China Hits the Long Ball

[Fornicator]

While the US continues to give rich people breaks as a way out of the financial fuckup we're in (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/09/AR2008110902155_pf.html), China chooses infrastructure spending as a way out: (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/world/asia/10china.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin).

The Chinese are still giving money to rich people, but they will end up with roads, bridges, etc, whereas the US will end up with just a growing disparity in incomes between classes.

Communisim just scored another point.

[Morfin]

Right. One billion Chinese peasants with no running water, electricity, streets, etc. all stand in unison to tell you and Chinese government that YOU FAIL.

[Jatoza]

Oh those wacky communists. Truly kings of great municipal works.

[Insomniac]

This will be a big jump forward for them.

[Whiffleball]

This will be a big jump forward for them.

Communism? Ha! Marxism and Maoism has largely been abandoned since the reforms of Deng Xiaoping 30 years ago. There are now fewer, not more, regulations upon the economy, so even though there is a focus on maintaining growth and creating more jobs, it's to create more sweatshops and unsafe factories for the working people to toil in.

Previously they were relying on white people bringing their plants to China (since workers in China get paid shit, thus reducing the costs for the corporations). But since the Western economies have largely failed, China needs to rely more on its domestic markets. That is why it is investing more and more into its own country rather than relying solely on cheap exports.

Also keep in mind their present infrastructure is largely old and unsafe.
Which can have pretty bad results. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake)

Thank god we don't have problems (http://www.startribune.com/local/33308279.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_ Yyc:aUU) with infrastructure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_katrina) in the United States! (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_/ai_n28091306)

[freegood]

^Yeah. Communism is largely dead in China. It's a mix of state backed industries with open market rules plus heavy cronyism in the local levels.

The CCP keeps their name for legitimacy, but China is far from Communist. Authoritarian or fascist would fit better.

And for the most part, they have raised a billion of their people above the poverty line. It's just that the divide between rich and poor is growing explosively. That doesn't really fit with the "spread the wealth" meme floating around here for the past month.

[Morfin]

^Yeah. Communism is largely dead in China. It's a mix of state backed industries with open market rules plus heavy cronyism in the local levels.

Hmm, I thought this was a China thread and here freegood is discussing the U.S.

[Archangel]

I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of Chinese peasants do have running water and electricity.

[Fornicator]

I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of Chinese peasants do have running water and electricity.

My point is that more Chinese will have better infrastructure (shitters, etc.) and Mericans will have less in the coming years.

And now we're shifting our strategy to keep more Mericans in homes they can't afford instead of investing in the future. Call it socialism, communism, totalitarianism or whateverthefuckism. China is looking past the end of their gawtdam nose in their approach to the financial crisis. Meanwhile we're floundering.

[Archangel]

That's because you guys only plan until the next elections; in China, "long term" means 100 years.

[Whiffleball]

My point is that more Chinese will have better infrastructure (shitters, etc.) and Mericans will have less in the coming years.

And now we're shifting our strategy to keep more Mericans in homes they can't afford instead of investing in the future. Call it socialism, communism, totalitarianism or whateverthefuckism. China is looking past the end of their gawtdam nose in their approach to the financial crisis. Meanwhile we're floundering.

Listening to reports of non-deserving executive bonuses, hunting trips, junkets to resorts, and acquisitions coming out of the bailout money in the U.S., it does indeed seem like our priorities are fucked. I wouldn't exactly praise China for investing in new roads, railways and aiports -- and yes, low cost housing -- as that seems just like common economic sense to me and I certainly wouldn't want to live permanently under the Chinese dictatorship.

[dantino]

So basically, they're rebuilding the great wall.

[Fornicator]

Listening to reports of non-deserving executive bonuses, hunting trips, junkets to resorts, and acquisitions coming out of the bailout money in the U.S., it does indeed seem like our priorities are fucked. I wouldn't exactly praise China for investing in new roads, railways and aiports -- and yes, low cost housing -- as that seems just like common economic sense to me and I certainly wouldn't want to live permanently under the Chinese dictatorship.

Never said I want to live in the land of bicycles. Their approach to spending their way out of the financial crisis will yield something of value - infrastructure. Whereas the US approach will yield - more rich people.

With Paulson changing course so quickly, my faith in the US 'strategy' went from 'this sucks' to 'pass me a barrel of lube cuz this is gonna hurt.'

I like your "common economic sense" phrase. It applies.

[Archangel]

Bicycles > American SUVs.

[Mustard]

But how can I compensate for the size of my penis with a bicycle?

[Blue]

http://www.recordholders.org/images/didi2.jpg