Bad as things are over here, and I'll admit they're pretty bad, I don't think we need to be emulating the Chinese. Not with old women being beaten to death by rent-a-cops in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
And yeah, the difference between Democrats and Republcians is pretty slim (at least in terms of practical outcome), and yes international corporate interests make actual democracy extremely difficult.
There was a decent op-ed maybe a week ago about how the US has become essentially ungovernable because of the money that corporations can throw into the campaign process, and into advertising and PR against whatever interests would cost them money (energy issues, health care reform, etc). The real root of all evil in this country is the fact that corporations (which may pay taxes, but do not have a vote!) influence so much of our political system.
I may be a nerd, but I'm interested to see how Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission turns out (interested, but sad in advance).
@kimsama: Actually, a lot of corporations in the U.S. do NOT pay income taxes. "The Government Accountability Office said 72 percent of all foreign corporations and about 57 percent of U.S. companies doing business in the United States paid no federal income taxes for at least one year between 1998 and 2005. The study showed about 28 percent of large foreign corporations, those with more than $250 million in assets, doing business in the United States paid no federal income taxes in 2005 despite $372 billion in gross receipts, the senators said. About 25 percent of the largest U.S. companies paid no federal income taxes in 2005 despite $1.1 trillion in gross sales that year, they said." (Reuters)
So, they have tons of influence, but a lot of them aren't even paying taxes.
@La Mareada: You are so on the RMB! ..My favorite Milton Friedman quote of all times is, "Hong Kong is the purest iteration of capitalism in the modern world." Sadly out of date now that Beijing has been shifting the financial markets over to Shanghai, but as someone who lived in Hong Kong, I still treasure it as a succinct and gorgeous definition of that city.
Friedman, you'd be the first against the wall in the Cultural Revolution!
Oh, I disagree. Friedman would adapt. He'd be more like Rod Steiger's character in Doctor Zhivago, the one who makes powerful friends no matter who's in charge.
@snugbug: also, get ready for some asshole to use the column as further "evidence" of barack obama's ultimate fascist/socialist/communist plan to kill mom and ban apple pie. 'cos him and friedman are besties.
@Seanibus: Well, I own "From Beirut to Jerusalem," and I found it to be a brilliantly written tome of much practical use. It truly helped me understand the political mindfu*ckery that contemporary Middleast is.
@snugbug: Ok, maybe I'll give it a try, even with an open mind. But I reserve the right to sigh deeply and complain while reading it, if necessary. And make fun of his mustache.
I am just wrapping up Neil MacFarquar's "The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday," which was quite interesting on the mindset of the Middle East.
Like Tom's many assertions and profundities, it fails because it does not take into account such things like reality.
Such as the reality the Dems are a cohesive force and not split into a group of well meaning chickenshits who flee at the first sign of trouble, a small but muzzled progressive wing and a small wing of GOP wannabes.
I once had a job that put in me in contact with a lot of Americans doing business in China and they said pretty much the same exact thing (behind closed doors, that is). Basically, they felt that getting their way (ie, making more money) in the US was too hard, what with our voting and laws and representative democracy and all. A big-business-friendly autocracy was much more preferable.
Of course, the problem occurs when the autocracy's priorities conflict with your own - then it's all, "we need representation in the government."
Meh, they wouldn't be impressed by that hillbilly shack. Here's King Abdullah's summertime retreat. And yes, that's cruiser-sized yacht parked in the personal lagoon.
09/09/09
Oh, and the earth is actually round.
09/09/09
And yeah, the difference between Democrats and Republcians is pretty slim (at least in terms of practical outcome), and yes international corporate interests make actual democracy extremely difficult.
But at least we're not China...
09/09/09
09/09/09
I may be a nerd, but I'm interested to see how Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission turns out (interested, but sad in advance).
09/09/09
So, they have tons of influence, but a lot of them aren't even paying taxes.
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09/09/09
Oh, I disagree. Friedman would adapt. He'd be more like Rod Steiger's character in Doctor Zhivago, the one who makes powerful friends no matter who's in charge.
09/09/09
09/09/09
I'm a fan, because TF writes extremely engagingly and accessibly about complex geopolitcal issues, but he jumped the rails on this one.
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09/09/09
I am just wrapping up Neil MacFarquar's "The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday," which was quite interesting on the mindset of the Middle East.
09/09/09
09/09/09
Such as the reality the Dems are a cohesive force and not split into a group of well meaning chickenshits who flee at the first sign of trouble, a small but muzzled progressive wing and a small wing of GOP wannabes.
09/09/09
Hey manchu... you still commenting on Wonkette much these days?
09/09/09
Yup. Where did you go?
09/09/09
Of course, the problem occurs when the autocracy's priorities conflict with your own - then it's all, "we need representation in the government."
09/09/09
Hey, it worked out great for the American Revolution!
09/09/09
07/26/09
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=jeddah+saudi+arabia&sll=38.714447,-90.265388&sspn=0.078624,0.151405&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=21.665644,39.099934&spn=0.005853,0.009463&z=17&iwloc=A
07/26/09