -- and the willingness to use weapons -- might more accurately be "the root of American power".
China has advanced its economy dramatically in recent decades. They have industrialized and caught up to the west. But will they be able to take the lead on the world stage? Consider these questions:
1. Pulling oneself out of poverty is life’s low-hanging fruit – it does not solve all your problems, just the most obvious.
2. Moving from the village farm to the big city is exciting for the generation that makes the move. The next generation loses the benefits of farm life, hard work, practical lessons and life skills. In short, city folks focus on shallow and frivolous things and lose the wisdom if not the fortune of their parents. How will China prevent this?
3. Religion asks and answers questions that go beyond money but are essential to human happiness, growth and sustainability. Communism says: “religion is the opiate of the masses”; Chinese culture says: "get rich or die trying". How is that going to play out? I don’t think Confucius can carry this heavy load.
4. Can Chinese men keep invigorated Chinese women from … wandering west to Europe, Australia, the US? There is a strong mutual attraction at play here (Ch women and western men).
1. Poverty solves a lot of problems because it reverses economic flows: the poor change from an expense to the economy to an economic generator. The middle class it what drives an economy. 2. I disagree with your assessment on this. Rural to urban living changes skills and life outlook, but that change is neither good nor bad; it's just different. 3. The data is clear that the most religious nations are the poorest and least happy. The happiest and most prosperous nations score low on religious affiliation. 4. I'm not sure I understand this question. Chinese men and women can marry or live with whoever they want.
Not going to address this tit for tat. Just one question: Been to a cathedral lately?
Marc, I'm just reading my response, and it sounds curt. It's not meant to be. I like the back-and-forth and the support for different opinions. So, to answer your question: yes, yeserday I was in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, in Tunisia.
"And you weaponize the system when necessary: cut a country off from dollar access, and you cut it off from global trade. This is the root of American power."
Developing innovative technologies, including innovative weapons systems -- and the willingness to use weapons -- might more accurately be "the root of American power".
Yes, certainly, technologies and weapons are the power, but what makes that power possible is the funding.
When the word « root » is used, the author is referring to the source of control, not later technological innovations.
Yes, the power is from the weapons, the weapons are from the funding.
When the word « root » is used, the author is referring to the source of control, not later technological innovations.