LOL...no big deal. Figures my grandson would have a name like that. :thumbsup: Have a good one!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mfactor420
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LOL...no big deal. Figures my grandson would have a name like that. :thumbsup: Have a good one!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mfactor420
It will be interesting to see where China is ten years from now. The change from 10 years ago is unbelievable. When I lived in Shanghai back in '96-'97 it still had some of that "communist" feel to it. Drab concrete buildings, one brand of toilet paper in the stores, etc. The last time I was there was last February and it was a completely different place. In less than ten years they have created an entirely new city. New highways, new subways, and some of the tallest buildings in the world, etc. My father just came back from his first trip there and he was amazed. He's been all over the world and said Shanghai was the most modern place he's ever seen.
It's not just the infrastructure but the people are changing very quickly too. Its hard to explain but many of them have become much more worldly and modern. They're buying cars, investing in real estate, becomming millionaires($'s not Yuan), and becomming much more sophisticated. The first time I was there most people, even the city folk, were pretty much hicks. People would literally stare at me because I was a foriegner. I don't mean look at me and then turn away when they saw I noticed. They would fucking come up and stare, looking at me like I was some exotic animal or something. Now nobody even gives me a second look.
One of the biggest problems China faces right now is the massive disparity between the rich and the poor. While some people are making US$500k+ a year a huge portion of the population is making US$1000 a year or less. 10 years ago a family could live reasonable well on $1000 a year. Now, however, with the inflationary pressure generated by the new wealthy class $1k just doesn't cut it. To make matters worse, the government doesn't take care of people the way it used to. Medical care and housing used to be pretty lousy when it was handed out by the communist government but lousey is better than non-existant.
The other, even bigger, problem is that for all their modernization and change the govt has changed very little and the country is still bogged down by corruption and outragoues bureaucracy. They've also put so much focus on making Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen into ultra modern cities that they've forgotten to modernize the rest of the country. A typical example: China desperately wants to build its semiconductor industry and has created massive hi-tech parks, gives incentives to companies that invest there, etc. My company sells U.S. made semiconductor manufacturing equipment in China (say what you will :cool: ). We recently had an order from a state run company in China. They needed the equipment urgently but it took 6 months for our customer to get the paperwork done to import the equipment. Now apply this reasoning to every aspect of business, law, society, etc. and you see the problem. It's like they're trying to put a Lamborghini engine into a go-cart. Sooner or later it's going to crash.
So, take over the world? Doubtfully. If the system doesn't change soon they're more likely to implode on themselves. Then it's anyones guess. If it does change, which it hopefully will, I see them becoming more like Japan. They'll dominate in some industries but will take their place in a civilized world.
Or some hard line general will just nuke us all.
The Chinese have no chance of taking over the world. It takes more than a big economy to do so. A nation must have the power of invention. China only has the power to emulate or copy.
In 1990 everybody thought the Japanese were about to buy America. They tried but then the internet boom happenned and where are they now?
Asian school systems kill creativity. They create robotic people who can only hope to catch up. The next big invention will leave them where they are now; trying to catch up.
If the Chinese were to ever decide to be Chinese they could rule the world. But I do not see this happening, as their last great contributions to humanity were their philosophies, over two thousand years ago. Right now you see them acting like a conquered race. Selling their own into wage slavery.
Asian school systems kill creativity?
Have you ever heard of japanese Anime? It's some of the most creative and interesting art in the world.
I guess they got that by studying math ten hours day. Yes the Japanese have the best animation. So what? You have named a single thing. They did not invent animation, they improved on it, just like a Toyota is better than a Dodge.
I did not say Asian school systems stifle ALL creativity. But they stifle most of it.
Have you ever been to school in asia?
I'm not saying I disagree compleately but you are making statements that are too generalized.
Oh and asians invented martial arts. That has to count for something.
:mad: Hey, watch it! I own a Dodge and no way is a Toyota better. The Japanese may have brought us some good things, but cars wasn't one of them. In an environmental perspective, no car is good. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by kidcharlemane
I've been in Asian schools and they are better than N.A. schools. They don't stifle creativity. :thumbsup:
I teach school in Asia. First of all the martial arts are a truly an asian invention, not from the current decade. They have been around from way back when Asians were Asians.(see above in reference to Chinese philosophy). I would say that at one time their civilization was superior. But at this time they are living in a western world competing with the west. Students study Mathematics, Science, English and their own language and history. A typical Taiwanese kid gets up at 6am and goes to bed after midnight. They go to school on weekends and evenings. I know kids who have to go to class every Sunday at 7am. This stifles the human spirit. All to achieve a better test score.
They are not studyiing the martial arts and they are not learning about art. They are preparing to be Doctors, computer engineers etc....I have never seen a parent NOT
discourage an inclination to be a writer or an artist.
My experience has been in China and Taiwan. (ten + years) I have also worked in Thailand(a much more laid back place). Japan is widely known to be more uptight that any of these places.
I am not saying that these countries are stupid or that they suck in any way. But I do think that they are copying western civilization and Eastern civilization is going away.
I agree Mfactor 420...cars do suck. But Japanese cars are better than your dodge. Sorry....
If china or japan were to take over, it would be nobody's fault except the westerners. Don't forget that both cultures were quite content with their own respective idealogies, until the "white devils" began trading munitions with them.
So, just like america, modernization always comes as a direct result of warfare.
Have you ever done your own auto mechanics, or do you take yours to the shop? :confused: If you do your own mechanics, you will know immediately a Dodge is better than a Toyota. Even a Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily & Found On Road Dead) is better than a Toyota. Like I said, you got to be willing to spend some time under the hood. Then you'll know. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by kidcharlemane
Ever wondered why Asian cars are called "Jap Crap" by people in the automotive industry? :D