There is indeed much that America can learn from China. But perhaps the most important lesson is to stay true to who we are as a nation. That’s what China did. It adopted aspects of the American way that would make it strong again, while sticking to its core system of Communist Party political domination and heavy state involvement in everything. And it has been spectacularly successful.
Trump’s America, on the other hand, is beginning to seem as if it’s taking cues from China’s political model. That’s not who we are.<
Of course not. Because to make it work, the US would need a Communist Party that isn’t totally useless. And no one who lived through the Cold War is going to allow that to happen.
I wasn’t even gonna bother posting to slop bc it is mostly the typical pablum but this paragraph is truly shocking. I can’t remember the last time one of these articles very nearly called China’s political model a good thing
There is so little introspection on the mater, too.
But perhaps the most important lesson is to stay true to who we are as a nation.
Oh ok, so what does that mean?
That’s what China did. It adopted aspects of the American way that would make it strong again, while sticking to its core system of Communist Party political domination and heavy state involvement in everything. And it has been spectacularly successful.
Hmm, right I see. So China did market reforms but maintained its communist state, got it! So, Communist State + Market Reforms (aka do a little capitalism) = Great Success! But what about America?
Trump’s America, on the other hand, is beginning to seem as if it’s taking cues from China’s political model. That’s not who we are.
Oh. Ok, Which parts of China’s political model, exactly? Hmm, it doesn’t say. This could mean anything. Is it the “core system of […] political domination and heavy state involvement in everything.” but without the Communist Party? If only the author had come to some kind of conclusion about what exactly Trump is appropriating from the Chinese model. If Trump is doing the “bad” part of the model, what part of the Chinese model are we supposed to be doing, exactly? If doing a little “capitalism” for China = Good, are we supposed to be … doing a little … communism in America? What would that even look like, I wonder. Nothing comes to mind, I guess.
The United States can and should consider adopting some of what has worked for China, such as transitioning to renewables; revitalizing industrial policy; supporting science, research and education; reinvesting in infrastructure, housing and safe cities; and above all, having a sense of collective purpose that leads to national strength.
Instead, Mr. Trump’s administration is undermining or slashing funding for critical things such as public safety, infrastructure, education, scientific research, clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing, while fanning political divisions.
Oh, I see, this is what we should be doing. That seems obvious, right? But why can we never actually seem to get there? What is it, exactly, that makes China so on task, so focused, and so driven to meet these goals?
It’s natural for Americans who want a better future to look, albeit grudgingly, at what China has achieved. To be sure, leaders in Beijing don’t have a messy democracy to get in the way of their plans, but that’s hardly the only reason for China’s success. It came also from strategic foresight, investing in the future, a sense of national focus and unity — not division — that comes from the top and millions of individuals working hard to build the country up. China followed America’s lead, but it stuck to its own systems and stayed focused on meeting the basic needs of its population.
Is it really “millions of individuals”, that make all these dreams a reality in China? What can the author tell us about Chinas “own systems” which it “stuck to”? How does a Country like China build “a sense of national focus and unity”, which of its systems ensures this unity? How does its systems handle division? What are these systems exactly? Come on, author, you’ve been in China since 2008. You can’t elaborate on any of these things?
I just get the feeling there is a quota on these types of articles at this point. We know a sort of elaboration on the subject would demonstrate the vacuousness of the author’s “analysis” too clearly.
What we should be discussing is how many guys the NYT has trapped in China for years in order to, in their view, substantiate their credibility. C = Number of Years Lived in Place * Age / Skin Tone
I think this is my favourite part
it worked well for China…anyways we dont actually want that.
Of course not. Because to make it work, the US would need a Communist Party that isn’t totally useless. And no one who lived through the Cold War is going to allow that to happen.
is this implying that china has always been communist?
Yes, the People’s Republic of China is the only China
Shen Yun live reaction:
I wasn’t even gonna bother posting to slop bc it is mostly the typical pablum but this paragraph is truly shocking. I can’t remember the last time one of these articles very nearly called China’s political model a good thing
There is so little introspection on the mater, too.
Oh ok, so what does that mean?
Hmm, right I see. So China did market reforms but maintained its communist state, got it! So, Communist State + Market Reforms (aka do a little capitalism) = Great Success! But what about America?
Oh. Ok, Which parts of China’s political model, exactly? Hmm, it doesn’t say. This could mean anything. Is it the “core system of […] political domination and heavy state involvement in everything.” but without the Communist Party? If only the author had come to some kind of conclusion about what exactly Trump is appropriating from the Chinese model. If Trump is doing the “bad” part of the model, what part of the Chinese model are we supposed to be doing, exactly? If doing a little “capitalism” for China = Good, are we supposed to be … doing a little … communism in America? What would that even look like, I wonder. Nothing comes to mind, I guess.
Oh, I see, this is what we should be doing. That seems obvious, right? But why can we never actually seem to get there? What is it, exactly, that makes China so on task, so focused, and so driven to meet these goals?
Is it really “millions of individuals”, that make all these dreams a reality in China? What can the author tell us about Chinas “own systems” which it “stuck to”? How does a Country like China build “a sense of national focus and unity”, which of its systems ensures this unity? How does its systems handle division? What are these systems exactly? Come on, author, you’ve been in China since 2008. You can’t elaborate on any of these things?
genocidal imperialists?
I just get the feeling there is a quota on these types of articles at this point. We know a sort of elaboration on the subject would demonstrate the vacuousness of the author’s “analysis” too clearly.
What we should be discussing is how many guys the NYT has trapped in China for years in order to, in their view, substantiate their credibility. C = Number of Years Lived in Place * Age / Skin Tone