Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

[capcom]

... to being a powerhouse that as you say, is second behind the US and will overtake them pretty soon.

Reckon that's rather fanciful .... the United States is FAR out in front of a technically deficient CCP.  In the air force and in space for starters. 

[PaulP]

Reckon that's rather fanciful .... the United States is FAR out in front of a technically deficient CCP.  In the air force and in space for starters. 

I was referring solely to standard economic measures :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_China

[capcom]

I was referring solely to standard economic measures :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_China

OK

[Baggers]

Mr Shano, we could keep boxing on till doomsday.

The CCP has done fantastically well for China. They went from being among the poorest countries in the world pre 1949 to being a powerhouse that as you say, is second behind the US and will overtake them pretty soon. Despite the communist fear spread by dimwits, China has always been "open for business" under the pinks. They are the textbook example of state capitalism. Clearly they've paid a price, but their economic growth would be the envy of every country on the planet. They have always encouraged foreign investment, and with a population that is highly educated, hard working, disciplined, obedient, and most of all cheap, the attraction for overseas companies is obvious. Unfortunately that new found wealth isn't being shared fairly (workers employed by Apple and many others are basically slave labour with lousy conditions), but that's another story.

We seem to have swerved into a different direction, Pauly... but, hey, I do appreciate our 'dances.'

Yes, China is the consummate corporate state, without any pretense to democracy or human rights. In China, you speak out against the state and you vanish, or worse (ah, those pesky doctors who spoke out about C-19 in the early days. I wonder where they are!). Their values are very different to ours and their system, economically speaking, is purring along nicely without any interference from any charismatic, individual leadership.

Interesting world, interesting times we live in, eh Pauly?

[LP]

So Trumpy Wumpy wants to sue Twittery Wittery because it's being Meany Weany!   :o

[Lods]

He's got more problems than twitter.
They're in 'more trouble than the early explorers' over there with looting and an out of control virus in many areas.
Not a lot of social distancing in a mob. :o

[Baggers]

One of the jokes of the year, the orange Orangutan wanting to make social media more accountable. :o  :o  :o

[crashlander]

Our last visit to the US was late last year when my wife and I visited a number of midwest and southwest states.  Without exception we found people to be kind and courteous, and without exception they believed the US to be the greatest country in the world.

The vast majority in the fifty to seventy five age group were rusted on Trump followers.  Many listened every morning to Rush Limbaugh because "he is able to take complex matters and simplify them for us".

Few had been overseas and quite a number had not ventured outside their own state.

There was a superficial interest in Australia and Europe, possibly because of their lack of knowledge.  Free to air tv usually concentrated on local and state matters with Fox providing right wing views almost entirely related to the US.

We were left speechless at the end of a Diana Ross concert in Las Vegas when the middle aged couple sitting behind us queried our accent. When we said we were from Australia the wife said she had never heard of it.

Years ago I was told that the US is a first world country with a third world underbelly.  I've seen nothing to change that view

I can understand that. When I was travelling through Europe in 1987 I met a number of Americans. You could generally hear them a long time before you saw them (although there were a few with volume control).
A quote I heard while I was in a Youth Hostel in Brussel: "Australia! I've been to Australia. Vienna's the capital, isn't it?"
Same day, different American, "You speak real good English for an Australian!" (She thought I spoke German, that I came from Austria. I do speak some, but...)
In Vienna, in the tourist shops, there were t-shirts with Kangaroos in Lederhosen. The comment was 'We have no kangaroos here!" (Please imagine a strong German accent.)
(In those days my body could handle Youth Hostels. Alas, no more.)

I've never met an unpleasant American, although I've heard a few demanding McDonald's type service in Spanish and Portuguese restaurants. They just don't understand that foreigners do thing differently, on the whole.
Their education system is very America-centric. Most other places are not real (except Canada and Mexico). Those that know something of their past are very knowledgeable about that place, but they didn't read about it school. Their ignorance of the world is amazing.

In a lot of ways, Trump does describe a significant group of Americans. That is frightening.

[kruddler]

He's got more problems than twitter.
They're in 'more trouble than the early explorers' over there with looting and an out of control virus in many areas.
Not a lot of social distancing in a mob. :o

Survival of the fittest.

USA are showing themselves to largely be ignorant, and they are suffering the consequences. No thanks to the oompa loompa running the joint. Or should that be ruining the joint?

In relation to an earlier post you made about Biden (not) being the best leader.....when was the last time it was about the best? Isn't it just who has the deepest pockets?

Their system is so severly broken. If they keep going down the path they are going, i wouldn't be surprised to see the 'UNITED' States end up in ceasing to be made up of 50 states. There will be a secession

[Lods]

You're not just whistling Dixie.

There are deep divisions, but they were there before Trump and he's just a catalyst.
Pop in a pandemic and you have a recipe for disaster.
As a group our people are pretty similar... except in the way we pronounce 'castle' and the fact that the only true scallop is a potato slice covered in batter.
The USA ,apart from a similar common language, is more like 50 different micro-nations.
Add in strong and assertive minorities and it creates a situation we really cant appreciate,

In relation to Biden, my concern is that he gives Trump a chance when in fact he shouldn't have one.
The guy will be lucky to last half a term, should he be successful in gaining the top job.
He should have been the nominee 4 years ago.
Now he should be looking at aged care.
The one positive is that unlike Trump he will no doubt have folks around him that will be the ones with the real control.
If Biden v Trump is the best they can do they are truly...well you know.