3 ms·

Maybe not the "good guys" in an absolute sense, but as a US citizen, I would expect the US to be more aligned with my interests than the Chinese government. Al

by imgabe 7y ago

Maybe not the "good guys" in an absolute sense, but as a US citizen, I would expect the US to be more aligned with my interests than the Chinese government. All countries are attempting to spy on each other. Of course they are. If you expect your country not to because of some misguided belief that this would make them a "good guy" you're just asking for your country to be weaker than others. It's not cognitive dissonance. That's like saying, "Gee you don't like when the other team scores a goal, but you sure are happy when your team does it!"

jakobegger 7y ago
If your own government sends you a manipulated device, is that really better than a foreign government sending you a manipulated device?
- imgabe 7y ago
  You pay taxes to your government, right? Is that really better than sending your money to a foreign government? Of course a manipulated device isn't ideal, but if it's one where I at least have some say in the government and that can in a lot of cases be trusted to respect human rights that's better. I mean are you actually asking if it's better to be ruled by the US government than the Chinese government? It is possible to go see for yourself.
  - jakobegger 7y ago
    First of all, I don't live in the US. I pay taxes to my government so that they build infrastructure, run public services, etc. Foreign governments normally don't do anything for me, so I don't pay them taxes (unless I'm travelling or doing business abroad, etc) I can think of no scenario where it would be acceptable that my government intercepts and manipulates a device that I ordered. If they would do that, I would protest and complain loudly. Also, I'm not "ruled" by my government. The government provides services and creates laws for the people. I don't live in a dictatorship.
- Chris_Chambers 7y ago
  Your IQ is no higher than 85, guaranteed.
- unlinked_dll 7y ago
  Yes. Doubly so when the other nation is controlled by Xi's Chinese Communist Party.
9dev 7y ago
> It's not cognitive dissonance. That's like saying, "Gee you don't like when the other team scores a goal, but you sure are happy when your team does it!" Not quite. More like you prefer it if your father scores with your wife than the neighbor, because his interest is more aligned with yours...

by imgabe 7y ago

jakobegger 7y ago

If your own government sends you a manipulated device, is that really better than a foreign government sending you a manipulated device?

imgabe 7y ago
You pay taxes to your government, right? Is that really better than sending your money to a foreign government? Of course a manipulated device isn't ideal, but if it's one where I at least have some say in the government and that can in a lot of cases be trusted to respect human rights that's better. I mean are you actually asking if it's better to be ruled by the US government than the Chinese government? It is possible to go see for yourself.
- jakobegger 7y ago
  First of all, I don't live in the US. I pay taxes to my government so that they build infrastructure, run public services, etc. Foreign governments normally don't do anything for me, so I don't pay them taxes (unless I'm travelling or doing business abroad, etc) I can think of no scenario where it would be acceptable that my government intercepts and manipulates a device that I ordered. If they would do that, I would protest and complain loudly. Also, I'm not "ruled" by my government. The government provides services and creates laws for the people. I don't live in a dictatorship.
Chris_Chambers 7y ago
Your IQ is no higher than 85, guaranteed.
unlinked_dll 7y ago
Yes. Doubly so when the other nation is controlled by Xi's Chinese Communist Party.

9dev 7y ago

> It's not cognitive dissonance. That's like saying, "Gee you don't like when the other team scores a goal, but you sure are happy when your team does it!" Not quite. More like you prefer it if your father scores with your wife than the neighbor, because his interest is more aligned with yours...