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That's exactly my primary point - Government, as you say, can not come out publicly and have their hands tied in many ways. Google can, and this, combined with
by mixmax 17y ago
That's exactly my primary point - Government, as you say, can not come out publicly and have their hands tied in many ways. Google can, and this, combined with their size, konwledge and brand, makes them a strong player in international politics. In this particular instance they are clearly the lead that everyone else, including the state department, follows.
As for your second point, I totally agree. There might be a good chance the government knew, I'm no security expert so I'll refrain from taking a stance. That's why I added the footnote :-)
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago> Google can, and this, combined with their size, konwledge and brand, makes them a strong player in international politics. Nothing new here. Big business has been taking a leadership role in international politics for decades. See: WTO.
- mixmax 17y agoYou're right, and it seems to be an escalating trend. There are plenty of examples, but none as big as this. Maybe there will be more if the trend continues.
- madh 17y agoThe corporation has been immensely powerful for hundreds of years, e.g., United Fruit and British East India Company.
- ajb 17y agoI'm not sure Google were wise to be all that public about this either. If China decides to bear a grudge, things could get very nasty for them.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- plinkplonk 17y ago"If China decides to bear a grudge, things could get very nasty for them." How? Once Google moves out of China what can the Chinese government do to them?
- mattmanser 17y agoAttack them daily
- weavejester 17y agoHow so?
- ajb 17y ago'who will rid me of this turbulent priest?'
- weavejester 17y agoAnd how will China's "knights" deal with Google? Presumably it involves less swords than the assassination of Thomas Becket?
- orangecat 17y agoGoogle doesn't need China; even the Nexus One is made in Taiwan. Unlike most other large companies (and all governments), they're in an excellent position to call out the Chinese government.
- Estragon 17y agoeven the Nexus One is made in Taiwan How long do you think Taiwan is going to last as an autonomous entity, now that it can no longer rely on the US for military support, because the US is in hock to the PRC?
- billswift 17y agoThis is even worse than your earlier point about Chinese dumping dollars. The PRC would barely be able to invade Taiwan right now even without US aid. Worse for your point is that the US could screw over the PRC without firing a shot simply by repudiating the debt the Chinese hold.
- yummyfajitas 17y agoWhen you owe China $1 billion, you've got a problem. When you own China $684 billion, China has a problem.
- philwelch 17y agoThe US was just as much in hock to the PRC in 1996, when Clinton decided to sail a few aircraft carriers through the Taiwan Straits. After that, the PRC lost their taste for attacking Taiwan. The reintegration of Taiwan will happen through a political arrangement between the CPC and the KMT, not through war.
- orangecat 17y agoHow long do you think Taiwan is going to last as an autonomous entity, now that it can no longer rely on the US for military support, because the US is in hock to the PRC? The PRC owns many pieces of paper. Attacking Taiwan would be an excellent reason to repudiate the value of that paper.
- jbooth 17y agoMoreover, Page and Brin met with Obama once or twice during the campaign for some pretty in-depth meetings. More than the government "knowing", this response could very well be deniably calibrated with the US government's knowledge and advice.