I am not sure that I actually agree that China is a far better position than any Western nation right now. Yes, economically, they've centered themselves as the world's producer. But geopolitically, they are trapped. More than 80% of Chinese territory is actually largely unusable and unsuitable terrain, and given the distribution of this terrain and its vast population, it is largely constrained and, in essence, an island. And, let's not forget, it is really at least five distinct cultures with visceral hatred towards one another.
As the global economy collapses over the next 6-12 months, China will be forced to confront its reckoning on the disasterous socioeconomic mismanagement of its population. We're not even talking about the predictable consequences of the One Child Policy - which has resulted in a material disproportion of men over women, causing everything from forced marriages and mass-rapes in the countryside to modern chattel slavery of women in the cities - but broader population control measures during this Pandemic. That latter approach has resulted in a collapse of its metropolitan economies, and the loss of global trading prestige. No one wants to attempt to enter Chinese exchanges now, not even Hong Kong (for obvious reasons). What a failure.
No country is shielded from the global downturn but I believe China will be able to whether the storm better than most other nations. They have secured 2 years of grain supply for their entire population compared to Western nations, including the USA, who appear to have only a 6 month supply in storage. They have far better food security, more efficent energy production along with an extensive manufacturing sector.
Revolution doesn't mean revolutionary thought. We could have a "revolution" where Marxist-Communists take over. That is old thought.
The problem as I see it, is that we are stuck with old ideas and cannot imagine any change. Economically, the debate seems stuck between "Capitalism" and "Socialism" (at least Socialism as envisaged by Marxist/Statists) and we think that we have to choose between the two.
We can't imagine any new system or new novel ways of looking at property rights, or carrying on the evolution of our economic system further. Everything is petty. UBI changes nothing. Stakeholder Capitalism is just the same old system with a new face. Politically we are stuck again with old ideas. Nothing really new, except for maybe the SJW's, but that really is just rehashed Christian guilt.
We're looking at all these problems, and can't think of any new direction to go in to solve them. We cant imagine anything outside the "Capitalism/Communism" dichotomy, so we are limited by that. We can't imagine anything oustide of "Liberalism/Conservatism", so we are limited by that.
We need something like a new Enlightenment. One isn't coming.
I don't disagree but I see Capitalism/Communism as two sides of the same system with us presently in the phase where Eastern Communism merges with Western Capitalism which will be destined to collapse into the new world system.
There will always be the haves and the have nots, elites and non-elites. This will occur in all systems old or new which have been authorised for our use.
The problem as I see it, is that we are stuck with old
ideas and cannot imagine any change. Economically, the
debate seems stuck between "Capitalism" and "Socialism" (at
least Socialism as envisaged by Marxist/Statists) and we
think that we have to choose between the two. We can't
imagine any new system or new novel ways of looking at
property rights, or carrying on the evolution of our
economic system further. Everything is petty. UBI changes
nothing. Stakeholder Capitalism is just the same old
system with a new face. Politically we are stuck again
with old ideas. Nothing really new, except for maybe the
SJW's, but that really is just rehashed Christian guilt.
We need something like a new Enlightenment. One isn't
coming.
Not many people think in terms of when enough is enough.
Sounds like there are some interesting thoughts by these
people:
[o] The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond
Capitalism | Paperback
Matthias Schmelzer | Andrea Vetter | Aaron Vansintjan
Verso Books | Verso
Political Science / Political Economy / Public Policy - Environmental Policy / History & Theory
Published Jun 28, 2022
"This book provides a vision for postcapitalism beyond growth.
Building on a vibrant field of research, it discusses the
political economy and the politics of a non-growing economy. It
charts a path forward through policies that democratise the
economy, "now-topias" that create free spaces for
experimentation, and counter-hegemonic movements that make it
possible to break with the logic of growth. Degrowth
perspectives offer a way to step off the treadmill of an
alienating, expansionist, and hierarchical system."
Not many people think in terms of when enough is enough.
Sounds like there are some interesting thoughts by these
people:
[o] The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond
Capitalism | Paperback
Matthias Schmelzer | Andrea Vetter | Aaron Vansintjan
Verso Books | Verso
Political Science / Political Economy / Public Policy - Environmental Policy / Hist
Published Jun 28, 2022
"This book provides a vision for postcapitalism beyond growth.
Building on a vibrant field of research, it discusses the
political economy and the politics of a non-growing economy. It
charts a path forward through policies that democratise the
economy, "now-topias" that create free spaces for
experimentation, and counter-hegemonic movements that make it
possible to break with the logic of growth. Degrowth
perspectives offer a way to step off the treadmill of an
alienating, expansionist, and hierarchical system."
[o] The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond
Capitalism | Paperback
Matthias Schmelzer | Andrea Vetter | Aaron Vansintjan
Haven't heard of this book, but it seems like one that is
worth adding to my reading queue. [...]
to consume less, but we have little choice with regards to
production. Most people are employed, and the company is
controlled by a few who choose how much is produced, and we
have to produce in excess to take part in the economy, to
pay rent, buy a house.
I would think that if/when people can be satisfied by consuming
less, then production/imports wouldn't be an issue.. and all of
us would settle into a 3 or 4-day work week.
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