"don't think Trump reads the NYT. In fact, i doubt he reads at all."
According to reports that seem highly plausible to me he almost never reads written words but constantly watches a lot of cable TV including a lot of documentaries. So he actually has accumulated a lot of knowledge on many subjects even if perhaps not as deep as reading academic books.
My only thought is that, I think most of the world's powerful underestimate the popularity of Trump. I very much believe he would be elected in China were he able to run. I think the only Asian country he wouldn't get elected in is Japan, and I think most of the world is similar.
I despise the man, but he is very, very popular across the world, not just America.
Surprised that some people think Trump would be elected in China. Fortunately under China’s democratic system, Trump would need to have a solid track record of serving the people before being allowed to run.
But I am sorry to learn that some of us think the electorate can be so foolish to elect Trump.
…. Update: just thinking about this further, I think the only reason Trump is electable in the US is because the alternatives are so awful. Same with Starmer, Mertz (Germany), Macron (France), Meloni (Italy), Carney (Canada) and now Albanese (in Australia). If Trump were to run at grassroots elections in China, I doubt he would have any chance at all.
Im appalled to think collective Asians would be as dumb as 1/3 of the people in America. Especially the Chinese, who strike me as repelled by chaos and idiocy. I could be wrong of course, since I rarely interact with Chinese nationals.
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement, would cause havoc across the globe."
This is an interesting way of putting it. It implies that what happened was an anomaly, a temporary madness that is not intrinsic to the system nor a result of what the system was doing to itself. As written, it implies that you see this as a bug, not a natural product of how things have been playing out in the US. Obviously, that may not be what you meant, so could you clarify? Do you think the US would have done something similar under another president either now or in the immediate near term given the current political situation in the US? Or is it your view that this attack on China is a pure aberration that would not have happened under any other circumstance?
(I should, in the interests of stating my bias, say that I do think any other president, whether Kamala or - if Trump had never been born - a Republican president would have done something to attack China aggressively. I'm not even sure, given the current state of competency in the political elites which seems to be both entrenched and systemic, that they would have been more competent at it. But a contrary view would be interesting, especially if it's not simply a blind faith, oh, I think America always does the right thing belief.)
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement..... For the first time since WWII, the world has had serious second thoughts about entrusting the majority of its assets in the US"
Robert....I think you need to take a less hysterical, more nuanced and broad analysis of current events, particularly the 21st century landscape leading to his re-election. Trump can lack discipline and be shambolic, but it is consistent with his actions as business man for decades.
The world recognizes this.Tactical retreats can lead to strategic victories in the long run.
In the end - whenever that may be, it could be a win-win.
I suspect Trump prefers that outcome and does not see it as a Manichean struggle.
He is a man of commerce, not political ideology. Might I suggest he would be more aligned with Deng's approach of creatively upending an economic system and relationship?
Perhaps a stretched analogy..... We'll see. Moreover, many nations are receptive to Trumps entreaties and pivot from past consensus on multiple issues. Perhaps it is necessary.
Moreover, these "serious second thoughts" are more akin to a pause and likely temporary.
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement, would cause havoc across the globe."
Funny to see that the TDS epidemic has spread to China mainland too. Just because he does a "low brow" telesales approach to public politics "high brow" intellectuals feel aesthetic revulsion and "misunderestimate" his strategic politics which are lucid and rational whether right or wrong:
* For various reasons (antiunionization policies, financialization) the USA empire has overexpanded and overextended and in particular the home country has been weakened.
* Therefore the USA empire needs a phase of consolidation and in particular of shortening supply chains and bringing them many of them back to the home country.
This is not such a silly strategy for example the PRC government has the same diagnosis and policy as to food and energy security.
Great piece thanks Robert! I’m thinking of doing an update to my health/biopharma tariffs piece from last month. I’ll be in Shanghai this week - would be fab to meet up
"Especially that Russian arms industry could out produce the West"
Ridiculous point: as Putin has stated a few times USA+EU have much bigger populations economies and production capacity than the RF. Their governments are just pursuing a "mostly butter and some guns" policy as their territories are not directly involved while the RF has to do a "butter and guns" policy (Putin has explicitly rejected the "some butter and mostly guns" policy of the USSR). Otherwise they could very easily outgun the RF.
"The genocide in Gaza is another eye opener, really exposes the hypocrisy of the West’s “liberal values”. "
It is just an ordinary massacre like those in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen and nowhere on the scale of the extermination of the overseas Chinese in Indonesia in the "Jakarta solution".
“Meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense Vladimir Putin spoke at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense, held the National Defense Management Center on the Frunzenskaya Embankment December 21, 2022
[...] We will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when in the interests of increasing our defense capability, we destroyed our economy where it was necessary, and where it was not really necessary. We will not engage in the militarization of the country and the militarization of the economy, primarily because the current level of development, the structure of the economy and so on do not require it”
BTW, I don't think the genocide in Gaza is just an "ordinary massacre". For one thing, it could not have taken place without the tacit support of the US and EU, and the selective reporting on the part of the Western mainstream media.
«don't think the genocide in Gaza is just an "ordinary massacre". For one thing, it could not have taken place without the tacit support of the US and EU, and the selective reporting on the part of the Western mainstream media.»
Much the same for the ongoing massacres in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen, and also in the past those in Indonesia or Chile etc. that were explicitly organized by the USA government and even funded by the USA government in some cases.
I have a guess as to why the Gaza massacres are "special": racism.
The current massacres in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen are done by third-world people so "western" public opinions regards them as "savages" and expects them to do massacres, nothing new there, but the massacres in Gaza are done by israelis who are considered first-world people, and "western" public opinion is outraged that some first-world people are behaving like third-world people.
If the israelis managed to persuade "western" public opinion that they are third-world people too then the massacres in Gaza would probably not cause outrage, they would be just more massacres in the third-world, "western" public opinions would hardly notice them.
About shamelessness: IMHO, Trump has a high sensitivity to loss of face, but only when face-to-face. Trump probably is enough of a con-man psychopath that out of sight out of mind applies. His team are mostly neo-con sociopaths want to put him where he'll be less likely to flip flop on the way to war. The drive to get him face-to-face with Xi and Putin comes from his team as much as Trump himself but for very different reasons, Trump for ego, his team to lay a trap for Trump.
I've heard that the Tariffs on China are 10% everything, plus 10% consumer goods, plus 10% on automotive. This is probably wrong, but the total 30% gets mentioned enough in articles that I think some formula along this line still applies.
The martial law coup attempt in South Korea and the recent several sausage slicing on one China policy by Taiwan administration together with their own attempt at martial law coup (although soft coup without the guns) ala South Korea tells me the USA Deep State search for a Ukraine to throw at China is going full steam ahead.
Robert, don't get your hopes up. I don't think Trump reads the NYT.
In fact, i doubt he reads at all.
Hahaha, I hope his advisors do
"don't think Trump reads the NYT. In fact, i doubt he reads at all."
According to reports that seem highly plausible to me he almost never reads written words but constantly watches a lot of cable TV including a lot of documentaries. So he actually has accumulated a lot of knowledge on many subjects even if perhaps not as deep as reading academic books.
it is thus to gain an audience with Trump, Robert must venture into the video essay format now.
My only thought is that, I think most of the world's powerful underestimate the popularity of Trump. I very much believe he would be elected in China were he able to run. I think the only Asian country he wouldn't get elected in is Japan, and I think most of the world is similar.
I despise the man, but he is very, very popular across the world, not just America.
I very much agree
Surprised that some people think Trump would be elected in China. Fortunately under China’s democratic system, Trump would need to have a solid track record of serving the people before being allowed to run.
But I am sorry to learn that some of us think the electorate can be so foolish to elect Trump.
…. Update: just thinking about this further, I think the only reason Trump is electable in the US is because the alternatives are so awful. Same with Starmer, Mertz (Germany), Macron (France), Meloni (Italy), Carney (Canada) and now Albanese (in Australia). If Trump were to run at grassroots elections in China, I doubt he would have any chance at all.
Im appalled to think collective Asians would be as dumb as 1/3 of the people in America. Especially the Chinese, who strike me as repelled by chaos and idiocy. I could be wrong of course, since I rarely interact with Chinese nationals.
Whoah congrats!! I missed that completely. Will seek it out now.
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement, would cause havoc across the globe."
This is an interesting way of putting it. It implies that what happened was an anomaly, a temporary madness that is not intrinsic to the system nor a result of what the system was doing to itself. As written, it implies that you see this as a bug, not a natural product of how things have been playing out in the US. Obviously, that may not be what you meant, so could you clarify? Do you think the US would have done something similar under another president either now or in the immediate near term given the current political situation in the US? Or is it your view that this attack on China is a pure aberration that would not have happened under any other circumstance?
(I should, in the interests of stating my bias, say that I do think any other president, whether Kamala or - if Trump had never been born - a Republican president would have done something to attack China aggressively. I'm not even sure, given the current state of competency in the political elites which seems to be both entrenched and systemic, that they would have been more competent at it. But a contrary view would be interesting, especially if it's not simply a blind faith, oh, I think America always does the right thing belief.)
Another President like Harris would attack China, but likely won’t attack the whole world in the same manner that Trump did.
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement..... For the first time since WWII, the world has had serious second thoughts about entrusting the majority of its assets in the US"
Robert....I think you need to take a less hysterical, more nuanced and broad analysis of current events, particularly the 21st century landscape leading to his re-election. Trump can lack discipline and be shambolic, but it is consistent with his actions as business man for decades.
The world recognizes this.Tactical retreats can lead to strategic victories in the long run.
In the end - whenever that may be, it could be a win-win.
I suspect Trump prefers that outcome and does not see it as a Manichean struggle.
He is a man of commerce, not political ideology. Might I suggest he would be more aligned with Deng's approach of creatively upending an economic system and relationship?
Perhaps a stretched analogy..... We'll see. Moreover, many nations are receptive to Trumps entreaties and pivot from past consensus on multiple issues. Perhaps it is necessary.
Moreover, these "serious second thoughts" are more akin to a pause and likely temporary.
After all, is there a serious alternative.
I hope so! I have holdings in US stocks and bonds too….
"First of all, the world gets to see how the US, under a madman, chosen by a mad movement, would cause havoc across the globe."
Funny to see that the TDS epidemic has spread to China mainland too. Just because he does a "low brow" telesales approach to public politics "high brow" intellectuals feel aesthetic revulsion and "misunderestimate" his strategic politics which are lucid and rational whether right or wrong:
* For various reasons (antiunionization policies, financialization) the USA empire has overexpanded and overextended and in particular the home country has been weakened.
* Therefore the USA empire needs a phase of consolidation and in particular of shortening supply chains and bringing them many of them back to the home country.
This is not such a silly strategy for example the PRC government has the same diagnosis and policy as to food and energy security.
Great piece thanks Robert! I’m thinking of doing an update to my health/biopharma tariffs piece from last month. I’ll be in Shanghai this week - would be fab to meet up
The hot war between Russia and Ukraine (as proxy for the West) was also eye opening. Especially that Russian arms industry could out produce the West.
The genocide in Gaza is another eye opener, really exposes the hypocrisy of the West’s “liberal values”.
Lots of eye openers these past few years.
"Especially that Russian arms industry could out produce the West"
Ridiculous point: as Putin has stated a few times USA+EU have much bigger populations economies and production capacity than the RF. Their governments are just pursuing a "mostly butter and some guns" policy as their territories are not directly involved while the RF has to do a "butter and guns" policy (Putin has explicitly rejected the "some butter and mostly guns" policy of the USSR). Otherwise they could very easily outgun the RF.
"The genocide in Gaza is another eye opener, really exposes the hypocrisy of the West’s “liberal values”. "
It is just an ordinary massacre like those in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen and nowhere on the scale of the extermination of the overseas Chinese in Indonesia in the "Jakarta solution".
«while the RF has to do a "butter and guns" policy (Putin has explicitly rejected the "some butter and mostly guns" policy of the USSR)»
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/12/russia-takes-new-steps-to-secures-its-western-border.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02af14abc522200b#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02af14abc522200b
http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70159
“Meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense Vladimir Putin spoke at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense, held the National Defense Management Center on the Frunzenskaya Embankment December 21, 2022
[...] We will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when in the interests of increasing our defense capability, we destroyed our economy where it was necessary, and where it was not really necessary. We will not engage in the militarization of the country and the militarization of the economy, primarily because the current level of development, the structure of the economy and so on do not require it”
BTW, I don't think the genocide in Gaza is just an "ordinary massacre". For one thing, it could not have taken place without the tacit support of the US and EU, and the selective reporting on the part of the Western mainstream media.
«don't think the genocide in Gaza is just an "ordinary massacre". For one thing, it could not have taken place without the tacit support of the US and EU, and the selective reporting on the part of the Western mainstream media.»
Much the same for the ongoing massacres in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen, and also in the past those in Indonesia or Chile etc. that were explicitly organized by the USA government and even funded by the USA government in some cases.
I have a guess as to why the Gaza massacres are "special": racism.
The current massacres in Sudan, Myanmar, Tigray, Yemen are done by third-world people so "western" public opinions regards them as "savages" and expects them to do massacres, nothing new there, but the massacres in Gaza are done by israelis who are considered first-world people, and "western" public opinion is outraged that some first-world people are behaving like third-world people.
If the israelis managed to persuade "western" public opinion that they are third-world people too then the massacres in Gaza would probably not cause outrage, they would be just more massacres in the third-world, "western" public opinions would hardly notice them.
Thanks for reading my comment.
About shamelessness: IMHO, Trump has a high sensitivity to loss of face, but only when face-to-face. Trump probably is enough of a con-man psychopath that out of sight out of mind applies. His team are mostly neo-con sociopaths want to put him where he'll be less likely to flip flop on the way to war. The drive to get him face-to-face with Xi and Putin comes from his team as much as Trump himself but for very different reasons, Trump for ego, his team to lay a trap for Trump.
I've heard that the Tariffs on China are 10% everything, plus 10% consumer goods, plus 10% on automotive. This is probably wrong, but the total 30% gets mentioned enough in articles that I think some formula along this line still applies.
The martial law coup attempt in South Korea and the recent several sausage slicing on one China policy by Taiwan administration together with their own attempt at martial law coup (although soft coup without the guns) ala South Korea tells me the USA Deep State search for a Ukraine to throw at China is going full steam ahead.
Facepalm! Congratulations on the NYT editorial. Be careful though, now the NED will temp you as you hit their radar big time.
https://archive.is/ae4F2 is one of those 30% posts.