The recent rhetoric of fear of rise of China as a competitor are super interesting as an observer. For most of post-world-war era, the US tried to make (someti

The recent rhetoric of fear of rise of China as a competitor are super interesting as an observer. For most of post-world-war era, the US tried to make (sometimes bomb) countries into making them more like America. China did that. Then they were called copy cats. Now China makes more and better goods and services and America (at least the local fear mongerers) seem shocked, taken by surprise and adversarial. Which begs the question, didn't America always want other countries to be like them? Another interesting aspect of the rise of the "others": For so many years, American higher education invited (and also sucked money) off of foreign students. For the large part, they stayed here and innovated and started companies and made America a tech powerhouse at the expense of the countries that raised those kids. Then America started becoming more protectionist, which caused these budding young well-educated adults to go back to their own country with American education and American experience. What did the protectionists think these kids would do in their home countries? Twiddle thumbs? Of course they'll make competing products. They are skilled, educated and already such risk takers to go to a foreign land when they were young. The complete recipe for entrepreneurs and leaders. Really really funny to observe. As a non-partisan observer, it almost seems like a high school bully scrambling to protect their turf while the nerdy kid built themselves up over the summer and is doing everything better. It's funny and sad at the same time. I wonder if there's a phrase for this feeling.