Text 21949, 85 rader
Skriven 2008-10-16 02:15:29 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
     Kommentar till en text av Ross Cassell (1:123/456)
Ärende: Socialism in the US of A
================================
Hello Ross,

On Wednesday October 15 2008 19:28, you wrote to me:

 RC>>> Is the world prepared to abandon Taiwan?

 MV>> Eh..  What an odd question. Abandonning implies accepting that it
 MV>> disappears or is left behind Is the worls prepaired to abandon
 MV>> Cuba? Australia? Mexico?

 RC> China has never formally recognized Taiwan or its right to exist.

So? Happens all the time. West Germany never formally recognised the DDR. Now
the two countries are united again. Is that bad?

 RC> If there is any catalyst to provoke China into war, with anybody, it
 RC> would probably be over Taiwan or even Tibet.

Or the money that the US owes them which some say is not real...

 MV>> Oh, I think I see what you mean. What if Taiwan at some time in
 MV>> the future is returned to Chinese rule? Yes wat about it?
 MV>> Hongkong was returned to Chinese rule. Did it cease to exist? Did
 MV>> the people of Hongkong all die in agony?

 RC> Hong Kong was a British possession, ceded back to the people it was
 RC> taken from, hopefully someday, Spain will get Gibraltar back.

And Cuba will get back the Gitmo Hotel?

 MV>> I do not know what will happen to Taiwan in the future, Maybe it
 MV>> will some day return to Chinese rule or maybe it will not. If it
 MV>> does, I do not necessarily see that as bad. Maybe the people of
 MV>> Taiwan will *want* to be re-united with China some day. Maybe
 MV>> they will *choose* to be re-united.

 RC> Would you choose to live under Communist rule?

I have been across the iron curtain when it still existed. I have seen with my
own eyes how it is. I have spoken to the people there, been a guest in their
houses, slept under their roofs, shared meals with them and got drunk with them
in bars. living under communist rule isn't as bad as you think it is. It is not
that the people there lived in constant fear of poverty or oppression. Actually
it was easier to cross from Germany into Poland or Checko-Slovakia then it is
now to enter the US. And once across the border, I could freely move around in
those countries. They have a rich culture and there is a lot to see. It was not
all bad.

 MV>> I know you find it very hard to accept that people will voluntarily
 MV>> divert from the American Way of Life, but you better get used to the
 MV>> idea.

 RC> Has nothing to do with the American Way of life, unless of course you
 RC> would choose to live under Communist rule, would you?

A moot point. Communism as it once existed does not exist any more. Even the
last bastion of classic communism - Cuba - now allows its citizens to have
InterNet. Yes China is not a democracy western style. But is is not the
communist country it was under Mao either.

 RC>>> They wont call on any notes so long as we continue to import
 RC>>> from them.

 MV>> You really believe that do you? You really believe this pyramid
 MV>> game can go on forever. What if the shoe were on the other foot?

 RC> It is countries like us that has enabled their economy.

Yeah sure. And that medicine man in Timbatchamegogo makes the sun rise every
morning....

 RC> How many things considered a technology item around you now, isnt made
 RC> there Michiel?

Lots of stuff around here made in China.... True..

 RC> China exports to more countries than just the USA.

Exactly. They do not depend on the US for their exports.


Cheers, Michiel

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