Saturday, October 20, 2018

China is cucumber cool while Trump acts like dumb blond strongman

After three weeks touring China, starting in Beijing then traveling by high-speed rail to Shanghai and Changsha, then up the Yangtze River to Chongqing, in that order, the construction cranes in each of these mega-cities dotted the landscape by the dozens.

China today is planning for China tomorrow, while foul-mouthed leaders back Washington D.C, as detailed in Bob Woodward's book "Fear" based on The Donald's time in the Oval Office todate, act like mean-spirited, xenophobic, paranoid abusers who know that the American century is over.

The Asian century is unfolding before our eyes. America's lunch will soon be eaten alive by China and others, with lots of hot sauce, chili peppers and MSG. 

From half a world away, hurricane Michael that devastated the Florida panhandle looks like a regular rain storm compared to the political hurricane headed to the entire country on November 6. These midterm elections will show whether sleepy-time-tea American voters will again squander their franchise by deciding to again forego voting.

When a minority of the country--as Trump calls his base--is able to control 100 percent of the nation's assets, because the majority of registered voters are too apathetic or lazy to do their civic duty, then the meanness that embodies the America First attitude of the president's swamp will open the doors to more shrinkage as world leaders watch as China advances.

Graham Allison writes in his editorial in China Daily that 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. Over these four decades, the author of  "Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides' Trap?" says "the country has become an economic giant with the world's largest foreign reserves ($3.2 trillion) and second-largest GDP ($12 trillion), while foreign direct investment in China reached $135 billion last year."

With tens of thousands of miles of high-speed rail to ride on as America watches its rail system dissolve further, despite more than a decade of talk and little action on California's quest to build just one line of similar capability between San Francisco and Los Angeles, one respected economist has facts to show that China already has already become the world's largest economy. Other economists say it will take a dozen years, maybe by 2030 for that to happen. What isn't in doubt is that China is moving inexorably forward despite President Trump's silly claims to the contrary.

Through innovation, inclusiveness, sharing and embracing global values, China knows those cards are the winning hand compared to Trump's cards of closed borders, rewarding the already rich with more largesse, and continuing to promote the false claim that reduction of income tax rates is the road to growth and prosperity will only further widen the gap between rich and poor. China's middle class is expanding while America's once great national asset is shrinking.

If democracy is still a value worth pursuing, maybe it's time for mandatory democracy? Australia and other countries have done it. American democracy is in free fall, as the 2016 elections showed with great clarity. Billions are spent to keep voters home. While the USA may complain and point to the horrors of communist or socialist systems, the rise of a once poor but rapidly expanding country like China shows that regular pragmatism, combined with accurate planning, can make a one-party ruler state whose leader is a progressive strong man like Xi Jinping equal to a nation run by elected leaders who think going backward in time, in thought and action, is the same as going forward.

If Trump world retains control of the House and Senate this election cycle, Democrats may be the next political party to be thrown on the trash heap of history. With more voters not voting than voting, Washington's legally dumb blond and wannabe strong man will declare his reprisal brand of democracy to be the best ever.

American under Teddy Roosevelt once spoke softly but carried a big stick. Today, China can make the same claim, as it's economic stick grows stronger by the day. America's big stick remains its nuclear power. The social fabric is bound up in false issues that the rest of the world appears to have moved beyond.

As one former Ohio budget director told me, his fears for the future align with mine. "I share your concern these Asian countries will out hustle and out organize us."