Council on Foreign RelationsWashington, D.C. MR. SULLIVAN: At least I had the bravery to give that speech at Brookings rather than at CFR. So — (laughter) — Mike, I want to say thank you for having me back at CFR. And to Susan and Kurt and Charlene and Steve, thank you for having me back…
You are giving a very sinister lean to shaping and changing. I think its clear that they wanted China to be another Japan, not any number of failed coups in the middle east or Central/South America.
Japan? The country that the USA economically crippled the moment it started to threaten US dominance, sending it into a multi-decade depression (literally called the lost decades) and permanently transforming it into the poster-child of capitalist dystopia?
Yeah, nothing sinister at all about trying to do that to China…
In the 80s, Japan was poised to be a genuine economic rival to the USA. There’s a reason so much media from the 80s depicts the Japanese with the same fear that modern media depicts China, the cyperpunk genre being the most lasting example.
But then the Plaza Accords cratered the Japanese economy
You act like the Japanese didn’t want to lift their people out of poverty. That the people within SONY didn’t aspire to be one of the largest corporations in the world.
The Japanese owned a significant amount of real estate within the US at their zenith (kind of like China today). They faltered because it started to cost more to import certain materials then it did to improve those raw materials and export them. Econ 101, cheaper markets existed for that type of manufacturing. It took some time to transition to a service economy. They still excelled at heavy industry and still do. They’re still one of the predominant ship builders and car builders in the world.
Japan was also one of the first countries to be hit hard by an aging population, partly because of xenophobia, but I think mainly other cultural factors. It’s challenging to try to keep your economy going when the workforce is shrinking and more of a country’s wealth is going towards caring for the elderly. I think anyone with aging parents can attest to that.
It’s not always America ruined their lives, plenty more nuance than American geopolitics. Lest we not forget that America helped to build them up after the war in the first place. And not having to fund a military can do wonders for a country’s growth (you know, so long as they aren’t invaded).
Your hate for America and capitalism has distorted your world view. I’d prefer to live in a world of opportunity rather than a world of schadenfreude.
You act like the Japanese didn’t want to lift their people out of poverty.
I don’t and I have no idea why you think I do.
That the people within SONY didn’t aspire to be one of the largest corporations in the world.
The vast majority of people working for SONY are far more concerned with their own declining wages and working conditions than they are with the prestige of a corporation.
The Japanese owned a significant amount of real estate within the US at their zenith (kind of like China today).
Hmm yes, I wonder what happened
They faltered because it started to cost more to import certain materials then it did to improve those raw materials and export them.
Yeah, of course; just a regular, everyday, normal completely future destroying collapse of the national economy. Plaza Accords? What are they?
They still excelled at heavy industry and still do. They’re still one of the predominant ship builders and car builders in the world.
Yeah, and the people of Sierra Leone are excellent diamond miners. What does that have to do with the USA wrecking their economy?
Japan was also one of the first countries to be hit hard by an aging population, partly because of xenophobia, but I think mainly other cultural factors.
“Black people aren’t economically discriminated against in the USA, it’s just their culture!”
I think anyone with aging parents can attest to that.
The Lost decades started 35 years ago; my boomer parents weren’t even middle aged yet.
It’s not always America ruined their lives
Maybe not, but it is in this case.
Lest we not forget that America helped to build them up in the first place.
After leveling all their cities and incinerating half a million civilians.
Your hate for America and capitalism has distorted your world view.
Spare me your patronizing crap.
I’d prefer to live in a world of opportunity rather than a world of schadenfreude.
Well then you should be damn pleased that America didn’t manage to do to China what it did to Japan.
The only reason there wasn’t a coup in Japan like a lot of other south/east asian countries is that after the aftermath of WW2 there was no need of one
“Electoral interference” is illegal, but “shaping and changing the PRC” is just business.
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Of course it isn’t lol, it’s just poking fun at the obvious hypocrisy of US moralizing and pandering about foreign election interference
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You are giving a very sinister lean to shaping and changing. I think its clear that they wanted China to be another Japan, not any number of failed coups in the middle east or Central/South America.
Japan? The country that the USA economically crippled the moment it started to threaten US dominance, sending it into a multi-decade depression (literally called the lost decades) and permanently transforming it into the poster-child of capitalist dystopia?
Yeah, nothing sinister at all about trying to do that to China…
Sorry, at what point did the US benefit, let alone cause the lost decade?
In the 80s, Japan was poised to be a genuine economic rival to the USA. There’s a reason so much media from the 80s depicts the Japanese with the same fear that modern media depicts China, the cyperpunk genre being the most lasting example.
But then the Plaza Accords cratered the Japanese economy
https://kendawg.medium.com/how-the-plaza-accord-helped-the-us-destroy-the-japanese-economy-b4b24c20a9af
You act like the Japanese didn’t want to lift their people out of poverty. That the people within SONY didn’t aspire to be one of the largest corporations in the world.
The Japanese owned a significant amount of real estate within the US at their zenith (kind of like China today). They faltered because it started to cost more to import certain materials then it did to improve those raw materials and export them. Econ 101, cheaper markets existed for that type of manufacturing. It took some time to transition to a service economy. They still excelled at heavy industry and still do. They’re still one of the predominant ship builders and car builders in the world.
Japan was also one of the first countries to be hit hard by an aging population, partly because of xenophobia, but I think mainly other cultural factors. It’s challenging to try to keep your economy going when the workforce is shrinking and more of a country’s wealth is going towards caring for the elderly. I think anyone with aging parents can attest to that.
It’s not always America ruined their lives, plenty more nuance than American geopolitics. Lest we not forget that America helped to build them up after the war in the first place. And not having to fund a military can do wonders for a country’s growth (you know, so long as they aren’t invaded).
Your hate for America and capitalism has distorted your world view. I’d prefer to live in a world of opportunity rather than a world of schadenfreude.
I don’t and I have no idea why you think I do.
The vast majority of people working for SONY are far more concerned with their own declining wages and working conditions than they are with the prestige of a corporation.
Hmm yes, I wonder what happened
Yeah, of course; just a regular, everyday, normal completely future destroying collapse of the national economy. Plaza Accords? What are they?
Yeah, and the people of Sierra Leone are excellent diamond miners. What does that have to do with the USA wrecking their economy?
“Black people aren’t economically discriminated against in the USA, it’s just their culture!”
The Lost decades started 35 years ago; my boomer parents weren’t even middle aged yet.
Maybe not, but it is in this case.
After leveling all their cities and incinerating half a million civilians.
Spare me your patronizing crap.
Well then you should be damn pleased that America didn’t manage to do to China what it did to Japan.
“I reject reality and substitute my own.”
The only reason there wasn’t a coup in Japan like a lot of other south/east asian countries is that after the aftermath of WW2 there was no need of one