# Get your finger out America, I for one don't welcome our Chinese overlords. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597 "2011-10-14T02:23:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/21 "2011-10-14T17:06:32Z")
I’m not interested in continuing to pay your European share of national defense to keep Chinese influence out of your life, sorry. America needs to wind down our military and pay for universal healthcare and scientific research, and you need to beef up your own militaries if you want the status quo from after WWII through 2000. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/22 "2011-10-14T17:17:40Z")
Also I don’t believe the rest of the world views China as an enemy that they wish America would vie for power against. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/23 "2011-10-14T18:18:55Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Landing men on the moon is damn impressive. But it pales in comparison to the feat of bringing them back. Although sticking to just the first one is an excellent cost-cutting measure. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/24 "2011-10-14T18:29:40Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > Although sticking to just the first one is an excellent cost-cutting measure. You realize that was actually Plan B, right? To leave 'em up there, resupplied by rockets, until we could get 'em back? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/25 "2011-10-14T18:33:03Z")
Our number one export is AWESOMENESS! ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/26 "2011-10-14T19:19:57Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > \*Dictatorship allows you to get some things done quickly but often means that the grossest abuses and inefficiencies are tolerated. It also seems to result in signifiant resources being allocated to the military not because of military utility but as a way to ensure the loyalty of the military to the government. > . and as we all know America is a place where neither grossest abuses nor inefficiencies are tolerated. Indeed, the allegedly democratic American government is especially well known for the great efficiency and strict obedience to the law in all its works. Woe is the dictatorial China when compared to this and other similar paragons of democratic governance. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/27 "2011-10-14T19:26:01Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > Woe is the dictatorial China when compared to this and other similar paragons of democratic governance. Actually, it is. By any measure it is. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/28 "2011-10-14T19:29:23Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > America, get your act together. You’re the greatest damn country on earth, and you know it. Just shake yourself out of this fug and get on with it. You landed on the goddamn moon for chrissakes. I, for one, don’t want to live in a world dominated by Chinese interests. I’ll take CIA assassinations any day. Come on America, you know in your heart of hearts that you’re great. Buck up, have a shave, and get to it. > > Kthx, > most of the rest of the world. Other than the USA being the greatest country on earth, I support this rant. We are strongly tied to the US, and I don’t want us getting dragged down with them. (I’m not keen on CIA assassinations either, frankly.) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/29 "2011-10-14T19:36:51Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Now get out there kiddo. I’m on it. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/30 "2011-10-14T19:56:18Z")
I think the British should pull their socks up and do this sort of thing again 😛 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/31 "2011-10-14T21:06:42Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > Are you from Australia? I haven’t seen many countries outside of the western pacific that paranoid about the “Chinese”. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/32 "2011-10-14T21:08:47Z")
We used to be the sawmill. Now we’re the whorehouse where the lumberjacks go on payday. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/33 "2011-10-14T21:45:00Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > and as we all know America is a place where neither grossest abuses nor inefficiencies are tolerated. Indeed, the allegedly democratic American government is especially well known for the great efficiency and strict obedience to the law in all its works. Woe is the dictatorial China when compared to this and other similar paragons of democratic governance. You might think the US is the place of the grossest abuses and largest inefficiences, but that’s only because of your wilful ignorance of what goes on in other countries which lack democracy. As for the US government being known for great efficiency and strict obedience to the rule of law, that’s a strawman of yours because you can’t come up with a proper argument of your own. I never said there was great efficiency and strict obedience to the rule in all its works. The fact that you try to ascribe that opinion to me based on what I said shows that you cannot or will not show any nuance in your reflection. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/34 "2011-10-14T22:34:16Z")
Hello no! I want to go back to the days of the Swedish Empire, when the Swedes were someone to be reckoned with in Europe and even had colonies. Just think, if the Swedes had kept up the good work, instead of having McDonald’s all over the world, you’d be able to order Surströmming (fermented herring) or kroppkaka (potato dumplings with bacon) in every major city. Second choice would be the Netherlands. Wind power rules, and tulips are pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/35 "2011-10-14T23:39:45Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Hey, leave the America bashing to us, will you? God, you even have to claim _that_ as your own. Naturally. Who knows a country’s shortcomings better than the people who live in it? It’s the same for every country on earth, IMO. > [@](#): > > P.S: American exceptionalism has little to do with its current or (recent past) level of military might. The exact same shit you hear today was there in the early XIXth century. Why would that surprise you? Given the typical conditions of politics and government in those days, if America ever was exceptional it was back then. Most other countries were still reigned over by monarchs of one kind or another; not least our neighbors Canada and Mexico (while still under Spain’s rule). Reigning kings and queens, moreover, had a much more active role in their own governments in those days. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/36 "2011-10-14T23:41:35Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Hello no! I want to go back to the days of the Swedish Empire, when the Swedes were someone to be reckoned with in Europe and even had colonies. Just think, if the Swedes had kept up the good work, instead of having McDonald’s all over the world, you’d be able to order Surströmming (fermented herring) or kroppkaka (potato dumplings with bacon) in every major city. And they have the Matterhorn, and that cheese with the holes. **Arnold** knows, he’s _from_ there! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/37 "2011-10-15T01:11:33Z")
Chinese clout is way over-rated. Read _Foreign Policy_ online for a few weeks, & you’ll quickly grasp that China is coming apart inside of 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![raskolnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@raskolnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raskolnik)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/38 "2011-10-15T14:23:01Z")
Which means the CCP will go NUTS before it runs out of time since it has nothing to lose, but a future to gain. Not sure why this should make anyone feel safer. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/39 "2011-10-15T14:58:22Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > Are you from Australia? I haven’t seen many countries outside of the western pacific that paranoid about the “Chinese”. Where do you get that Australians are paranoid about China? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597/40 "2011-10-15T17:19:39Z")
What, precisely, would the OP like me to do about the situation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-finger-out-america-i-for-one-dont-welcome-our-chinese-overlords/599597.md?page=1)