Topic: China is fucking scary (Read 14440 times)

François · « **Reply #140 on:** March 17, 2012, 06:06:05 AM »

All I can think of is this guy but I'm not sure how it would relate.

Cthulhu-chan · « **Reply #141 on:** March 17, 2012, 12:56:08 PM »

This article is about a year or two late to the game, isn't it?

China seems to think it can just keep building, building, building, and who gives a shit if anybody lives/works in the edifices.

They can't stave off this bubble bursting forever.

Mongrel · « **Reply #142 on:** March 17, 2012, 01:24:48 PM »

Well, the central governement knows this can't go on and has been trying to rein it in, but Chinese municipalities have become addicted to the revenue from land sales. Much of those sales are half off-the-books and half on-the-books, which leaves the door open to all kind of corrupt agents being involved, no doubt.

fullmooninu · « **Reply #143 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:20:42 AM »

well... ill give you my opinion. i dated a girl from them regions, and had some classes on chinese history

They currently dont care about primary industry, namely agriculture. They now only have 6% of farmable soil versus total soil. They are already using twice the allowed amount of fertilizers (by american measure) which is completely polluting the soil and water. The middle class, getting rich on exports, doesn't care.

I'm all in favor of alternative economic models, as the current dominant one depends on the illusion of infinite growth. But theirs seems to be about going back to mercantile values, without any actual gold per capita to support it.

They are not in a bad position, tho. Thailand and the rest of the peninsulate have a lot of food. And they can either buy it or annex it.

They are everywhere. But if you think about it, this is just the new silk road. Their "silk" is currently pretty crappy, tho.

Oh, and this:
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1870162_1822156,00.html

Shinra · « **Reply #144 on:** March 24, 2012, 08:41:43 AM »

Quote from: Mongrel on February 10, 2012, 04:56:36 PM

An interesting new wrinkle that is probably much more relevant than bizarre Twitter rumours. Anyone been following the minor tug of war between Wang Yang and Bo Xilai?

The white western doofus Coles Notes version is that Wang is the boss in Guangzhou (which is close to Hong Kong) and probably the most open and free mainland territory. Wang has experimented with "okay we're going to open this door just a crack" type stuff and most western observers "like" him as compared to similar bosses. Xilai is a bit of a an old guard throwback to the Mao era, who's become popular by smashing crime rings the old-fashioned way (round up absolutely everybody). He also has a fondness for patriotic songs and Mao-flavoured moralizing, so he's the "Family values" guy. The other side of that coin is that Wang is promoting more privatization and commercial dealing and Xilai stumps for more old-style socialism. But being the conservative guy is a bit different in China after all.

Anyway, there's been some serious weirdness going on with Bo Xilai lately. And it's anyone's guess what the upshot will be.

It's all speculation, but considering how hard the Chinese are trynig to cover this up, it appears that this ended with a failed coup attempt.

Mongrel · « **Reply #145 on:** March 24, 2012, 11:27:34 AM »

Man, crazy wildfire rumours going absolutely nuts for a day or two seems to be A Thing in China these days. If it's not a coup, it's an invasion of North Korea or whatever else has come up lately.

What do you want to bet that some crazy false rumor will actually trigger (but smaller) event soon? Maybe a riot that gets put down quickly, or some lower-ranking pol falling for it and saying something incredibly stupid, or something like that.

Büge · « **Reply #146 on:** April 12, 2012, 08:13:57 AM »

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2012/04/bo-xilai-and-his-wife-rumors-of-murder-in-china.html

Mongrel · « **Reply #147 on:** April 12, 2012, 09:11:53 AM »

Yeah, there is some real WTF going on there. It's anybody's guess as to whether this was a real murder the top-level is no longer willing to cover up, or another part of a big frame job to discredit the guy.

Shinra · « **Reply #148 on:** April 12, 2012, 09:57:35 PM »

And the British just seem to be tickled pink that China is finally willing to put this on a fall guy.

Mongrel · « **Reply #149 on:** April 13, 2012, 06:17:45 AM »

Huh, that could even be a third angle: With Bo on the outs, he's simply being used for garbage disposal (i.e. the murder rap is simply about making the Brits happy).

Mongrel · « **Reply #150 on:** April 29, 2012, 07:01:22 PM »

There is courage and there is Chen Guangcheng doing his best impression of Steve McQueen in The Great Escape

Thad · « **Reply #151 on:** October 03, 2012, 09:00:39 AM »

io9 on the unintended consequences of China's one-child policy.

In addition to the obvious (abortion and actual infanticide of female children), there's the coming economic burden of one child being responsible for the retirement care of two parents and four grandparents, and the potential sociopsychological repercussions of a nation of people growing up without siblings.

And yeah the lack of women has increased the market for prostitution, mail-order brides, and good old-fashioned dowries, and men who can't find a wife tend to be lower-class and already statistically more likely to turn to violence and crime.

It's gonna be an interesting few decades.

Brentai · « **Reply #152 on:** October 03, 2012, 11:03:47 AM »

One wonders how much of this would still be an issue if China wasn't such an androcentric* culture.

* I was pleased to find out that this is actually the right word.