4 ms·

If anything, it goes to show representative democracy plus unrestrained capitalism is not the only way to run a modern, advanced civilization.

quadcore 9y ago
Already you're jumping to conclusions :D
briandear 9y ago
China a "modern, advanced civilization?" You've clearly never lived in China. China is all about the façade. And a MODERN, advanced civilization wouldn't be polluting their entire country like it was a tannery in 1758. Taihu lake, near Suzhou, is practically radioactive. Fish in pretty much any freshwater within the entire country is toxic. I lived in China for 3 years or so and as soon as my son was born, we got the hell out -- it's a fun place, but no "modern, advanced" civilization operates like China. It's a country of mostly uneducated, superstitious peasants who suddenly got a lot of money and are kept in line with the threat of "re-education" or death. Even an artist has to fear for his life. http://aiweiwei.com http://aiweiwei.com Then there's Lui Xiaobo. Remember, this "modern, advanced" civilization still has Traditional Chinese Medicine as a "thing." It's a complete fraud with zero scientific basis: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chinese-medicine/ https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin... This "modern, advanced" civilization is responsible for massive worldwide poaching to satisfy demand for quack TCM remedies: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/08/extinction-by-traditional-chinese-medicine-an-environmental-disaster/#c42db405bd31 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/08/extinctio... Really, powdered rhino horn? That's has the chemical composition of human fingernails -- and works just as "effectively." They still do "postpartum confinement" http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-confinement/index.html http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c... -- based on pretty much nothing but old wives tales and dangerous superstition. Then there's the atrocious human rights record: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/china-and-tibet https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/china... I actually like China -- but the CCP isn't running a "modern, advanced civilization." They're the Beverly Hillbillies.
- com2kid 9y ago
  > They still do "postpartum confinement" http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c.. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c.... -- based on pretty much nothing but old wives tales and dangerous superstition. And a short time ago Americans were electro-shocking homosexuals to try and make them straight. > Remember, this "modern, advanced" civilization still has Traditional Chinese Medicine as a "thing." It's a complete fraud with zero scientific basis: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin.. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin.... America has chiropractors covered under insurance, people who believe in homeopathy, and a growing culture of vaccine denial. No culture is perfect. Not too long ago we had horribly polluted waters, and in a lot of places we still do. Have you seen the impact of pollution from pig farms[0][1]? I'm not trying to play what-about-ism here, I am just saying that "modern, advanced civilizations" do all the things you listed. The Chinese government is capable of undertaking massive infrastructure projects, and they do an incredible job of picking industries for government protectionism, allowing for growth of local talent. Multiple areas of technology and advanced automation are both areas where China has invested heavily in education and building a huge local talent pool. Pulling off multi-decade economic growth plans is impressive, they plotted a path from basic industry all the way to an advanced technology sector, and then executed on that plan. That more than qualifies them as an advanced modern society. [0]http://observer.com/2017/05/pig-waste-factory-farming-north-carolina/ http://observer.com/2017/05/pig-waste-factory-farming-north-... [1]http://www.businessinsider.com/mishka-henners-photos-of-american-feedlots-2014-8 http://www.businessinsider.com/mishka-henners-photos-of-amer...

quadcore 9y ago

Already you're jumping to conclusions :D

briandear 9y ago

China a "modern, advanced civilization?" You've clearly never lived in China. China is all about the façade. And a MODERN, advanced civilization wouldn't be polluting their entire country like it was a tannery in 1758. Taihu lake, near Suzhou, is practically radioactive. Fish in pretty much any freshwater within the entire country is toxic. I lived in China for 3 years or so and as soon as my son was born, we got the hell out -- it's a fun place, but no "modern, advanced" civilization operates like China. It's a country of mostly uneducated, superstitious peasants who suddenly got a lot of money and are kept in line with the threat of "re-education" or death. Even an artist has to fear for his life. http://aiweiwei.com http://aiweiwei.com Then there's Lui Xiaobo. Remember, this "modern, advanced" civilization still has Traditional Chinese Medicine as a "thing." It's a complete fraud with zero scientific basis: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chinese-medicine/ https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin... This "modern, advanced" civilization is responsible for massive worldwide poaching to satisfy demand for quack TCM remedies: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/08/extinction-by-traditional-chinese-medicine-an-environmental-disaster/#c42db405bd31 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/08/extinctio... Really, powdered rhino horn? That's has the chemical composition of human fingernails -- and works just as "effectively." They still do "postpartum confinement" http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-confinement/index.html http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c... -- based on pretty much nothing but old wives tales and dangerous superstition. Then there's the atrocious human rights record: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/china-and-tibet https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/china... I actually like China -- but the CCP isn't running a "modern, advanced civilization." They're the Beverly Hillbillies.

com2kid 9y ago
> They still do "postpartum confinement" http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c.. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/china/chinese-postpartum-c.... -- based on pretty much nothing but old wives tales and dangerous superstition. And a short time ago Americans were electro-shocking homosexuals to try and make them straight. > Remember, this "modern, advanced" civilization still has Traditional Chinese Medicine as a "thing." It's a complete fraud with zero scientific basis: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin.. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/retconning-traditional-chin.... America has chiropractors covered under insurance, people who believe in homeopathy, and a growing culture of vaccine denial. No culture is perfect. Not too long ago we had horribly polluted waters, and in a lot of places we still do. Have you seen the impact of pollution from pig farms[0][1]? I'm not trying to play what-about-ism here, I am just saying that "modern, advanced civilizations" do all the things you listed. The Chinese government is capable of undertaking massive infrastructure projects, and they do an incredible job of picking industries for government protectionism, allowing for growth of local talent. Multiple areas of technology and advanced automation are both areas where China has invested heavily in education and building a huge local talent pool. Pulling off multi-decade economic growth plans is impressive, they plotted a path from basic industry all the way to an advanced technology sector, and then executed on that plan. That more than qualifies them as an advanced modern society. [0]http://observer.com/2017/05/pig-waste-factory-farming-north-carolina/ http://observer.com/2017/05/pig-waste-factory-farming-north-... [1]http://www.businessinsider.com/mishka-henners-photos-of-american-feedlots-2014-8 http://www.businessinsider.com/mishka-henners-photos-of-amer...