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I think their criticism is based on idealism. They claim (unsure whether sincerely or not) that we categorically consider western powers as uniquely evil (or that we axiomatically consider that). They fail to see that we recognize the western powers as uniquely evil in the particular historical context of actual existing capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism.

In the comment I reply to, you say:

We literally have Trump on the brink of pulling the trigger. The nightmare scenario that has haunted me since before the election is already happening.

If you agree that Harris would pull the trigger without hesitation what is the nightmare scenario here? That Trump wouldn’t pull the trigger? I doubt there is is even a chance the US will not go through with this war. Trump is not the one making the calls, Trump is just making the show. The unfortunate reality is that it’s a possibility that Trump’s instincts are at times less genocidal than the calculations of the US establishment.

Harris would have pulled the trigger with 0 hesitation. Once October 7 happened, the war with Iran was already extremely likely and with how things developed it was becoming certain. Harris said in her campaign that Iran is the greatest adversary of the USA and that “preventing Iran form acquiring a nuclear weapon” was her “top priority”. Trump is senile so the people actually in power (led by Rubio probably here, very much like Blinken was with Biden) have to coax him to press the button. The foreign policy of the American empire, especially when it comes to matters of war, is not affected by whatever clown they put at the head. Democrats and Republics are in perfect unison. Schumer was the one who castigated Trump on being too soft to Iran.

“Axios”: Trump wants to ensure that the attack on Iran is “necessary” and that it will not lead to the United States being drawn into a prolonged war in the region

https://xcancel.com/ME_Observer_/status/1935474379409731979

Definitely in the Netherlands. It’s called something like “individual choice model”. It also works the other way around: You can reduce your holiday to get some more salary, or other kind of benefits (this depends on the employer I think). I know some let you use it to buy a bike if you promise to use the bike to go to work (the point being that if it’s not direct income it doesn’t get taxed).

The news mega in Hexbear is not going to persuade Xi Jinping to change his course of action no matter how many times we complain. As I said I also get frustrated with China sometimes, and I express it but from a point onward this becomes counterproductive. I am not saying to have faith. I am saying we should do what we can, with what resources we have, to push things to the direction we think is best (and I am saying the Chinese are probably doing the same). This doesn’t mean that we should not be critical of the CPC or that we should not try to work with comrades around the world (and in China) and cooperate. But I think dooming about an ongoing struggle to this degree is counter-productive.

I also feel many times frustrated with the way China chooses to conduct itself, and that it could lead to its own demise. I have two criticisms: Sometimes I feel (also for myself) that part of the western left, in order to overcome emotionally how bad things are for the left at home, use the CPC as psychotherapy, projecting to it expectations and hopes that are unreasonable. China is not going to save us from the upcoming fascism at home, regardless. This is on us. Secondly, I doubt that the government of China is completely blind to something we can see as possibilities. I think the Chinese also understand that the trajectory of the USA leads to a hot war with China. Maybe they are preparing in a way they see fit. Maybe they have wishful thinking that it can be avoided. History will judge the CPC with how their fight against fascism goes, but for now it’s still ongoing.

To all the doomerism especially regarding the involvement of China and Russia:

The USSR had a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany and only officially started fighting the Wermarcht when operation Barbarossa began. Stalin almost entirely refused to provide any help to Korea and said he was prepared for the peninsula to be occupied by the US. Soviet soldiers didn’t fight in Vietnam, soviet soldiers didn’t fight in Angola, soviet soldiers didn’t fight in Cuba. I understand that it is difficult and frustrating to see the escalation against Iran and the inaction from Russia and China while we feel powerless in this conflict, but the doom and gloom in this space is not helping anyone.

Speaking of hesitation, the US waited 15 years of sanctions against Syria to get their win, with many hesitations and flip-flops (Obama first considered treating Syria like Libya but then changed his mind). The same applies to Iran. The sanctions, isolation, and infiltration goes back for decades. This bizarre idea that “we need to be bold like the fascists” is disconnected from reality. Stop idealizing the fascists as omnipotent and omniscient. The USA is at its weakest position since at least 100 years.

Putin is not an anti-imperialist hero, history dragged him in this camp, he is simply in this coalition because of his own interests. China is a country that would prefer their people live in peace and prosperity and not get dragged into a hot war that could literally kill hundreds of millions of them. Especially for people in the west: Neither China nor Russia are here to fix the western left’s failures. It’s western governments funding the genocidal fascist regime. What are we doing here to stop that?

History will not end until humanity ends, the high capital experienced from the “end of history” and the “victory” against communism, a struggle that capital, imperialism, and fascism fought while at its peak for 70 long years with endless genocide and destruction, didn’t even last 20 years as the 2008 crisis already started the struggle that is reaching a violent peak today. Humans will continue to fight, against setbacks or from positions of strength.

We should do what we can however insignificant to help in this struggle and be ready to fight for our side.

When I visit my parent’s place I will look to see if I can find it again and give it a real read this time

Politzer’s Elementary Principles of Philosophy is the first ever book on philosophy I tried to read as a child: I found it in my parent’s bookcase and I was curious to know what philosophy was about. Even though I gave up very quickly, the first distinction it makes between materialist and idealist philosophy had left quite an impression on me. Seeing the title brought back some memories

Their goal is the same goal the USA has since the Iranian revolution, overthrow the government and either install a comprador government, or let it exist as a weak state mired with sectarian struggles (like Libya and now Syria). For now they hope this can be achieved by the Israeli aggression, but it’s not unlikely that the USA will be involved if the government doesn’t collapse in 2-3 weeks.

My very limited experience (I have been to China a few times for work, and managed to find 3 days to visit Beijing and 1 day in Shanghai):

The PRC was founded on the 1st of October, which is yearly celebrated: the first week of October is official holiday, and during the month of October it’s not uncommon for Chinese to travel around for their holidays. The positive is that you see lots of red flags around, the negative is that touristic places will be busier than usual.

I agree with others that your plan is overly ambitious, traveling from the South to Beijing sounds too much. Guangzhou is also very beautiful to visit, and I was told also the same for Xiamen (that others mentioned).

For Beijing (in case you are still adamant about going): I spent 3 days in Beijing and I couldn’t see much first because there is much to see but also because you need to book things in advance (not sure how much in advance, but definitely more than 1 week which is what I tried to do). Everything that you visit will have long queues, and also going from A to B in Beijing takes forever because the city is giant (I had 1.5 hour metro rides). If you do want to spend two days, the Great Wall would be 1 day on its own, I think it’s 100% worth it because it is something really unique (October is a popular time to visit it also because it’s the season that maple trees turn red so it’s very beautiful). The second day would be Tienanmen square, and the forbidden city? Beijing has also many museums and very beautiful parks and palace gardens, that you can spend a whole day there if you want (and are lucky with the weather), but with two days I think it’s very hard.

For food, I second what someone said about Sichuan cuisine, it’s great (but very spicy). I would also suggest trying a hotpot dinner if you haven’t had it before.

As others said you need WeChat and AliPay (and add a payment method in advance) and Amaps. For WeChat you need someone to activate your account I think, while AliPay you can do on your own. You can pay anywhere with your phone (with WeChat and Alipay), your credit cards won’t work, and you can also pay in most places with cash (at least that’s my experience) if you can get some before you arrive. Through WeChat and AliPay you also have access to taxis (I think they call it DiDi), and public transportation (but I think the public transportation you need to activate in advance). If you want to travel with the train, I would suggest the train app (Railway12306). You need to add your passport in the app, and after that you can book train tickets, and you can enter the train with your passport.

My experience is that most people don’t understand or struggle with English even in very touristy places, so you need a translator (deepL as others said). People are still usually helpful and friendly, so you do survive in the end. You do need a VPN if you want to stay in touch with family etc. There are travel e-sim cards that have automatically a VPN (they are more expensive than chinese sim cards but I guess it’s a convenience). If you don’t go for some travel sim card, I would suggest getting a chinese sim card at the airport.

I hope some of it is helpful.

Yes, the only positive for the population would be ease on sanctions, the other net benefits go to western capital.

Random conversation with a colleague yesterday, in passing Syria was mentioned and she said “well at least now it seems the situation is slightly better”…

I like to think that when a westerner talks about human rights, he means the rights of CIA agents to destabilize a country unobstructed.

I think people should not underestimate the usefulness of people like Sachs. He is definitely not a comrade, but he is a voice coming from people who used to be very close to power that does express criticism of American empire and some positive attitude towards “multipolarity” and China. He is also very well connected, in the sense that he does have personal relations with people currently close to power or in power so he might have insights and inside knowledge that he is willing to “leak” to the public.

I take no position on his opinion on COVID, I have 0 expertise, and I think he also has very little expertise when it comes to this topic.

Trump is preparing for war with China. The tariffs help with decoupling the economies and figure out potential allies (whose economies also need to be decoupled if they are to help in the war effort), trying to “reindustrialize” the country, instill militarism in society and in education, greatly increase the military budget, focusing on “rare earth minerals” and raw resources needed to fight a war. Seems like the empire is preparing for the salto mortale within the next decade.

But we will never stop hearing from western liberals about the betrayal of Ukraine by Trump and how Russia would have lost had it not been for Trump.