China: Superpower or not?

[blind ear]

Isn't it funny how "the people" are not the problem in world affairs. Its the gooberments that cause the problems, makes an argument for anarchy! Don't it?

The people that "control" the money cause the trouble. China depends on the US as a consumer.They can access raw materials from Russia and ship overland through Russia to Europe if Russia will develope infrastructure. Europe is more protectionist than the US so they are not as easy a dumping ground. We could end up in the cold in the future when China needs us less as a customer.

The whole western hemisphere has only 10% of the worlds population even though at present we have a lot more of the buying power, but people that don't have jobs tend to lose buying power.

In China the government controls the money, here the coorporations do and they are leaving the citiens in the cold. The coorporate money here is going to investment in China.

eddiegjr

[MGMorden]

The whole western hemisphere has only 10% of the worlds population even though at present we have a lot more of the buying power, but people that don't have jobs tend to lose buying power.

Very true, but remember that land area and natural resources are important too.  IF the rest of the world cuts us off economically we still have plenty of resources and such to make a good go of it by ourselves over here.  Quality of life WILL go down once the cheap Chinese imports dry up and people can't buy umpteen bazillion copies of stuff they want, but the reality is we can and will make it on our own when the day comes.

The only thing we have to be worried about is military conquest.  Right now, China doesn't appear to be too eager to expand their borders.  They've traditionally been very isolationist and usually more concerned with keeping their borders than expanding them (witness the building of that huge wall just to keep people out ).  We'll see though.  One thing I wouldn't worry about though is China allying with Muslims.  China's government is a particularly secular entity.  They are authoritarian, communist, and lots of other nasty things, but religious fanatics they are not (and in reality, the sum total of the Middle East's military capability is nothing compared to China's.  It would be like giving Donald Trump $10 for a charity and claiming that you've "Joined forces with Trump").

Overall though military confrontation between the two nations just isn't a wise prospect for either of us.  Who would come out on top remains up in the air, but realistically anyone would be naive to think that any conflict wouldn't leave BOTH countries terribly damaged.

As to the issue at hand though, yes, I think China's a superpower, and yes they are on the uptake while we're winding down.  If it ends up in 20-30 years that we're not the #1 military or economic power in the world then we can still survive.  The rest of the world managed when we were #1, and we shall too when we're not.

[skarke]

Bravo eddie.  I watched an old anticommunist cartoon from 48.  In 1948, this country produced several fold more engineers and scientists and technical professionals that the rest of the world combined.

Now, our countrymen produce a small fraction of that.  Super high tech companies can't find enough Americans to hire at any price, they just aren't there.

Now, if you need a quality Madden '10 player, or a fine Mortal Kombat veteran, then our schools produce them by the bushel.

No, I am truly saddened that, within my lifetime, I'll witness Old Glory become just that, old.  All that we have will be transferred to others.  We will be humbled, then conquered, likely without a shot fired.

We'll just wake up one morning, look out the window, and what once was will be nevermore.

Our one last, great hope is if our Dear Lord grants this land one more revival.  I pray for it daily.

[BBF]

............. We'll see though.  One thing I wouldn't worry about though is China allying with Muslims.  China's government is a particularly secular entity.  They are authoritarian, communist, and lots of other nasty things, but religious fanatics they are not (and in reality, the sum total of the Middle East's military capability is nothing compared to China's.

I beg to differ. China will use whatever other group of people it can use only for the lenght of time required to realize the results they wish to achieve.

[Black Eagle]

Graybeard, the poles they use are nothing like the bamboo we used as kids. These things are made of graphite and graphite/boron and are very thin and weigh almost nothing. However, like our old bamboo, the line is simply tied to the end of the pole but they feel like a fast action fly rod.

[MGMorden]

Graybeard, the poles they use are nothing like the bamboo we used as kids. These things are made of graphite and graphite/boron and are very thin and weigh almost nothing. However, like our old bamboo, the line is simply tied to the end of the pole but they feel like a fast action fly rod.

That sounds pretty close to a "bream buster" (don't know if that's the technical term - just what I've always heard them called).  Basically a telescoping pole (pretty sure it's graphite) that extends out and is used for small bream fishing.  Very light weight.  My dad loves to use them with the trolling motor and some popping bugs.  I've always preferred using a rod and baitcasting reel myself, but have occasionally used the "bream busters" when out with my dad.

EDIT: Found some at Cabelas.  They just refer to them as "Telescoping Panfish Poles".

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0031278115800a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=0800305&cm_ite=0031278115800a

[Graybeard]

Yeah these days I use the graphite ones as well. I'd prefer real cane poles but have no source for them any longer. The collasible ones are nice if you have to travel by vehicle to your fishing site but for my pond I'd love real cane poles.