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Is China a Threat to the U.S.?

With more than two billion residents, the world’s most spoken language and a booming economy, China is undoubtedly a rising global superpower. Suddenly America is faced with the prospect of a country whose financial and military power could soon rival its own, prompting many to wonder if China is a friend or foe. Is China really a red flag for the U.S.?

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Yeah, and Mao Zedong was just a harmless old man...

So?

And Zimbabwe says it's a democracy . That doesn't make it true, dear.

- Blue Linchpin June 10, 2009 9:06PM

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- Actually, Zimbabwe calls itself a republic.
  
  I don't know which part of your response is most reprehensible; the fact that you changed the subject from China to Zimbabwe, or that you took three months to think of a reply, or your condescending use of the word "dear."
  
  You don't need to educate me on Africa, as I'm willing to bet big money that I have much more experience with the country and its people than you have. As for China being "anything but communist" I'm interested to know what your version of communism consists of. Maybe you and Hu Jintao should have a chat with each other.
  
  - Livvy June 11, 2009 2:38PM
  
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  - I apologize
    
    I really do. All I have to do, all day, is sit around and debate with you. In fact, that's what I've been doing all this time--just thinking of a response! It's true.
    
    Wow, what an arrogant, self-absorbed creep you are.
    
    My point was that governments and politicians call themselves all sorts of things, and only an idiot like yourself believes them and takes it at face value. What politicians say should never be the first measure of what something is.
    
    Communism is a stateless, classless society where all property is abolished/owned commonly. You're free to argue that all attempts at introducing communism (which have so far been only via Marxism, ie, introducing socialism first, which introduces a corrupt and authoritarian government) lead to something not-communist, but that doesn't change the definition of communism.
    
    I'm really sorry, I know, it sucks not to be able to frame debates to your advantage.
    
    - Blue Linchpin June 11, 2009 7:21PM
    
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    - Viel Glück
      
      Idiot? Creep? If you can't do better than that well...good luck becoming a journalist.
      
      I get your point. I do. And I never take what someone says at face value. But that's another matter!
      
      Ponder with me, won't you, the differences between ideologies and reality. On paper, most forms of government look absolutely functional (some, even desirable). I don't think Mao Zedong's ideologies incorporated the possibility (or probability) of anything like the Tienanmen Square massacre happening. Nevertheless, his legacy opened wide the possibility for just such an event.
      
      All forms of government have a propensity to collapse themselves under their own ideologies - as you said, communism becoming not-communist. For instance, we are classified as a capitalist society , however, capitalism depends on competition. The great compromiser of our society is the monopoly. Once one is established and becomes completely lateral it is virtually impossible for competition to exist. Ironically, monopolies are made possible because of capitalism - the very thing that they destroy. So of course, intervention is required.
      
      Communism (and socialism, for that matter) lend themselves more to negative, rather than positive financial incentives. This absolutely promotes greed and selfishness in a widespread fashion which is not conducive to either communism or socialism.
      
      What I'm getting at here is that pure ideologies really don't exist anywhere. There is no completely democratic, communist, capitalist, socialist, or Marxist country in the world. Whatever state we are in at this time, it is due to the to the ideologies that the masses have adhered to up to this point. So to say that China is a Communist country isn't technically correct, but to say that it is "anything but communist" isn't quite right either.
      
      I'm curious - what DO you want people to classify China as?
      
      - Livvy June 11, 2009 11:52PM
      
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