Summary
Russian state TV hosts are celebrating Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, claiming they could “dismantle America.”
Figures like Vladimir Solovyov praised the nominees, including Kash Patel for FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard for intelligence, as a “radical dream team” likely to undermine U.S. institutions.
Critics in the U.S. warn that Trump’s selections, including conspiracy theorists and controversial figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth, signal plans to weaken federal agencies.
I’m glad we’re kind of on the same page about Mao. What do you think about the rest of my comment though? Modern China seems like a capitalist country in a communist hat to me. Which comes back to the beginning of the debate about the US giving away all its production to a ML nation.
Don’t get me wrong, I very much wish America didn’t offshore everything. If they hadn’t, it would be good for inequality and better for the climate.
I don’t know enough on the subject to make any strong claims, but actions since the Hu Jintao era seem somewhat consistent with the “bird cage economy” idea where capitalism exists within specific bounds as a tool to develop the means of production and the capitalist class is subservient to the state rather than the other way around.
Why would you expect a capitalist country whose ruling class believe they can insulate themselves from the effects of climate change be better on the climate than a socialist country with 5x more people whose breadbasket is in danger?
I’d never heard of the bird cage economy idea, I’ll definitely look into it.
Sure, the offshoring was all but inevitable due to capitalism. I’m just wishing pointlessly.
China is doing great on renewables and bringing prices down for the world. At least until the ridiculous tariffs start up.
Would you DM me if your Chinese friend recommends any english-language works?
I would. I’ll ask him. But he’s not much of a reader. He was there teaching art. What kind of books are you looking for?
Oh and he’s American. He just moved to Shanghai for about three years to teach. His Mandarin is decent but not fantastic. But what can I say, I don’t speak a word of it myself.
History, politics, anything that would help understand modern China really.