Can China Avoid the Soviet Union's Fate?
(Updated )

he People's Republic of China likes to compare itself with the United States. Both governments were forged to throw off the imperial yoke. Both are amalgams of many races and nationalities. Both are great continental powers capable of harnessing immense resources to promote national agendas around the world.
     Beijing's bosses cite these parallels to justify China's ambition of returning Taiwan to the fold -- forcibly if necessary -- and violently suppressing movements for Tibetan independence, Moslem separatism and religious tolerance. The party line: "In a few decades we will be as prosperous, unified and democratic as you Americans."
     Unfortunately, some observers see closer parallels to the former Soviet Union.
     Founded in 1910 to free Russian peasants from oppressive landowners and a weak imperial government, the Soviet government quickly and ruthlessly expanded into a superpower that rivaled the United States in military might and reach. On top of nearly 300 million citizens of several dozen captive nationalities, the Soviet Union became the puppetmasters of virtually every Eastern European government. By 1989 it was buckling under the burden of superpower competition. In 1991 the communists lost power to the reformist Yeltsin. The Soviet Union broke apart into Russia and a dozen independent republics. Today Russia is a nation of 150 million struggling to build a capitalist economy from the rubble of the communist meltdown.
     Among the Soviets' earliest converts were Mao Tsetung, Zhou Enlai and other young Chinese intellectuals who saw in communism salvation for the Chinese people from western imperialism and internal corruption. Mao's long struggle against Chiang Kaishek and the Kuomingtang would have ended disasterously without the support of dozens of ethnic minorities in northwestern China who believed his promise of ultimate political autonomy. Their help proved more valuable to Mao than the billions in American aid and direct military assistance to Chiang. By 1949 the Kuomingtang had fled to Taiwan and the PRC ruled the mainland.
     Beijing's bosses have been as ruthless as the Soviets in consolidating territory and suppressing separatist movements. But they have been far more successful in creating a functioning economy. They began capitalist reforms in 1979. By 2001 China's economy had become free enough to enter the World Trade Organization. For the past two decades it has grown at an average annual rate of 9%. Few of China's 1.25 billion go hungry and about 125 million enjoy living standards comparable to Malaysia and the Philippines. By some measure China has just surpassed Japan in GDP and will surpass the U.S. by 2025.
     But China's future as a united nation is far from assured.
     Even assuming peaceful reunification with Taiwan and victory over Tibetan separatists, Beijing's leaders face some big hurdles. They must integrate a billion subsistence-level farmers and workers into the consumer economy of the east coast or face ethnic discontent on a scale that would dwarf America's racial strife of the 1960s. Yet burdening the developed regions could breed separatist sentiment in Guangdong, Fujien, Manchuria and other regions. Over 100 languages and dialects are spoken in China. Long-suppressed religious minorities are becoming better organized thanks to the internet and other communications technology.
     Are China's prospects for staying united more like those of the U.S. or of the former Soviet Union? "I have...but I guess you have not ever seen some of the callow remarks that others have posted to him..."

I called this Nick a liar because he lies.
I called him delusional/nutjob because he has built up an elaborate fantasy life, which has been proven.
I called him a hater/racist because he has made indefensible remarks.
I called him a loser because he spends way too much time on the Internet getting attention and trying to put down a whole race of people, picking a fight on an Asian site.

I made the right call.
another voice
   Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 03:38:47 (PST)    [68.9.169.159]
"I prefer to see the world in terms Darwinism. My comments on a lot of things aren抰 pc because I don抰 believe in that."

It's called Social Darwinism, and it's been disproven ever since Hitler couldn't understand how the inferior mongrel Russians and English defeated Germany. The fortunes of "races" and countries are ever shifting like waves up and down.

The funny thing about pseudo-intellectuals is that you guys are always trying hard to give off an air of knowledge, but because you don't have the intelligence to pull it off, you keep falling on your faces.

You're buddy-buddies with each other...comrades in the same fools'/clowns' boat.
another voice
   Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 03:34:24 (PST)    [68.9.169.159]
"Then for the other 364 days of the year he writes gibberish. NSA agent, $200,000 a year salary, PhD in Physics, multi-lingual...the list is endless with this one. He can't even name the paper he published to get his PhD. He doesn't even understand his pay scale in the federal government. He doesn't even understand the curses he writes in a foriegn language."

True dat..getting trained as an Army/Navy/Air Force specialist in such field of mechanical engineering may qualify you for PHD status in the military, but not in real life.

The scrutiny endured to become a PHD in the real world...he would first have to write well and express himself clearly to even make the cut for admittance(he doesn't)...have some decent analytical skills to pass the grade, instead of bringing up irrelevant details about Chinese hookers, and at least know how to tell a believable lie to BS his way to graduation ....It's such a joke that he wear his military PHD degree like a badge of honor...
every post he signs it with "NS PHD EMP"
how gaudy, pretentious, and fake
another voice
   Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 03:26:42 (PST)    [68.9.169.159]
And for everyone else... for the last time, I'm not defending Nicholi. I just happened to agree with some of his points. It doesn't mean that I am "aligned" with him, ....I agree with some of Nicholi's points, some from Another Voice, some from Christine, and some even from... *gulp* AC. I think Nicholi exaggerates, but he doesn't make fabricated statements, un like some people around here..."

OK TSJ you seem to be reasonable. But you forget to mention that NIcholi not only exaggerates, but he is a closet hate monger, a liar, and a schizo-type personality.
another voice
   Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 03:19:31 (PST)    [68.9.169.159]
Okay answer me this question. What is the name of the popular noodle shop on the northside of the campus?
If you can't even answer this one.
-------AC Dropout

Normally, I would give you the STONEWALL on this question but, since it doesn't involve me, just a restaraunt, I will answer it, however, I need to know which set of Buildings your talking about. I live 6 blocks from Fudan University on 国定路.
My place is between HAND DAN road and 四平路 road. Fudan's main building is on HAN DAN road BUT, the other school sections that have newly been constructed are on 中通路 and also on the opposing side of the school. I Know of three restaraunts mainly (my favs). Xin Jiang (Beef Shiskabobs located on HanDan & 四平路.
Sui Yuan (located on 国定路, and the restaraunts in Wu Jiao Chong (Circle square). Frankly, I have no idea what street you mean. You only say the North side. And as for POPULARITY, Im not certain. Just tell me which streets and I'll answer the question.

Furthermore, since you pose no threat to me whatsoever, here is my phone#... if you dare call it.

country code: 86- city: 21- 6510-8420.

I'm available during China's nightime (American daytime between 23:00- 2:00 or during America's nightime, China morning.
If you really wanna test me, go ahead and call. You may be pleasantly surised.
Nicholi Servia PHD EMP
nicholiservia@hotmail.com    Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at 00:22:10 (PST)    [61.169.83.75]
another voice:

"Oh wow...how sophisticated can you be if you can't tell the difference between having a perfectly acceptable "disparague" of China and bringing out an endless drone of statistics without context to prove China sucks."

Actually...my discernment of that perfectly acceptable "disparague" and PHD's undeserved arrogance towards China was exactly what motivated my post...

You...being in a position of ignorance...are apparently unable to detect my discontent with PHD's lack of decorum...(and your lack of comprehension skills...)

"Personally, the biggest problem I have is this Nicholi's lack of good intentions."

Let's be fair...after some of the discriminating comments that your allies have made to him...I would be deprived of any initial good intentions as well...
Cixi...
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 23:39:52 (PST)    [209.29.96.213]
Nicholi Servia PHD EMP,

You ever ride the Long Island Rail Road. It is the mass transit to some of the richest people in NYC. No metrocard there either. Just a bunch of conductors walking the cars with hole puncher yelling "tickets, tickets" as a trail of paper snowflake fall behind them.

You wonder why HK, a Chinese territory, has a more advance rail system than the NYC, USA #1 city.

Legacy technology dies hard.

Are you done hopping from internet bar to internet bar in Shanghai on your 50 cc putput scooter yet?
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 14:26:39 (PST)    [24.136.115.189]
another voice,

I just want you to know. Many in our State Department and in the USA question our foriegn policy in the Middle East right now.

That's what an education is all about to rise above the mass of sheep, only the see the sheeps hate to see change.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 14:21:21 (PST)    [24.136.115.189]
Nicholi Servia PHD EMP,

First off the Mag Lev train is another example of China being able to "leap frog" technology because they are not overly burdened by lagacy technology.

USA has no long distance magnetic train because of how strong our own railroad industry is against it. So we hold onto our legacy technology. Just like we had Y2K issue awhile ago because of legacy systems.

Yes and normal rail systems are also high maintainance. Oxidation, friction, metal fatigue all play a part.

Buldinging a train system that reaches Tibet and the less developed parts of China. Is their way of extending the 20 years of economic expansion in the cities to the rural area of China.

We did it when we opened up our west with the our railroads. China is now going through the same process.

Actually the missle defense system is a direct counter to the possible military expansion of China. Japan, SK, Taiwan are all possible bases for the missle defense of the future. It is part of the "China Containment" strategy. I believe Apache Driver had a link to the army military periodical he gets, that more or less alluded to the future possibility of China becoming a "strategic competitor" on that side of the globe.

Also your comments on homes is incorrect as well. Construction is faster in asia in general because they are not held back by union workers. Construction in SK, Taiwan, Japan, PRC are always cheaper and faster because of this fact.

Asia is much more concern about energy consumption than the USA. So central AC/Heating is virtually unheard of. If you noticed the water are usually not heated in large 30 gallon boiler but are individual heaters that only operate when hot water is needed. Much more efficient. In fact USA new homes are starting to use this technology that has existed in Asia for over 15 years.

Also in China real estate laws are changing. It use to be one could sell a home which had only 4 walls and a ceiling. Then the new owners need to hire people to divide the interior.

As for carpeting. Remember carpeting was an advent after WWII for track housing because people could not afford wood or tile. So they laid carpeting down. So originally carpeting were for the poor in California. Since TSJ is a real estate person in CA, I'm sure he can impart you with the history of how carpets and poor GI Joes of WWII got together.

Also the USA real estate industry, hard wood and tile floors are making a come back for the past 7 years.

Now in asia there is another reason why they don't like carpeting. Hygiene. With all the construction and development in asia. Carpets can get dirty really fast. Easier to sweep up tile and hardwood than vacuum or wash a carpet.

Actually concrete is one of the best insulator out there.

"Wiring is never a good idea unless your using it in a closed system such as a school or small networked area."

I think you missed my point. Our entire country, USA, still has a lot of copper wiring for phones and what not. I'm not talking about LANs and WANs. I'm talking about 411. Which you should call up every now and then.

"Steel shelling is used to keep the concrete from crumbling"

What are you talking about. Steel re-inforced concrete is done with steel bars in the concrete. There is no shell. Concrete is very stable and doesn't crumble, it is one of the strongest materials to with stand pressure. It is lateral forces which is what concrete is weak against, but the steel bars are not.

PHD in physics my ass...this information is taught in highschool.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 11:35:31 (PST)    [24.136.115.189]
TSJ,

"You are a hypocrite and a bigot"

Uhm come again. Do you even know what these terms means. Could you illustrate events where I have shown duplicity in the meaning of my post.

"When did I say I only saw ONE development in all of Shanghai?"

You stated you saw one by the airport. I asked for clarifaction on how many you saw. You being in real estate I assume stuff like that would interest you.

"Or that I can't speak any Mandarin?"

Dude you hung around translators guides on your trip to Shanghai. Hung around them so much you provided a profile of them. I don't know why would someone so proficient in Chinese hang around them. I never needed a translator guide when I travel to a country with Chinese people in it.

This is the way I see it. Every city has retarded people in it. Retards get around fine in a city. Why would I need a guide for?

"Then again, judging by your poor grammar"

Get off it dude. If you've been following my post I can dust you anytime I want. Like I mentioned these are mostly free-thought drafts I put up. Liberal use of colloquial speech, conjuctive starts, mis-spelling will all be included.

"No wonder you always complain about the racism in America."

I complain about it because it still exist here and it shouldn't based on our laws and spirit of the country. I critise Nick 'cause he is like Archie Bunker. I'll spell it out if you missed Nick at Night or too young to remember the show.

Archie Bunker was a patriot, but he was ignorant, he could not see past the fact that he was so ignorant that his own behavior was the cause of the social problems around him. He was the representation of Americans that could not cope with the changing times in America. The show is so well written that it is still a standard of making social commentary using TV.

"All you do is make up stuff to win"

I enjoy winning. I am extremely competitive. I don't deny that. Acedemic, Business, TKD tournaments, Cars, Women, etc. But that my personality.

I hardly need to make up stuff to win as you put it. Not necessary since information needed to make domestic critism exist right here in our news.

However, what I do is offer a balanced view when I think things are getting overly skewd.

Like case in point Nick most recent assestment of homes in China. He taking our social norms (i.e carpets) and using it as a method to value homes in China. Your in "new real estate" you should be able to explain it to him.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 11:03:45 (PST)    [24.136.115.189]
[24.239.152.113]
NOKIA, JOANNA WONG and KINKO

If it isnt the damndest thing. THREE of you are all having a rant about me and ALL of you seem to have the same IP Address. Do you think we are stupid here? You're all the same person. Come on, don't insult my intelligence with your FAKE self. Do a little bit better in the future when you try to be a fake OK? DO like me and always stand up as ONE person for what you believe in. What cowardice.

I'll never understand how people can CALL me out and call me a fake when they can't even keep one alias. You should cut it out because you may turn into a skitzophreniac multiple personality disordered patient.
Nicholi Servia PHD EMP
   Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 10:54:37 (PST)    [211.156.4.24]

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