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Quite interesting how much Xi Jinping has sought to humble Jack Ma.

mensetmanusman 4y ago
Also known as destroying those that might compete with your power. There are only so many billions to go around for Xi and his family.
- blacksmith_tb 4y ago
  Consolidating power is a convincing argument, but Xi doesn't seem to especially greedy (I am sure he's extremely comfortable, but he doesn't strike me as only in it for the money somehow). Though I see his extended family do seem to be doing a lot of business[1]. 1:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping#Family https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping#Family
  - miohtama 4y ago
    For the great leaders, money no longer matter as their yes man can deliver them anything they wish. Thus, the next step on Maslow hierarchy is to make oneself to a god: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_need...
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- from 4y ago
  This line of reasoning is increasingly popular for some reason, probably because it's pushed by people like Bill Browder and some influential think tank types but it doesn't really stand to reason that dictators' primary motivation is money. I'm not doubting that Xi or Putin or whoever are probably worth at least a few hundred million (definitely not $200 billion) but if all they care about is money and the high life why have they been in politics for 25+ years when they could be living in London with a new identity and a few billion dollars?
  - yummypaint 4y ago
    It isn't logical. Some people are mentally ill in such a way that they are compelled to single mindedly seek power. Once they actually attain what they originally thought they wanted, nothing changes, because it's the process of gaining power that drives them. I think these people are more widespread than we would like to think, but in normal context they are merely considered "successful."
abudabi123 4y ago
Jack Ma woke Xi Jinping to the West's interference in the Communist Youth League's United Front and the grooming of the nextgen communist econocrates. Had Jack Ma run his mouth through a political focus group and understood messaging in the way of ad industry before venting on the State regulator he might still head the Ant Group.
- turndown 4y ago
  I am not sure the West even needed to influence these people in the slightest when China has actively sought out western ideas since economic relations began anew back in the late 90s. If these people all saw a generation of success due to blending of profitable ideas, why wouldn’t they “turn west”, so to speak? But you are right, Ma did alert people in China(and the outer world) with how casually unaligned to the party his speech was.

Also known as destroying those that might compete with your power. There are only so many billions to go around for Xi and his family.

blacksmith_tb 4y ago
Consolidating power is a convincing argument, but Xi doesn't seem to especially greedy (I am sure he's extremely comfortable, but he doesn't strike me as only in it for the money somehow). Though I see his extended family do seem to be doing a lot of business[1]. 1:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping#Family https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping#Family
- miohtama 4y ago
  For the great leaders, money no longer matter as their yes man can deliver them anything they wish. Thus, the next step on Maslow hierarchy is to make oneself to a god: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_need...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
from 4y ago
This line of reasoning is increasingly popular for some reason, probably because it's pushed by people like Bill Browder and some influential think tank types but it doesn't really stand to reason that dictators' primary motivation is money. I'm not doubting that Xi or Putin or whoever are probably worth at least a few hundred million (definitely not $200 billion) but if all they care about is money and the high life why have they been in politics for 25+ years when they could be living in London with a new identity and a few billion dollars?
- yummypaint 4y ago
  It isn't logical. Some people are mentally ill in such a way that they are compelled to single mindedly seek power. Once they actually attain what they originally thought they wanted, nothing changes, because it's the process of gaining power that drives them. I think these people are more widespread than we would like to think, but in normal context they are merely considered "successful."

abudabi123 4y ago

Jack Ma woke Xi Jinping to the West's interference in the Communist Youth League's United Front and the grooming of the nextgen communist econocrates. Had Jack Ma run his mouth through a political focus group and understood messaging in the way of ad industry before venting on the State regulator he might still head the Ant Group.

turndown 4y ago
I am not sure the West even needed to influence these people in the slightest when China has actively sought out western ideas since economic relations began anew back in the late 90s. If these people all saw a generation of success due to blending of profitable ideas, why wouldn’t they “turn west”, so to speak? But you are right, Ma did alert people in China(and the outer world) with how casually unaligned to the party his speech was.