China making moves

[VTA]

While the dolts on this side of the pond pretend we have better things to worry about.

Chinese official: it's us or America

AUSTRALIA cannot juggle its relationships with the United States and China indefinitely and must choose a ''godfather'' to protect it, according to a prominent Chinese defence strategist.The warning by Song Xiaojun, a former senior officer of the People's Liberation Army, comes after Foreign Minister Bob Carr was told by his Chinese counterpart that Australia's close military alliance with the US was a throwback to the Cold War era.

Link

[a_minimalist]

for the past 2 years I've been following most news with China. If we don't take them seriously we are in for a rude awakening.

it always makes me think of the theory that there will be another world war over freedom/democracy.

[VTA]

for the past 2 years I've been following most news with China. If we don't take them seriously we are in for a rude awakening.

it always makes me think of the theory that there will be another world war over freedom/democracy.

The entire problem is with ourselves and who we have elected (or more truthfully allowed to buy their way in).
We have inane political discourses with the highest level of office getting involved, while on the back burner shit like this seethes.

We have no statesmen looking toward the future, we have politicians looking toward the next election and a whole host of rabid fans to defend every ignorant move they make, based on the letter that follows their names.

[a_minimalist]

The entire problem is with ourselves and who we have elected (or more truthfully allowed to buy their way in).
We have inane political discourses with the highest level of office getting involved, while on the back burner shit like this seethes.

You're absolutely right. I've had this discussion with my cousin and he brought the point up to me. People vote based on names they see most often. No one does any research to see who they are voting for. If they did, the people who do a horrible job would be voted out, or you could at least hope they would.

[trickblue]

That's the problem with this kind of issue... no administration wants to deal with it...

What we have now is each administration not wanting to be the one under which the country finally collapses... and it could very well be the next administration... especially if Obama wins...

China knows exactly what they are doing... they got us heavily vested in their country then began to manipulate their currency. It's like face to a bath salts user... irresistible...

[a_minimalist]

the one thing we have on China is how much money we owe them. We could just forget to pay them back and they know that. We need them as much as they need us.

My biggest concern is the currency issue. If more and more countries start using/accepting the red back we are in trouble. Russia has already signed on

[erdawiro]

You're absolutely right. I've had this discussion with my cousin and he brought the point up to me. People vote based on names they see most often. No one does any research to see who they are voting for. If they did, the people who do a horrible job would be voted out, or you could at least hope they would.

The thing is, Senator A may be doing a great job in the eyes of Texas voters and a terrible job in the eyes of California voters but really neither of their collective opinions matter because the Senator is from Florida. Same goes for representatives.

You may think someone is doing a horrible job but a plurality of voters in El Paso County, Colorado may think their representive is doing a fine job of pursuing their interests.

[a_minimalist]

that's true. i never thought of that.

[trickblue]

As the old voter saying in politics goes... "Well he may be a crook... but he's OUR crook"...

Everyone wants them voted out as long as they can keep their own... it's their insurance policy...

I completely understand what you are saying, but the ones that get me are the ones the get ethics charges and get reelected...

[JBond]

The thing is, Senator A may be doing a great job in the eyes of Texas voters and a terrible job in the eyes of California voters but really neither of their collective opinions matter because the Senator is from Florida. Same goes for representatives.

You may think someone is doing a horrible job but a plurality of voters in El Paso County, Colorado may think their representive is doing a fine job of pursuing their interests.

Unfortunately many including the representatives and those that vote for them have forgotten the original intent of the Senate and the House. They were supposed to play distinct roles but those roles have blurred into "what have you done for me lately".