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Eventually this will become a battle of systems, and it is not clear that this time, freedom will win. The Chinese system works very well, and in some regards m

Eventually this will become a battle of systems, and it is not clear that this time, freedom will win. The Chinese system works very well, and in some regards much better than the western model of governance. It feels very much that the western world is in decline - we can no longer coordinate on large-scale projects, or produce beauty. The aqueducts are still standing, but we can't build new ones.

echelon 6y ago
> we can no longer coordinate on large-scale projects, or produce beauty This is some incredible malarkey. > The aqueducts are still standing, but we can't build new ones. SpaceX, Tesla, Moderna, Apple M1, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Brain, James Webb telescope, the new Perseverance Mars rover ... what the heck are you talking about? > The Chinese system works very well Not for Uyghurs or political dissidents. Also, we just voted out the Republicans wholesale (!!) Can you do that in China? I'd take our system any day of the week over being disappeared for disagreeing with officials. As much as I dislike the anti-maskers, we have freedom. And that's so much better.
- trasz 6y ago
  You voted between two parties that are largely the same. Not much different from China, tbh.
- MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
  > SpaceX, Tesla, [...] what the heck are you talking about? Capitalism works well both in the US and in China. Those are private companies, and I hope you don't try to list NASA projects. Elon wants to bring down the cost of space transportation to 10$ per Kg, a Space Shuttle launch used to cost 1.5B$. My point was about the public sector. Last time I checked, the high-speed railway they were trying to build in California added another billion $ to its budget. Meanwhile, feel free to look how much high-speed rail China has built in the last few years. > Not for Uyghurs or political dissidents. Just because a system works very well for the majority of its citizens doesn't mean it works for everyone. You are not refuting the central argument. > I'd take our system any day of the week over being disappeared for disagreeing with officials. You seem to have the impression I'd prefer the Chinese system. I don't. That does not mean you can't take a hard look at what they do better.

echelon 6y ago

> we can no longer coordinate on large-scale projects, or produce beauty This is some incredible malarkey. > The aqueducts are still standing, but we can't build new ones. SpaceX, Tesla, Moderna, Apple M1, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Brain, James Webb telescope, the new Perseverance Mars rover ... what the heck are you talking about? > The Chinese system works very well Not for Uyghurs or political dissidents. Also, we just voted out the Republicans wholesale (!!) Can you do that in China? I'd take our system any day of the week over being disappeared for disagreeing with officials. As much as I dislike the anti-maskers, we have freedom. And that's so much better.

trasz 6y ago
You voted between two parties that are largely the same. Not much different from China, tbh.
MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
> SpaceX, Tesla, [...] what the heck are you talking about? Capitalism works well both in the US and in China. Those are private companies, and I hope you don't try to list NASA projects. Elon wants to bring down the cost of space transportation to 10$ per Kg, a Space Shuttle launch used to cost 1.5B$. My point was about the public sector. Last time I checked, the high-speed railway they were trying to build in California added another billion $ to its budget. Meanwhile, feel free to look how much high-speed rail China has built in the last few years. > Not for Uyghurs or political dissidents. Just because a system works very well for the majority of its citizens doesn't mean it works for everyone. You are not refuting the central argument. > I'd take our system any day of the week over being disappeared for disagreeing with officials. You seem to have the impression I'd prefer the Chinese system. I don't. That does not mean you can't take a hard look at what they do better.