Taking Trump seriously and literally
Before becoming president, Trump said things that were so bizarre and so offensive that most people assumed he could not possibly be serious. They’d say things like, “Trump should be taken seriously, but not literally.” After all, if we took him literally, then he would have been a fascist.
Some examples. Prior to becoming president:
Trump said we should have stolen Iraq’s oil. Seriously, he said that.
Trump often lavished praise on Vladimir Putin. He said the previous Russian leader didn’t have a “firm enough hand”.
Trump said the Chinese showed strength in putting down the Tiananmen “riots” in 1989. Not brave peaceful protesters—rioters.
It seems incredible that a US president would actually favor fascist policies, so these comments were discounted as Trump just being Trump. It now appears that we should have taken Trump literally.
Today, Trump is brazenly trying to steal money from the Chinese, and is igniting a cold war with China.
Trump issued a pardon for soldiers viewed by our own military as war criminals and then uses one of them as a mascot for his campaign. People hate Nazi comparisons, but come on now—praising war criminals?
Trump encourages Xi Jinping to put Uighurs into concentration camps in Xinjiang province. People hate Nazi comparisons, but . . .
Here’s Bloomberg:
President Donald Trump repeatedly insisted on Monday that any sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations would have to include a substantial payment to the U.S. — but it wasn’t clear under what authority he can extract a payout.
It would be unprecedented, based on recent history, for the U.S. government to collect a cut of a transaction involving companies in which it doesn’t hold a stake. Trump said the money would come from China or an American buyer such as Microsoft Corp.
“The United States should get a very large percentage of that price, because we’re making it possible,” Trump told reporters at a news conference Monday evening. “Whatever the number is, it would come from the sale, which nobody else would be thinking out but me, but that’s the way I think. And I think it’s very fair.”
“Wasn’t clear under what authority”? Is Bloomberg that naive? Trump doesn’t need any authority to do anything. There’s no law that gives Trump the right to stop Americans from using TikTok, so why should the lack of legal authority stop Trump from engaging in what the Chinese correctly call “smash and grab“?
The US already controls almost all of the world’s biggest tech companies. But that’s not enough. When the Chinese finally come up with a competitor that American consumers like (recall how the anti-Chinese nationalists tell us they can’t invent anything) then it’s not enough that we ban it, we also want to steal it without paying fair compensation. The US government is like a mafia family. We won’t be satisfied until 90% of the world’s wealth is in NASDAQ.
Every day I pray for the moment when the Europeans and the Chinese finally have the nerve to stand up to Trump. Unfortunately, I don’t expect it to happen.
PS. Some commenters point me to tech experts like Ben Thompson and Jordon Schneider, who worry about potential manipulation of TikTok by the Chinese government. (And yes, these guys do know 1000 times more about tech than I do.) I agree that that is a risk, but why not wait and see if there is a problem, and then shut them down if a problem develops?
I notice that Russia (which has far more nukes than China), actually does invade other countries. We worry that China might invade other countries. I notice that Russia actually does interfere in US elections. We worry than China might interfere in US elections. And yet it’s China with which the foreign policy establishment is determined to start a cold war.
PS. The Taiwanese should be very, very worried about what Trump is doing. Unlike the US, they are weaker than China. This madness won’t end well.
Tags:
4. August 2020 at 10:10
Probably months too late anyways. Expect the US pushback to be both wildly ineffective and randomly high cost.
4. August 2020 at 10:47
Lee Kuan Yew has said the exact same thing about Tiananmen. Why are leaders of Asian developed countries held to different standards?
4. August 2020 at 11:05
The Taiwanese, Koreans, Japanese, Australians, Vietnamese and Indians are eying Beijing warily. Even the Philippinos,
Somehow Beijing-CCP makes Trump palatable.
Well, except to the No Balls Association (NBA).
4. August 2020 at 12:24
I think on China you are missing a key difference between them and Russia. Russia doesn’t have the economic might any more to directly challenge the US even though they have nukes and have invaded some countries. China conversely has the economy to directly challenge the US someday.
4. August 2020 at 14:48
Scott,
you misrepresent a lot of cases in a disturbing way, not to say you are turning them completely upside down.
TikTok is viewed very critically in democracies around the world. You’re acting as if it’s another Trump CCP singularity, which is just not true.
Countermeasures are being discussed in almost all democracies worldwide, some democracies have already implemented bans, which makes a lot of sense, since even Scott recently described CCP China as fascist.
Scott, make up your mind for a change. Either CCP China is fascist, in which case there is no point for Western democracies on allowing CCP apps to spy. Or CCP China is a pink cuddly country, which is only misrepresented by the evil Western media, then the Hitler-Franco-Mussolini memorial app can remain installed.
The person you portray as a war criminal has been explicitly acquitted by the way. One single inappropriate photo remained of the accusations, which is hardly anything to justify your presentation as “war criminal”.
It is a pity that by now one has to check every single case you present, because one can no longer be sure whether you are telling the truth or not. Did you take a fake news class with The Donald?
Next case:
Complete disturbing upside down again.
A normal thinking person would say that Taiwan has to worry about CCP China because it is swamped with threats from CCP China every few weeks, but no, in the Scott Sumner world the problem is Mr. Orange Head, a person who will be voted out of office in a few weeks.
When will the CCP be voted out of office by the way? I bet Scott has some specific dates in mind? It’s like those senile old people who hallucinate in a very deep voice with one arm stretched out far, trying to grasp a wisp in imaginary fog just before they die: “It’s happening, it’s happening, folks, it’s happening, why isn’t it happening?”
4. August 2020 at 15:36
sd0000, Who holds Lee to different standards?
sean, How does economic might allow them to challenge us?
Christian, Not war criminals? Really? Maybe you should speak with the Navy Seals that served with Gallagher. Or the people who convicted Lorance of murder. Or how about the guy that was pardoned by Trump before he could be tried for murder?
You said:
“It’s like those senile old people who hallucinate in a very deep voice with one arm stretched out far, trying to grasp a wisp in imaginary fog just before they die: “It’s happening, it’s happening, folks, it’s happening, why isn’t it happening?””
LOL. This is like a C- student in 8th grade trying to do creative writing for his teacher. With all due respect, I’d suggest keeping it simple.
4. August 2020 at 16:26
OT side note to anybody.
You gotta love the American Economics Association.
The US and globe have been plunged into the steepest recession since the Great Depression. In the US alone, 40 million workers have filed claims for unemployment.
Emerging from the 2020 recession-depression is uncertain. We badly need a-political macroeconomic battle plans for economic prosperity, even given the circumstances of a pandemic. (Yes, lockdowns do not work, but they seem to be the chosen path. Pray for the vaccine.)
So…the lead article up on the AEA website?
“The spillover effects of trade wars”
July 31, 2020
The 2018 tariffs caused price spikes to products that weren’t even protected.”
—30—
AEA is deeply concerned. When washing machine prices rose after US tariffs were applied, then dryer prices rose too, with the result of “significantly more pain to US consumers,” warns the AEA.
Yes, more pain for consumers! Pain! (Calling Dr. Zachary Smith, Lost in Space).
Yes, that is what concerns me presently. The price of dryers.
Add on: David Glasner has written that free trade theory has become sacralized among US orthodox macroeconomists. When sacralization meets monomania—you have the AEA.
https://www.aeaweb.org/research/washing-machines-2018-tariffs-effect
4. August 2020 at 19:34
“I notice that Russia (which has far more nukes than China), actually does invade other countries. We worry that China might invade other countries”–Scott Sumner
Several nations contend they have or are presently invaded by China.
Vietnam fought a border with China in 1979, and China troops entered Vietnam and camped out for a while, supposedly en route to Hanoi. They were either beaten back or chose to leave, depending on whose history you read.
India claims China has occupied its territory, which they call Aksai Chin. There is a border war in that region now.
China has declared a section of Philippine-claimed sea territory to be part of its southernmost province of Hainan. The area effectively seized by Beijing is a lot closer to the Philippines than Hainan.
Beijing/China occupied Tibet after 1949, and has been Hanifying the population since, eclipsing the Tibetans. A replay of the American West, 150 years later.
“In 1913, the 13th Dalai Lama – Tibet’s political and spiritual leader – issued a proclamation reaffirming Tibet’s independence: “We are a small, religious, and independent nation.” The country had its own national flag, currency, stamps, passports and army; signed international treaties, and maintained diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.
In 1950, the newly established Communist regime in China invaded Tibet, which was rich in natural resources and had a strategically important border with India. Tibet today is under China’s occupation.”
4. August 2020 at 21:15
“I agree that that is a risk, but why not wait and see if there is a problem, and then shut them down if a problem develops?”
—–Because we already know there is a problem. 18 Chinese apps have already been identified with malware. Just like they steal our intellectual property, copy our biggest brands, and bribe academics through “grants”. The CCP is a criminal organization, on par with the Mexican drug cartels, and you want to give them access to our children’s phones? Have you lost your mind?
4. August 2020 at 21:22
OMG are you serious? like really?
China didn’t kill 100M people?
China didn’t invade tibet?
China is not threatening Australia, Canada, India?
China is not at the border of India with their military?
China is not hacking into databases and stealing intellectual property around the world?
China is not copying and manufacturing intellectual property?
China is not invading islands owned by the Philippines and Vietnam?
China is not stealing border ports through the belt and road?
China is not driving a wedge between states (australia)
And you are worried about Russia? You are worried about Crimea? Which voted to be a part of Russia. You do realize there was a vote right? Have you visited Crimea? They are all pro russian. You will find nobody there that complains about Russia. They complain about Ukraine. You are really blinded by the CCP propoganda.
4. August 2020 at 21:33
You cannot identify the malware easily. And it will most likely remain hidden for years, stealing our data, and intellectual property until some genius finds the code. That could put millions of lives in jeopardy. Politicians must act proactively to keep us safe (its the #1 job of govt). China has a history of coding malicious software – mostly to steal data. And the problem with these types of software, is that the code can operate once the app is deleted, and it can travel to other devices. A number of apps (all chinese) have been identified with malware.
Here is one example:
1. You child downloads the app. It’s infected. Just like camscanner was (chinese).
2. The malware is sent to your device during a conversation (a number of different ways that can happen).
3. You are working on a new business idea and discussing sensitive information with your business partner.
4. CCP now has access to that information.
Replace business, with FBI, CIA, and you can see the extent of the problem.
4. August 2020 at 23:25
Ben, the Philippine people are called Filipinos, NOT philippinos.
And Scott, Trump is not a fascist. We don’t live in a banana republic. Although, if we continue with terrible trade policies and hire corrupt politicians to represent us (BIDEN LOVES EASY MONEY), then we will be a Banana Republic soon. It’s quite interesting that people bash Trump for being rich, yet Trump actually creates a product and service. His money was generated within the rules of the game. Somehow Biden, who has never created any product or service, and is limited to a very small senate salary, owns million dollar mansions and cars. That doesn’t strike you as strange?
Crimea was not an “invasion”. Crimea voted to join Russia, and despite what you might hear from the USA propaganda machines (NY TIMES) you won’t find many Crimean’s who oppose the move. 97% voted in favor of the referendum. I went there in 2019 on a business trip, and everyone I spoke to said they were happy to be part of Russia. They oppose Ukraine. And they oppose the USA meddling in their affairs.
Stealing islands in the south China sea is, however, the definition of an invasion. Tibet was the definition of invasion. Russia also doesn’t steal intellectual property. They have a group of criminals called “hydra” that steal credit card information – but that group is not connected to the kremlin. And since you are rather narrow minded, I assume you will retort that Russia likes to involve themselves in other matters like our election. But they were involved in 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996, etc, etc. It’s not uncommon.
The US intelligence community likes to involve themselves in Russian elections too. As does Mossad. As does the Iranian Guard. As does the Brazilian secret service. This is the nature of intelligence activities. We are all guilty of that.
You admit zero knowledge of tech, yet bash the two experts that tell you the policy is a good one. Don’t you think that is a bit arrogant. The reason laymen attack economists – its not arrogance – is because we have data showing that economists are wrong. For thirty years we accepted economic trade principles, and for thirty years we have lost wealth. At some point, you have to challenge the “experts”, when they are consistently wrong.
5. August 2020 at 00:08
“Trump doesn’t need any authority to do anything. There’s no law that gives Trump the right to stop Americans from using TikTok”
Wait? Are we talking the same US Constitution that makes you buy health insurance or allows the government to mandate your destroy your personally property in a uncompensated if you want to leave your home or face execution? That ship sailed long ago Scott and you know it. I’m sure between Roberts, the Commerce Clause, and all the various emergency decrees/powers/laws/orders OGC can come up with something and Congress will be OK with and if they aren’t, well the SCOTUS will bless it.
We have long been in a Banana Republic and that includes my entire five decades on this Earth. “Trump can’t stop Americans from using TikTok” lol that made my day. Just like “Obama can’t kill the kids of his political enemies via simply writ while they are on a foreign holiday nor make me buy health insurance”, “Bush can’t just lock people in forever in Gitmo nor order every plane grounded nor force people to agree to get sexually assaulted simply to get on a airplane”, Clinton can’t burn down houses of kids in Texas, etc.
5. August 2020 at 00:15
Christian, if TikTok is breaking any laws, that should be handled by the police and the courts. That’s what the rule of law is all about.
If they don’t break any laws, what base is there to condemn them?
(If they’re doing something bad that’s not illegal, at least have the decency to pass a law to explicitly forbid it first.)
5. August 2020 at 00:21
Janice:
I have a question, that came up in the whole Russiagate/Hillary-gate fandangoes.
Some people said hackers had been traced back to (name a country). Then others said that “false flag” operations are impossible to disentangle.
Then others said, “That’s okay, from human intel we know that Russians (or other nationals) did this.”
My impression of “human intel” is that sources tell intel agencies what they want to hear and often pretend to know something—got to keep the money coming in.
What is your take on this?
5. August 2020 at 02:11
recall how the anti-Chinese nationalists tell us they can’t invent anything
I haven’t heard anyone suggest the Chinese cannot invent. But TikTok is not “inventing”. TikTok is a copied version of SnapChat with slightly different features. It’s very easy to build. Anyone with basic computer programming skills can build TikTok. The reason why TikTok is more popular, is because the company throws a lot of weight behind the marketing. And because teens tend to like something “new” and different than what 20’s something (already too old for them) are using. It really is not a mind boggling creation. Its just your typical social media app, that did a great job marketing itself. Its not like they own patents for their product. Trademark for sure. But not for the code. Anyone can code that.
5. August 2020 at 02:31
Scott,
I think my creative writing is okay for a non-native speaker. I admit it was a mistake anyway, because it was foreseeable that you would take it as a welcome distraction regarding Taiwan and the CCP.
Concerning the war criminals, I only read the first link regarding Gallagher. I can’t check every single link from you. He was acquitted, except the photo. I admit he looks like a psycho and the rumors and stories are certainly there, and they might be even true, but the hard fact remains that he was eventually acquitted.
Matthias,
Fair point, but I don’t think you’re portraying the rule of law right. The executive branch in Western countries, especially in the US, can do a great many things. There are so many different laws in the US, there always seems to be a way.
Oftentimes, one never really knows beforehand what they are allowed to do and what not. They don’t even know it themselves, it’s quite a mess. And even when it’s clear, you always find a way out, for example by saying that a situation has changed or that it’s unprecedented. The courts then decide afterwards whether it’s legal or not. That’s the rule of law. The courts have the last word.
5. August 2020 at 06:36
Sumner is right in that compared to the Russians, the Chinese don’t know how to fight. The Japanese do because of their wartime traditions and also the Ainu blood in their DNA (basically Asiatic white aboriginal people, living in the north Hokkaido islands where they make Sapporo beer, and often well over six feet tall with a muscular build)
True story: when the TikTok story broke on my smartphone, I thought it was fake news, and normally I don’t do this but was so enraged I flagged it as such to Google. Much to my chagrin a few hours later I saw it was for real!
5. August 2020 at 08:25
Everyone, I have to laugh when I see people talk about China “invading” a bunch of tiny coral atolls whose only “residents” are crabs and seabirds. As if that’s comparable to Russia invading Ukraine. I assume that most of you know that even if China disappeared tomorrow the rest of the southeast Asian nations would be fighting over those useless islands. That’s what stupid countries do. Or maybe you don’t know about the competing claims. And perhaps you also don’t know that the largest such island is occupied by Taiwan. I guess that makes Taiwan an evil expansionist power too. Oh wait, only communist countries are evil, our allies can do no wrong.
I also enjoy seeing people use Hitler’s “Sudetenland argument” as justification for Putin taking Crimea. “They are our fellow Germans, err, I mean our fellow Russians.” BTW, Russia also attacked eastern Ukraine.
[For the record, I do not support China’s claim to those islands. But it’s not a big deal to me. I’m much more concerned about their crimes in Xinjiang.]
Also, almost none of the comments here relate to the actual post. Almost no one is defending Trump’s actions. Even if TikTok should be banned, there no excuse for this crude smash and grab, where we basically try to steal one of China’s most successful products (done by their private sector, BTW.) At a minimum, we should pay fair market value.
Janice, If it’s really that easy to do spying (and perhaps it is) then nothing will stop the Chinese from spying on our data, TikTok or not.
I’m not happy with the new hi-tech world we live in, but the younger generation disagrees with me. They don’t care about privacy and are fine with the fact that we live in a “1984” world that has come to life. I do. OK, that’s their choice, then they better learn to live with the fact that privacy is gone and the US government will know every single thing we do, if they choose to look. Ditto for the Chinese. They made the bed, now they will have to lie in it.
I greatly respect both of these individuals. But Thompson is not an expert on politics, and his claim that China is trying to impose Marxism on the world is silly. China isn’t trying to impose Marxism on China. Indeed China today is about as non-Marxist a country as you can imagine—it’s basically fascist.
At one point Thompson suggests the Trump rally being disrupted in Tulsa is a good example of what could go wrong. Actually it’s a lousy example, even if TikTok was the platform used to disrupt, which is itself unproven. These young people could have used TikTok even if it were owned by Microsoft (if that’s what they did.)
They may be right, let’s say there’s a 40% chance they are right. I’m saying their arguments are not persuasive to me.
We must trust the experts? How about the experts that got us into the Spanish American War, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War on false pretenses?
Xu, Some of those claims are false, and I could come up with an equally long list of evil things being done by the US government.
Mark, When you start defending the Russians with RT talking points you lose all credibility in my view. Thus I don’t even bother considering anything you say about China. If you are that biased, I assumed nothing you report can be trusted.
Peter, Not sure why you think we disagree. Perhaps our only possible disagreement is that I believe things have gotten even worse under Trump.
William, You said:
“I haven’t heard anyone suggest the Chinese cannot invent. But TikTok is not “inventing”. TikTok is a copied version of SnapChat with slightly different features. It’s very easy to build.”
LOL. It’s easy to invent products worth $50 billion. Anyone can do it.
Christian, Trump doesn’t pardon people who are acquitted. You remind me of people who claim Al Capone was not a violent criminal. After all, all they actually convicted him of was tax evasion. If you enjoy living in a fantasy world then I encourage you to stay there. It seems to make you happy.
5. August 2020 at 08:53
How did so many stupid people get attracted to a rather niche monetary policy blog?? 😮
5. August 2020 at 09:55
Debating whether Trump said or promised to do something stupid is pointless. It’s invariably true that he did. That probability asymptote approaches 1. Boring.
Debating which country is morally worse, Russia or China, is also a pointless exercise. What outcome from that debate would be even slightly illuminating? How does that change any decision matrix?
More interesting is what should actually be done about situations like TikTok or Grindr. Cfius is generally more aggressive than I would prefer but in instances like this it’s an open question. There’s a significant difference between Facebook scanning your messages for advertising data and a foreign government identifying targets for blackmail.
It’s an open question and there is a legitimate debate to be had there. Let’s hope the institutional rot hasn’t reached Cfius yet
5. August 2020 at 12:18
Scott,
Didn’t China force US companies to sell some of their IP to homegrown Chinese competitors in order for them to do fuel their own industry? I recall you stating that China is a sovereign nation and they have the right to dictate the terms of trade for American companies seeking enterprise in their nation.
So how is it “fascism” for Trump to force China to sell a performing company in America to an American enterprise? Do you consider China fascist when it forces American companies to sell valuable IP in order to do business in China?
This is honestly hilarious Scott lmao.
5. August 2020 at 15:33
Politics-Bloomberg
Democrats Propose Requiring Fed to Reduce Inequality in U.S.
By Catarina Saraiva and Laura Davison
August 5, 2020, 12:54 PM EDT
Updated on August 5, 2020, 3:37 PM EDT
Bill would require Fed to try to narrow jobs, wealth gaps
Legislation adds to calls for Fed to target disparities
—30—
So, Biden wants to “end the era of shareholder capitalism” and Democrats want to use a central bank to…I’m not sure… use a central bank fiscal facility to directly print and spend money in certain districts? Or perhaps distribute money based on someone’s melanin count? Or gender?
5. August 2020 at 18:29
“Democrats propose expanding Fed mandate to reducing racial inequality”
Brian Cheung
Reporter
Yahoo Finance
—30—
I wonder how a central bank will reduce racial inequality. Sumner knows a lot about central banks.
What say ye, Sumner?
5. August 2020 at 18:57
Tacticus, Gresham’s Law of commenters.
Moldburg. You said:
“Didn’t China force US companies to sell some of their IP to homegrown Chinese competitors in order for them to do fuel their own industry? I recall you stating that China is a sovereign nation and they have the right to dictate the terms of trade for American companies seeking enterprise in their nation.”
Yes, and I also said:
1. It was a bad idea for China to do this.
2. China’s a fascist state.
I did not say China’s action was fascist, nor did I suggest the US banning TikTok would be fascist
Any other questions?
Also, see Tacticus’s comment above, and then look in the mirror. Take a long look.
6. August 2020 at 04:53
This is why most Republicans, myself included were against him in the primary. Then we watched his policies and like many presidents some could be criticized and some could be praised. But you believe, unlike other presidents, that he is uniquely an uninformed idiot instead of a traditional president. You moronically equate a soldier accused of war crimes with the black shirts lining up millions shooting them and gassing them. That itself makes everything you say biased. The easiest thing to do is highlight dumb and bad things a president says or does. But they are not all of the Nazi form.
Great, you think he is the most dangerous president ever. The problem with that view is it leads towards potential unprecedented acts——like the last 4 years.
I could take you seriously if you ever said anything he did that was positive—-or at least no worse than others. He is NOT dangerous. You equate him to a “cat” which is funny—because I think of most presidents like that from time to time. Besides threats—-
What should be done if he wins? What should be done if we have 5 Broward counties in close states? How far would you be willing to have us go to make sure he does not serve 4 more years.
If your answer is “follow the constitution”—-then I know you are sane. If that is your answer, then he is not a Hitler. If that is not your answer, then I would be shocked.
6. August 2020 at 05:52
“Meanwhile, the great challenges to peace and our well-being that demand U.S.-Russia cooperation, including the existential threats of nuclear war and climate change, go unattended. Because the stakes are so high, both in the dangers they entail and the costs they contain, we believe that a careful, dispassionate analysis and change of our current course are imperative. “
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/05/open-letter-russia-policy-391434
Not that there is any chance of war with Russia after the ‘defeat’ of H.R.C.?
According to your bete noire?
“By the time you got to the first Bush administration, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they came out with a national defense policy and strategic policy. What they basically said is that we’re going to have wars against what they called much weaker enemies and these have to be carried out quickly and decisively or else there will be embarrassment—a way of saying that popular reaction is going to set in. And that’s the way it’s been. It’s not pretty, but it’s some kind of constraint.”
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/03/noam-chomsky-populist-groundswell-u-s-elections-future-humanity.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capitalism%29
6. August 2020 at 08:36
Amazing that the Russian trolls find their way to every corner of the Internet.
6. August 2020 at 09:48
Quite right, it’s amazing. The Ruskies have taken over at Politico!
6. August 2020 at 10:33
Michael Rulle,
Sorry, but your comments are so absurd, it’s hard to believe what I’m reading. What has Trump done that’s good, and particularly, that was his idea at all or that he even understood?
6. August 2020 at 12:02
Scott,
I must admit that this is really one of the most interesting splinters of your personality: you can analyze Putin’s Russia just right, but not CCP China. That’s really astonishing, because the split is so strange.
There are many people, like Mr. Orangehead, who are relatively apologetic towards both systems. There are many people who are critical of both systems. And then there is you who sees Putin’s Russia critically, but CCP China apologetically. That’s really something, and can probably be explained by your biography, but only partially.
6. August 2020 at 12:17
Christian, The only thing hard to understand is your lack of reading comprehension. I just did a post calling China’s government fascist, and I’ve criticized ALL their major atrocities.
If you don’t like the fact that invading an unoccupied lump of coral is not as evil as invading and annexing a significant portion of another country, that’s your problem not mine.
6. August 2020 at 13:48
Scott,
They invaded Tibet, an invasion very similar to Crimea. Or even more similar to parts of Poland. They swamp Taiwan with threats of invasion every few weeks. They have now completely taken over Hong Kong, at a time when you were still talking about “hysteria”. These posts have not aged very well.
You have now recently called them fascist, for the first time, it took a long time, but how does all this fit together? Do you even know what fascist means?
You admitted yourself that they are teachers of fake history. That the people there are brought up hyper-nationalistic by the CCP. Add to that the obvious Anschluss behavior, bringing certain territories back to the Reich. You basically defend this fascist behavior. But the Taiwanese should be “very, very worried” about what Trump is doing, right? Sorry if I do not follow.
Add to this the fact that they still hold a serious grudge against certain democracies, because they feel that they have been treated unfairly in the past. Does this story sound familiar to you?
They are the first fascists with nuclear missiles though, which makes the situation so much less alarming I guess.
This has nothing to do with reading comprehension at all, you just make contradictory statements from my point of view, which I, from my personal point of view, cannot reconcile.
There is also no reason to get personal. I am sorry, I commit this mistake often enough myself. We just have different opinions at this point, and I try to understand your opinion, just like Hannah Arendt recommended, nothing more and nothing less, but gosh when it comes down to CCP fascist China it can be quite hard.
6. August 2020 at 16:17
Christian, You said:
“They swamp Taiwan with threats of invasion every few weeks.”
“So does the US officially consider Ukraine to be part of Russia? Does Ukraine’s constitution say it’s a part of Russia? Is Ukraine’s official airline called “Russian Airline”?
As far as Tibet, didn’t the Nationalists in Taiwan also consider Tibet to be a part of China? This has nothing to do with the CCP, it’s a Chinese thing. Why aren’t you more critical of Taiwan? They occupy the largest island in the South China Sea.
I’m not defending China’s actions in Tibet, but that’s a lot less recent than the Ukraine invasion. Go far enough back in history and even the US stole land from other countries (Mexico and Spain). It’s a matter of degree. Right now Russia is the biggest threat.
You said:
“This has nothing to do with reading comprehension at all, you just make contradictory statements from my point of view, which I, from my personal point of view, cannot reconcile.”
When you engage in nonstop mood affiliation the world can be a very confusing place.
7. August 2020 at 09:43
This is your well-known red herring strategy, apparently designed to justify an invasion of Taiwan in advance. But there is nothing to justify.
It makes no relevant difference that both states consider themselves Chinese. Likewise, the two German states have always considered themselves German and the two Korean states are both Korean.
The similarities go so far that the GDR and North Korea have constantly swamped their democratic counterpart states with threats of invasion. It’s exactly the same pattern. And you justify these constant aggressive invasion threats from a fascist regime with your apologetic commentary.
7. August 2020 at 10:36
Christian, You said:
“This is your well-known red herring strategy, apparently designed to justify an invasion of Taiwan in advance.”
I’m opposed to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. But then once again you have zero reading comprehension. Yes, I’m sounding like a broken record.
7. August 2020 at 12:45
Scott,
It has nothing to do with reading comprehension. It just doesn’t make sense that every time we talk about the threatened invasion of Taiwan, you emphasize that Taiwan considers itself Chinese.
How else can one possible understand this if not apologetic? The only other reading would be completely autistic: So CCP China wants to invade Taiwan. Now a completely different topic: Do you know that Taiwan considers itself Chinese?
Interestingly enough, you understand very well what the Putin apologists try to do when they emphasize that Crimea has a rich Russian history. You understand very well what the Hitler apologists meant when they stressed that Austria is basically German, and the Sudetenland, and the Danzig corridor.
You understand all this very well, but if you do the same thing with Taiwan all the time, then you are acting as if nothing has happened every time.
I really believe you that you just wanted to tell us for the 100th time that Taiwan considers itself to be Chinese. It’s just coincidence that you start this completely dispensable very basic knowledge lesson every time when someone talks about the threatened CCP invasion of Taiwan, which you in no way try to justify. Okay, I got it, sorry for asking.
8. August 2020 at 04:54
Scott,
I am putting you down as a “definite maybe” for Donald Trump’s 2020 MAGA Campaign.