cb25
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Post by cb25 on Apr 24, 2018 16:41:23 GMT
I suspect the mainstream media don't cover such things for the simple reason that 99%+ of the population don't care about such things. I was watching Sky New's newspaper review programme (10.30pm) last night and one person asked 'why is there so much newspaper coverage of the new royal baby ?'. Guy from the Sun answered 'because it sells'. It's that simple: media don't look into what should/shoudn't be of interest (in some ideal world), they simply ask: will it increase/decrease watching/reading figures. If it will, it's in, if it won't, it's out. Royal family events is a brilliant tool for diverting public attention from recent failures. The family is large and produces quite a lot of events throughout the year. Failures like .... ?
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Post by df on Apr 24, 2018 16:52:39 GMT
Royal family events is a brilliant tool for diverting public attention from recent failures. The family is large and produces quite a lot of events throughout the year. Failures like .... ? ... like providing evidence on recent claims.
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cb25
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Post by cb25 on Apr 24, 2018 16:56:37 GMT
... like providing evidence on recent claims. I don't buy into conspiracy theories on Salisbury and/or Syria (if that's what you're hinting at). If the UK had wanted to generate a spat with Russia, there are far easier ways to do it. Plus, it's just the usual East/West posturing that both sides do.
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jonah
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Post by jonah on Apr 24, 2018 19:00:26 GMT
kaya what sort of society should people aim to live in if not a 'money economy' ?
Post scarcity.
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cb25
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Post by cb25 on Apr 24, 2018 19:13:16 GMT
kaya what sort of society should people aim to live in if not a 'money economy' ?
Post scarcity. Had to look that one up
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scc
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Post by scc on May 2, 2018 13:16:46 GMT
China is such a large nation that one sound bite viewpoint is likely to be inevitably unrepresentative. Particularly given their very different culture, history and aspirations.
I suspect they much do want to leave a bigger cultural and economic impression on world than they currently do. That's probably not great news if you are an arguably fading superpower like the US. And personally, while we have plenty to do on the same fronts in the West, I find the grasping materialism and unsubtle nationalism of the Chinese I meet rather depressing if wholly understandable.
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cb25
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Post by cb25 on May 2, 2018 15:40:01 GMT
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Post by nellerdk on May 2, 2018 16:44:29 GMT
of course there are positive developments in China, but here are some of the negative developments:
1: Treatments of political dissidents, e.g. the artist Ai WeiWei
2: China's unlawful / illegal man-made islands in the south china sea
3: de facto state control of private companies
4: the state buys German companies while portraying to the world that they are being bought by chinese private companies
5: censorship of the internet and media outlets
6: many of the political leaders are extremely rich and promote their own business interests in the Chinese government. There's communism for you, folks!
7: Critical western journalists get blocked from entering China for the rest of their lives
8: No real development towards democracy is going on
9: the state's new social judgement systems where each system will be ranked according to their good and bad social and political actions, as judged by the state.
10: China is ramping up its military
11: infringement of western businesses and their ideas
12: I could write a lot more...
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 2, 2018 17:41:57 GMT
China may not be a beacon of democracy and human rights but is generally moving in the right direction (although I must admit it was a shame the latest premier is or has enacted laws to prolong his power).
Regarding human rights, I'm much more concerned about Saudi Arabia.
Frankly though, unless we are threatened by another country, we should in general butt out and concentrate efforts on our own problems.
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Post by eascogo on May 2, 2018 18:31:10 GMT
Indeed, the [Chinese] elite pursuing their aim for dominance in various guises with democracy just an encumbrance. Better to throttle individual freedom before it takes root. Our democratic regime pursues the same aim: different method, questionable efficiency. Conflicts are inevitable. Always curious to find how it will pan out.
Have just read a review of Taylor Downing's essay "1983 The World at the Brink" [Sunday Times, Culture, 22/04/2018] reporting on how close Regan and Andropov were to unleashing a nuclear armageddon--perhaps an even more fraught standoff than the 1962 Cuban Crisis. I can only wish that the next standoff is resolved without hitting the button.
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kaya
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Post by kaya on May 2, 2018 18:39:38 GMT
kaya what sort of society should people aim to live in if not a 'money economy' ?
Of course cb25 you are right. We have no choice but to live in and be part of the 'money economy', there is no genuine alternative (despite what a new-ager/conservationist/etc. might think) Indeed, the survival and 'progress' of ''civilization'' (our current shared belief system) requires it . I happen to think that only the 'native' way was truly harmonious (with nature) and was also the only truly sustainable society. There can be no return to that now though. So indeed michaelc China moves in the 'right direction' as regards the money economy. And indeed, we should focus on our own problems faults/hypocrisy/lies.
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Post by captainconfident on May 2, 2018 18:50:59 GMT
If I was to be concerned about a country it would be Iran. Israel and the USA are Fox Newsing themselves towards bombing "suspected WMD sites". Too little Congressional oversight, leaving a military loving president with the power to order such a strike, or using their eager proxy Israel. Restrained only be the wisdom of Iraq War fan John Bolton.
Second country to worry about : Taiwan. High chance that China makes a grab, particularly if the US, essentially the guarantor of Taiwanese independence, becomes embroiled in another distracting fiasco in Iran or N Korea.
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cb25
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Post by cb25 on May 2, 2018 21:51:55 GMT
I find the position of the West with regard to Iran (and North Korea) trying to develop nuclear weapons a little hypocritical. We say to ourselves 'our country needs nuclear weapons to be safe in a world where our prospective enemies have nuclear weapons', then criticize Iran/North Korea for agreeing with us and pursuing the same path. Found it quite funny watching Israel ('we developed nuclear weapons in a secret programme') criticize Iran for allegedly the same offence.
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Post by nellerdk on May 3, 2018 20:39:04 GMT
China may not be a beacon of democracy and human rights but is generally moving in the right direction why? please elaborate
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