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I would counterargue that corners are often cut just as terribly in the US. The corners are simply cut slower, because everything here is done slower. For exam

I would counterargue that corners are often cut just as terribly in the US. The corners are simply cut slower, because everything here is done slower. For example, electronics built in the US are typically shittier than electronics built in China, despite taking significantly longer to build and employees being paid orders of magnitude more (as noted by companies like Apple, Purism, etc.) Within our culture in the US there is a clear and comically obvious problem of bureaucracy and red-tape. This doesn't really exist in software yet, but the day our government gets its claws into the software industry is the day that innovation in the US can be put to rest. (Well, it's already happening - if you try to create a software startup that processes user data, you are probably breaking tens of laws you don't even know exist.) There is also a cultural difference. One thing I have noticed when working with my Chinese coworkers is that they do not bullshit nearly as much as my other coworkers. They get straight to the point, deal in metrics and facts, and don't try to inflate their accomplishments. Maybe that's just my current work environment, maybe it's a cultural thing - I suspect the latter.

nouveaux 5y ago
> "I would counterargue that corners are often cut just as terribly in the US." I would agree with you. The bay bridge had issues with the steel[0]. The millenium tower[1] also has corner cutting problems. The question is the frequency. I believe corner cutting happens far less in the US than say China. As a Chinese person in the US, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that people in China would prefer foreign products over Chinese ones across the board. The last time I was in China, my friends tell me that they prefer products from Korea over ones in China. The problem is the cost. > "Within our culture in the US there is a clear and comically obvious problem of bureaucracy and broken red-tape." People often complain about bureaucracy and broken red-tape in the US but after thinking about this deeply, I'm beginning to suspect that the US government is one of the more efficient governments in the world: 1) How many people in this world can honestly say "Wow my government is so efficient that it's more efficient than the corporations in my country." 2) The US has some amazing departments. National parks, military/CIA/FBA/NSA, federal reserve, state department, FDA, CDC, DOD (research), public universities, community college, consumer protection, USPS, etc. What they actually accomplish is amazing and is at the top of the world or near the top. 3) The US accomplishes so much while maintaining a democracy. The US pioneers human rights around the world. [0] https://www.wired.com/2015/06/mystery-brand-new-bay-bridges-corroded-steel/ https://www.wired.com/2015/06/mystery-brand-new-bay-bridges-... [1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/san-francisco-millennium-tower-sinking https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/san-francisc...
- sudosysgen 5y ago
  I can honestly say that many agencies of my goverent are more efficient than the private alternative. As far as pioneering human rights around the world, a few million dead innocents disagree. People who say the US is good at human rights always limit it to within their own borders. Internationally, the US has caused more death and destruction than almost any country.
- csomar 5y ago
  > USPS You certain? I used them a couple times and they are the most ridiculous postal carrier I've ever interacted with.
- jokethrowaway 5y ago
  No government is as efficient as corporations (hard to get anything done when you're eating doughnuts on tax-payers' money and you can't fail or be fired!) but I agree the us government is not the worst. If you want to see real bad go to some southern European country.
- robinjhuang 5y ago
  When’s the last time you were back in China? That used to be the case, but increasingly less so. Especially after Trump’s trade war. Chinese people I know proudly buy Huawei and Nio cars. Even American products that Chinese people love like iPhones and Tesla are produced in China now… Also 1. I don’t think people generally say that. 2. CDC made a huge mess of the pandemic (eg not stocking enough PPE). USPS is in big financial trouble. 3. This is huge topic but I’m inclined to say US messes up as often as it succeeds. Afghanistan will have 22 million people starving this year because of US sanctions. They promote democracy, but not human rights. But overall I think you’re right to say the US government is one of the “more” efficient ones.
  - vkou 5y ago
    USPS is in big financial trouble because half the government is actively trying to kill it, by not allowing it to raise prices.

nouveaux 5y ago

> "I would counterargue that corners are often cut just as terribly in the US." I would agree with you. The bay bridge had issues with the steel[0]. The millenium tower[1] also has corner cutting problems. The question is the frequency. I believe corner cutting happens far less in the US than say China. As a Chinese person in the US, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that people in China would prefer foreign products over Chinese ones across the board. The last time I was in China, my friends tell me that they prefer products from Korea over ones in China. The problem is the cost. > "Within our culture in the US there is a clear and comically obvious problem of bureaucracy and broken red-tape." People often complain about bureaucracy and broken red-tape in the US but after thinking about this deeply, I'm beginning to suspect that the US government is one of the more efficient governments in the world: 1) How many people in this world can honestly say "Wow my government is so efficient that it's more efficient than the corporations in my country." 2) The US has some amazing departments. National parks, military/CIA/FBA/NSA, federal reserve, state department, FDA, CDC, DOD (research), public universities, community college, consumer protection, USPS, etc. What they actually accomplish is amazing and is at the top of the world or near the top. 3) The US accomplishes so much while maintaining a democracy. The US pioneers human rights around the world. [0] https://www.wired.com/2015/06/mystery-brand-new-bay-bridges-corroded-steel/ https://www.wired.com/2015/06/mystery-brand-new-bay-bridges-... [1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/san-francisco-millennium-tower-sinking https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/san-francisc...

sudosysgen 5y ago
I can honestly say that many agencies of my goverent are more efficient than the private alternative. As far as pioneering human rights around the world, a few million dead innocents disagree. People who say the US is good at human rights always limit it to within their own borders. Internationally, the US has caused more death and destruction than almost any country.
csomar 5y ago
> USPS You certain? I used them a couple times and they are the most ridiculous postal carrier I've ever interacted with.
jokethrowaway 5y ago
No government is as efficient as corporations (hard to get anything done when you're eating doughnuts on tax-payers' money and you can't fail or be fired!) but I agree the us government is not the worst. If you want to see real bad go to some southern European country.
robinjhuang 5y ago
When’s the last time you were back in China? That used to be the case, but increasingly less so. Especially after Trump’s trade war. Chinese people I know proudly buy Huawei and Nio cars. Even American products that Chinese people love like iPhones and Tesla are produced in China now… Also 1. I don’t think people generally say that. 2. CDC made a huge mess of the pandemic (eg not stocking enough PPE). USPS is in big financial trouble. 3. This is huge topic but I’m inclined to say US messes up as often as it succeeds. Afghanistan will have 22 million people starving this year because of US sanctions. They promote democracy, but not human rights. But overall I think you’re right to say the US government is one of the “more” efficient ones.
- vkou 5y ago
  USPS is in big financial trouble because half the government is actively trying to kill it, by not allowing it to raise prices.