Don’t you think Bush is increasing a bit the “business as usual” ? He is not creating new stuff for sure… maybe except in Iraq… but the large donations… the emphasis in big business… the tax cuts… it’s not exactly like it was before…
China does have one of the fastest growing middle classes, in absolute numeric terms. But in per capita terms it’s still a very small part of the population.
From Rashak Mani
I’ll be honest with you…I have no idea. I know that such things go on in all administrations, and Bush is certainly no different. I haven’t HEARD that its worse under this one than any other. Doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. If you have any info in this reguard, I will view it with great interest. For myself, I wouldn’t be surprised, but I have no knowledge of such things happening more than usual.
Reguards,
XT
Precisely. Did the US become a world power by following 3rd world style governance ? I guess not. So if they want to continue tops they surely must keep away from this kind of over cozy arrangements between private groups and government.
Like you said we don’t know how much is going on… but if its actually happening and increasing its not good news for the future.
Well, thats true…IF its happening. As I said, I’ve seen no evidence one way or the other that it is happening. Maybe its too early, maybe folks are distracted by the war and such…or maybe its exactly the same as it was with all the other presidents. I have no idea. I’m not voting for the man reguardless next term, so its a moot point for me. My hope is he gets over turned, though god knows who we will get. If we get Dean, I’ll be here trying to play the moderate to a bunch of howling conservatives I suppose. Oh well…
Until there is some real evidence presented that Bush and his administration ARE corrupt, or that they are being more influenced by PACs and special interests more than is the norm, I wouldn’t fret about it RM. I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over it. If he IS…well, he’ll get wacked for it, you can rest assured. I trust in our system, to be honest…I trust it to self correct (eventually) no matter WHO the bozo at the top is. Its a muddle, no doubt, and there are a lot of thigns I wish were different…but over all, I’m rather fond of it, and I trust it to see us through.
-XT
I sure hope so… the US certainly has some great capacity to self correct…
I know you are being sarcastic, but I think it does anyway. Its our great strength…we fuck up constantly, but eventually we get it right. It might take some time, granted…
I don’t attribute the Powers of Darkness to the man. He’s just a politician, and his time in office will end…just like all the others did. He really is constrained by the system, though I know you don’t think that. He’s done nothing at all thats outside the system to date, nor will he be able too.
Even the Patriot act, that has so many people foaming at the mouth is, to me, a short time thing. THere have been several instances during the time of the republic when even more onorous and distasteful legislation was enacted…and in every case (eventually) it was thrown out. Its how our system works. It swings right…it swings left. Eventually everything that goes around will come around again. Eventually we will have a liberal president back in the WH, and then it will be the consevatives turn (again) to howl and foam.
-XT
hhmm… no smileys = no sarcasm… I agree about the self correction.
For all you might think… I am a Bush hater… not a USA hater. Quite the contrary. Compared to my friends and colleagues here I am more pro-US than most… Bush changed that. Now you can imagine what those with left wing and center tendencies here (quite a few) think of Bush.
From Rashak Mani
Naw, I never figured you for a US hater. We disagree on a lot of things, but you always seemed fairly reasonable to me, someone that actually listens and makes a judgement, not just a knee jerk. You are also rare on this board as I’ve seen you actually say when you were wrong. Thats rare here, where most folks, even when backed into a corner and plainly wrong, will just wave their hands about and bluster.
The difference between us is (well, besides the fact you seem to be a liberal and I’m a moderate :)), I dislike Bush, but see him as just another politician. To me, he’s little different than Clinton, Reagan, Bush I, Carter, etc. I find them ALL slightly distasteful…but I don’t hate any of them. To me, they are transitory…here now, replaced soon enough…and the republic grinds on.
I wish sometimes that our presidents came more from the people…not professional politicians or lawyers. Then of course I come on this board, and see what some of my fellow ‘real people’ write and I think…well, maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
My thought has always been that, whoever is in charge (be it Bush or Pee Wee Herman), the republic will go on.
-XT
hehe… well then all you must fear are changes to the system that might compromise the “self correcting” attitude. If one of these transitory goons changes something enough to unbalance the equation things might get out of hand.
The system (the Republic as you put it) needs to be defended and possibly sometimes needs to be adapted... its not self correcting by itself.
As for politicians from the "people" check out Lula's government... its not that different actually. Hopefully it will be different enough to make some changes. Even if Jesus Christ became president he would have to pander to specific interests and would need political support.Iceland was probably THE most backward, piss poor country in Europe at the start of the 20th century. As it is we consistently land in the top 5 over good countries to live in and we enjoy relative prosperity. I would say anything is possible.
I’ve been travelling. China is a dualist economy. Certainly parts of the economy would be considered “developed”. Examples would be the auto industry, Shanghai, etc. You’ve got something like 100-200 million people living in broadly accepted developed standards. Of course you’ve got over a billion people in developing or “will never be developed” economy.