9 ms·

I can't be the only one noticing so much noise about China in American media. Is America really so scared of being number 2?

by NTDF9 7y ago

jayd16 7y ago
Of course. Our entire national psyche has been centered around American exceptionalism for at least 70 years. Scared isn't exactly right. We're very rival focused, I would say. It's China now but there was a time when it felt like Japan would control the electronics industry, for example.
- NTDF9 7y ago
  But is there an acceptance that the exceptionalism cannot be had by massive global bullying, wars, lack of investment in people vs corporations? I mean, its literally impossible to be number 1, if the competition is investing in their people and aren't going to insane wars. America is still number 2 and that's not a bad place.
  - luckylion 7y ago
    Number 2 doesn't get to control what the numbers 3 - X do, number 1 does. US wealth depends on being the primary global power.
  - jayd16 7y ago
    You say that but quality of life is still considered considerably higher in the US than China. Even if the trajectory looks good, as more of China moves to a middle class lifestyle, the growth that's fueled by cheap labor will slow.
    - NTDF9 7y ago
      Sure. But I don't know what's better. A life of $10/day with dirt cheap healthcare or a life of $60/day with the constant fear of losing healthcare. This is why PPP comparison matters.
- User23 7y ago
  The US no longer has any coherent national psyche. It's just a variety of different identity groups scrabbling over who gets how much of the pie. China isn't so much rising, as they are preparing for the inevitable collapse of the US Empire.
elefanten 7y ago
There are many alternative hypotheses to your rather provocative and insulting one. As China's prominence or output rise, it makes sense coverage would rise too. It also makes sense that as China has more impact on the world, it will naturally affect the interests of a greater number of people. This in turn, means more people have a stake in something China is or isn't doing.
- NTDF9 7y ago
  It's not meant to be a provocation or an insult. It's just interesting to see how ingrained American exceptionalism is in our psyches. So much so that we are almost willingly blind to how far behind we've fallen. Also, the media and conversations towards China haven't been less than provocative. Your stance of China being more visible because they now have more impact is accurate. It's more humble, more like a true winner, a true sport who was number 1 for many years but accepts there's another game in town. But unfortunately, we're seeing more catty behavior than mature winner behavior
duxup 7y ago
Humans are afraid of being number 2 after being number 1. All of them would be.
- NTDF9 7y ago
  How about being humble, accepting and competing to regain number 1 without being catty high schooler about it?
  - duxup 7y ago
    You would have to ask them.

I can't be the only one noticing so much noise about China in American media. Is America really so scared of being number 2?

by NTDF9 7y ago

I can't be the only one noticing so much noise about China in American media. Is America really so scared of being number 2?

jayd16 7y ago

Of course. Our entire national psyche has been centered around American exceptionalism for at least 70 years. Scared isn't exactly right. We're very rival focused, I would say. It's China now but there was a time when it felt like Japan would control the electronics industry, for example.

NTDF9 7y ago
But is there an acceptance that the exceptionalism cannot be had by massive global bullying, wars, lack of investment in people vs corporations? I mean, its literally impossible to be number 1, if the competition is investing in their people and aren't going to insane wars. America is still number 2 and that's not a bad place.
- luckylion 7y ago
  Number 2 doesn't get to control what the numbers 3 - X do, number 1 does. US wealth depends on being the primary global power.
- jayd16 7y ago
  You say that but quality of life is still considered considerably higher in the US than China. Even if the trajectory looks good, as more of China moves to a middle class lifestyle, the growth that's fueled by cheap labor will slow.
  - NTDF9 7y ago
    Sure. But I don't know what's better. A life of $10/day with dirt cheap healthcare or a life of $60/day with the constant fear of losing healthcare. This is why PPP comparison matters.
User23 7y ago
The US no longer has any coherent national psyche. It's just a variety of different identity groups scrabbling over who gets how much of the pie. China isn't so much rising, as they are preparing for the inevitable collapse of the US Empire.

elefanten 7y ago

There are many alternative hypotheses to your rather provocative and insulting one. As China's prominence or output rise, it makes sense coverage would rise too. It also makes sense that as China has more impact on the world, it will naturally affect the interests of a greater number of people. This in turn, means more people have a stake in something China is or isn't doing.

NTDF9 7y ago
It's not meant to be a provocation or an insult. It's just interesting to see how ingrained American exceptionalism is in our psyches. So much so that we are almost willingly blind to how far behind we've fallen. Also, the media and conversations towards China haven't been less than provocative. Your stance of China being more visible because they now have more impact is accurate. It's more humble, more like a true winner, a true sport who was number 1 for many years but accepts there's another game in town. But unfortunately, we're seeing more catty behavior than mature winner behavior

duxup 7y ago

Humans are afraid of being number 2 after being number 1. All of them would be.

NTDF9 7y ago
How about being humble, accepting and competing to regain number 1 without being catty high schooler about it?
- duxup 7y ago
  You would have to ask them.