The Biden administration harks back to the Eisenhower administration. Eisenhower delegated most of his work, leading to much speculation about who was running things. Eisenhower was also heavily criticized for saying things peculiarly, leading to many jokes. And of course Eisenhower not thought of as an original thinker, but more of a puppet, elected because he was famous as a general.
The equivalent of MoA at that time was the John Birch Society which of course charged that Eisenhower was a Communist.
The more things change, the more they stay the same? AT any rate, the rabid reaction that carried out the great purge of the left is still going strong.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 28 2021 14:43 utc | 3

The latest news says that the stern has moved a few metres. That’s an extremely encouraging sign that the Ever Given is afloat and only the bow and stern are stuck. I’m wondering what the record is for the length of time, after grounding, a stranded ship has been refloated. I’m pretty certain its only about 14 days if it doesn’t present a hazard.
In the early ’50s a small ship blew ashore at Port Melbourne during a storm and was quickly (it seemed to me) declared a permanent fixture.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 28 2021 15:04 utc | 5

China Reportedly Doubled Freight Shipping to Europe Via Russia, Central Asia Before Suez Jam-up

Observers say overland shipping by rail can often be an attractive alternative to sea-based shipping, even if it is typically more expensive, as a result of both infrastructure upkeep costs and the costs associated with the transfer of cargoes to and from various modes of transport. Under ordinary conditions, ships take an average of between 30 and 33 days to make it from ports in East Asia to northern Europe using the Suez Canal, which accounts for as much as 12 percent of all goods shipped globally. If ships are forced to travel around Africa, that shipping time grows by weeks. By comparison, major Russian companies such as Fesco Transport Group offer deliveries from China, Japan or Korea to terminals in the European Union in as little as 19 days, albeit at a premium.

–//–
How Does a Baby Bust End? Three scenarios for a more fertile American future.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the “experts” predicted there would be a baby boom. Because, you know, those proles are a bunch of rats! They only think about sleeping, eating and fucking! Not.
Now, the capitalists have a problem in their hands, as population growth is essential for the survival of a healthy capitalist system (because it keeps wages down, as the value of the unit of a human being goes down).
Modern USA is highly dependent on population growth. One article I read some years ago stated that more than 2% of the growth of its annual GDP is vegetative, i.e. due solely to population growth. The main factor is mass immigration from Latin America: the USA is the the country that most benefits from demographic bonus in the world of the 21st Century. That’s why there’s a faction of the USA elite (mainly represented by the Democratic Party, but also many Texan and Floridan conservative elites) that is feverishly pro-immigrant. That bonus has ended with the closure of the southern border due to the Trumpian ascension (2017-2019) and the pandemic (2020-present).
–//–
Nuclear submarines arise at the same time in the Arctic:
Integrated Arctic expedition of the Russian Navy and the Russian Geographical Society “Umka-21”
–//–
China surpasses the USA in vaccinated people:
Over 100 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China
The USA will obviously vaccinate its entire population first, as it has just one fifth of the Chinese population, but China has not only vaccinated 102 million of their citizens, but also exported more than 100 million doses – most of them to Third World countries, countries in most need.
–//–
Cuba and China to continue deepen their bilateral ties, cooperation:
Xi thanks Cuban leaders for congratulating China on complete victory in poverty alleviation

Xi said that China will, as always, support Cuba in keeping to the path of socialism and push bilateral relations to higher levels.

–//–
China going carbon neutral by 2060:
Hydrogen fuels a revolution in Chinese trucking

The hydrogen fuel cell is a rare example of a long-established technology turning into a game-changing disrupter. It has powered spacecraft and submarines for decades but made little headway in ground transportation because governments balked at the cost of building fueling infrastructure, and because the cost of producing the raw materials was prohibitive.
That’s changing in a big way, mainly because China has made hydrogen-powered ground transport one of the top priorities of its $560 billion a year technology investment budget.

Posted by: vk | Mar 28 2021 15:20 utc | 7

More evidence that Marx is right surfaces:
The rise of capitalism and the productivity of labour

Most important, the study refutes the ‘Whig interpretation of history’, namely human ‘civilisation’ is one of gradual progress with changes coming from wiser ideas and political forms constructed by clever people. Instead, the evidence of productivity growth in England shows “sharp and sizable shifts in average growth” supporting the notion that “something changed.” i.e., that the transition from stagnation to growth was more than a steady process of very gradually increased growth.” On the gradual Whig interpretation, the authors conclude that “the results do not support this view of history.”
Also, the study shows that, as sustained productivity growth began in England substantially before the Glorious Revolution of 1688, it was not the change in political institutions that led to economic growth. On the contrary, it was the change in economic relations that led to productivity growth and then political change. “While the institutional changes associated with the Glorious Revolution may well have been important for growth, our results contradict the view that these events preceded the onset of growth in England.”

Posted by: vk | Mar 28 2021 16:34 utc | 9

The big news is the China-Iran investment deal, headlined at $400 billion. This is a big turnaround for energy and economic ties. CNPC, one of China’s state oil companies, had canceled its South Pars investment in December 2018 as China-US relations were improving. However, China-US relations are in a poor state and I think specifically the use of Taiwan as a provocation by the US has led China to do a u-turn on economic relations with Iran.
This represents a huge failure on the part of the Israel lobby in Washington. This deal has the potential for Iran to not go hungry this decade as was the plan. Years of hunger for Iran and then a easy war. Not only did the Israel lobby not seem to see it coming but many prominent people who are part of it were big supporters of taking confrontational action on Taiwan. Bret Stephens of the NYT last year called for selling more weapons to Taiwan and “upgrading” relations. Stephens it the main Middle East columnist of the NYT. He should have clearly seen this but it goes to show the man is objectively dumb according to their own worldview (i.e. they care deeply about Israel but never bothered to ask how much is Israel able to take on?)

Posted by: coolstory | Mar 28 2021 17:32 utc | 11

I didn’t catch the full address of the website, but searching “just have a think” should bring it up.

Posted by: juliania | Mar 28 2021 17:40 utc | 13

steven t johnson@3
finally jumped the shark.
But, unfortunately, the shark puked!

Posted by: librul | Mar 28 2021 17:49 utc | 15

The John Birch society was obsessed w/Eisenhower, Steven T Johnson was just citing an historical parallel. Now that he mentions it, the ‘who’s running the show’ criticism is very similar but somehow, Biden, like Eisenhower will just get things done and people will attribute it to his handlers.
CNN mentions Syria’s oil shortage in connection to the Suez Canal blockage. They did not mention Iran’s heroic fuel deliveries to compensate for our barbaric, economic blockade, seizure of their oil fields, and Israel’s attack on merchant shipping but …
It’s a win. Showing empathy for people in a country you are supposed to hate is a start. I wonder if the guy who wrote that copy still has a job.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 28 2021 18:12 utc | 17

Mr. Putin and his fans do not seem to show any concern for being unmask and close each other. Sputnik V is really a good vaccine. I will no take it anyway. I will not take anyone of them.
https://www.lavanguardia.com/internacional/20210318/6601863/vladimir-putin-septimo-aniversario-anexion-crimea-rusia-video-seo-lv.html

Posted by: Roberto | Mar 28 2021 18:14 utc | 19

Former Trump CDC Director confirms Wuhan Lab origin of Coronavirus, oops, channeling FOX news by exaggerating half truth.
My real question is more along the lines of, what is the value of cultivating a human transmissible virus in a lab?
The risk reward ratio does not make sense to me for any lab to do this, either you
1. develop a virus which could escape devastate the world, or,
2. develop a vaccine for a virus which is unlikely to ever exist on its own naturally.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 28 2021 18:33 utc | 21

I see they have called in the expert in turning things around.
https://twitter.com/I30mki/status/1376090834500640768/photo/1

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 28 2021 18:42 utc | 23

Christian J. Chuba@18 kindly read my comment without reading into it. Thank you.
(By “MoA,” I didn’t mean just the host but the larger part of the commentariat too, which might not have been so clear. The Birchers were far too well-heeled and too organized and too activist to be comparable to the MoA commentariat in any way other than being more or less similar degrees of wacky…After all calling Eisenhower a Communist is like calling Biden a socialist. And so on and so forth. It is true the larger part of the commentariat shares the anti-Communism of the JBS, which is a major part of the reason some love Putin and/or Xi. But most people in the rich countries share those fundamental principles too, so I don’t mean to single out even MoA at large for any special anti-Communism. I don’t think anyone really wants any clarification though, but still..)

Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 28 2021 19:05 utc | 25

Yes, Roberto, re-unificación.
Look at the faces, and mood of the Crimean people. Is anyone of them less than smiling?
A 93% ‘Yes’ referendum for full integration with Mother Russia.
This after a master and lightning-fast military and intelligence move by bad Vlad, when an american fleet was heading to the east Mediterranean. Foiled in the bud by the rusky move.
And the nearly 20k soldier garrison in the black Sea (many of them Ukies) were given the option to return to the Ukraine. Very few did.

Posted by: augusto | Mar 28 2021 19:21 utc | 27

The pesky russkies have things that work, like ice breakers and floating nuclear power plants. They are going to by pass the muslim canal.

Posted by: steve | Mar 28 2021 20:04 utc | 29

vk @ | Mar 28 2021 15:20 utc | 7
About those three Russian submarines in the arctic. I saw the headline elsewhere and wondered what the novelty was.
Russian inventory is no secret so dispatching three subs in one place shouldn’t come as a surprise. And they’ve been breaking through ice for decades, so nothing new here. Is the synchronized surfacing an achievement? Can’t really see why, don’t they have clocks onboard?
Great footage, by the way.

Posted by: robin | Mar 28 2021 20:20 utc | 31

The Saker has the video of the 3 Russian subs surfacing, and one comment by someone who seems to know what he’s talking about says that from a professional standpoint, the event was a demonstration of great skill – comparable to a “close formation fly-past of 3 jets.” A useful appreciation – but more to the point he says this is a demonstration that, with what those subs can carry, Russia can destroy the US from the Arctic alone.
I haven’t seen anything concrete yet to indicate the stuck freighter in the Suez was sabotage (although I do note the “blackout” report), but we have now seen the fragility of two major transit routes for the global supply chain. Everyone always talked about Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz – suppose the Suez Canal were shut down at the same time?
BRI, and the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic seem to gain in advantage daily.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 28 2021 20:37 utc | 33

Lebanon – there’s more from the Saker, this one another translation courtesy of Middle East Observer, an RT interview with the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, following his return from Moscow.
Lebanon is on the anvil, hammered into starvation and failing currency by US sanctions. The US, Israel and the Gulf states are all determined to see it broken, and Hezbollah disabled. China is ready to invest money, but will obviously require stability. Russia now seems on the cusp of some helping action, but cannot move until there’s a government in Lebanon. Lavrov is asking for a new government to be formed, reportedly by Saad Hariri.
Elijah Magnier has a recent article from March 23 with a region-wide appreciation of the dire tensions in Lebanon:
Lebanon on the brink of the precipice
Here is the brief report on the Hezbollah delegation’s visit to Moscow for talks with Lavrov (and the Russian point man in the region, Mikhail Bogdanov):
Lavrov meets with delegation from Lebanon’s Hezbollah
And here is the interview with Raad:
Hezbollah: Russia serious about investing in Lebanon, but requires new govt.
What will Hezbollah do?
After the explosion in Beirut, Nasrallah intimated (implacably, to my mind) that Lebanon faced an existential crisis: either the explosion was impartially investigated, or Lebanon was a failed state, and Hezbollah would have to take notice of this fact. The government then resigned. This state of political suspension seems to be continuing, with the pressures increasing at all sides.
Personally, I have no idea what will happen, but the situation appears increasingly fraught.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 28 2021 21:05 utc | 35

@ vk 7
Interesting point about population and economic growth. In Australia before the pandemic (‘bp’) the worst-kept secret in the Dept of Treasury was that all our GDP growth came from around 250K annual immigration. 90% of these live in Sydney and Melbourne and contribute almost all urban consumer and asset growth. The current govt offsets local anti-immigrant sentiment by focusing all its attention on ‘boat people’ (‘stop the boats’ etc). This diverts attention away from the 95% of immigration which is legal. In response to the pandemic Australia has terminated all migration. Since there is no other engine of value creation (Australia’s economy = mining, banking, real estate, service sector/education etc) Australia must begin to feel the effects of this soon. The problem is how would we know? The MSM here keep up the recovery narrative and we have no access to the real data on impacts. Nevertheless, the financial sector here depends on fresh mortgagees to keep capital gains from tanking. A combination of ridiculously skyrocketing asset prices and a slump in demand for mortgages should by rights impact the most overpriced housing market in the world… but everything seems blissfully normal and oblivious here. It is an eerie feeling knowing that the whole thing is papered over by QE and duct tape while everything carries on as normal. I’ve been waiting for the housing bubble to burst here since 2008 but now I don’t think it ever will. But without 250,000 immigrants adding consumption to the economy every year something must give, right?

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 28 2021 21:23 utc | 37

Ever Given floats. And now to move it.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 21:39 utc | 39

Id #27
There is nil, zero, not any veracity in Veterans Today. Yes there is an author by the name given but the entire content is bad for your health, lacks fibre and block your arse. Don’t go there.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 21:55 utc | 41

John Cleary #40
Thanks for the update. Salmond is handling it well and the traitor must be writhing with fury as he gently harvests the votes and the membership.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 22:15 utc | 43

KC @ 38; Kudos for the link. Another victory for historical accuracy. Should be required viewing for rank and file Americans.

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 28 2021 22:21 utc | 45

Syria gets the good advice on Covid and ivermectin.
From Syrianews:

COVID continues to dominate media headlines, and to dominate the collective life of humanity. As part of Syria News‘ Public Service reporting during this past year, we are pleased to share two of Dr. Ryan Cole’s addresses to the weekly Capitol Clarity gatherings in Idaho.
Ryan Cole, M.D., is “a board-certified dermatopathologist (AP & CP) and the CEO/Medical Director of Cole Diagnostics. He has worked as an independent pathologist since 2004. Some highlights from his CV: Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology (July 2002-June 2003): Dermatopathology Fellowship (Chief Fellow). Mayo Clinic (July 1997-June 2002): Resident in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Chief Fellow, Surgical Pathology Fellowship. Medical College of Virginia (1993-1997): Researched immunology. Served as President of Student Family Practice organization. Coordinated activities and seminars on the practice of family medicine and rural medicine. Earned MD in 1997.”

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 22:30 utc | 47

The USA continues to invade Syria. Since the beginning of 2021, more than 700 armored vehicles and military trucks belonging to the US-led coalition carrying logistics, forces, ammunition and equipment entered Syria.
This is an interesting site for news snippets.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 22:40 utc | 49

Iraqi army may be about to expel the illegal kurdish annexation of Sinjar.

The Iraqi army had given pro-PKK members until March 26 to leave the city of Sinjar. However, pro-PKK members have not yet left the city.
Sinjar Autonomous Council told the Iraqis in a meeting on March 12th the issue of its armed groups is political not security which requires a legal frame work not military. They passed a letter to of 13 points to Iraqi army whom promised to raise it to the senior commanders.
“Leaving our bases and handing it over to Iraqi army is red line and will not allow them to deploy in Sinjar Mount,” said Qasim Khalaf, co-president of Sinjar autonomous council.
It is worth mentioning that on October 9, 2020, an agreement was signed between the Iraqi federal government (Kadhimi government) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party over the Sinjar region, according to which a joint administration was to be set up for the city of Sinjar, and all PKK-affiliated militants, as well as Iraqi PMU forces, would withdraw within 5km of the area. The legal deadline for the militants to leave the city has now expired. However, PKK-affiliated forces are still in Sinjar, and this has become an obstacle to implementing the rest of the agreement.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 22:52 utc | 51

Cos this subject is close to my heart. I like boats too.
Why won’t you let me speak?
Unless you too are part of the problem.
Part of The Establshment?
Ex of The Guardian?
I am just a harmless old man
Do you find my words frightening to you?
You are deleting almost everything, not just from me, but almost everyone.
When you are on shift, the number of posts from Everyone drops Dramatically…
Have you ever thought that it might be you who have the problem. I noticed when you Samuel Dropped your mask, and was having a banning discussion with the wrong person…He says check the IP Addresses. His handle was the same, as was his IP address. He wasn’t faking anything…but it took you awhile to work it out…were you smoking something? He says well your handles are kind of similar, why are you defending him…
Well may be because you Samuel were trying to ban him..
If Off-Guardian does not practice what it preaches, then I can only assume it has been infiltrated by evil forces working for The British Government
I suggest that both Catte Black and Kit Knightly Resign or Hire Bernhard Hoftsman.
He allows me to write what I want. Yes, I disagree with him too about COVID, but he is on the ball about almost everything else…
https://www.moonofalabama.org/
Tony

Posted by: tony_0pmoc | Mar 28 2021 23:02 utc | 53

grieved@35. thank you for the links on lebanon, very much appreciated. while i’d read the saker’s post the magnier & others helped provide a clearer idea of the struggle. election interference…if only a few members of the dnc could begin to fathom the actions of their policies & why the world loathes their depravity.

Posted by: emersonreturn | Mar 28 2021 23:18 utc | 55

gCaptain Update: The Suez Canal Authority and salvors working to refloat the Ever Given will not attempt to pull the ship free Sunday night as they await the arrival of another high-powered tug, pinning hopes of refloating the vessel on Monday’s high tides.

continued . . .
Ever Given Refoating Attempt Posponded Until Monday.
Suez canal is transit route for Naval shipping as well for commercial shipping. Anyone have info on specific navel vessels held up on route in either direction ?

Posted by: Fíréan | Mar 28 2021 23:46 utc | 57

@Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 28 2021 23:00 utc | 51
Thanks for the link on Richard Medhurst. Here’s his bio, fascinating, mom is Syrian, dad, Brit, speaks English, Arabic, French and German. It’s in the short bio.
https://richardmedhurst.com/biography/
He’s very young, 20s, very sharp, very smart and very angry that his country– syria– is destroyed. I’m not a fan of using harsh language but I cut him slack. He should be around a long time. that’s good for us.

Posted by: migueljose | Mar 29 2021 0:06 utc | 59

Final Speech:
Charlie Chaplin — Final Speech from The Great Dictator

Posted by: blues | Mar 29 2021 0:30 utc | 61

Thank goodness. This means I can take a break from MoA as well 🙂

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 29 2021 0:47 utc | 63

Below is a ZH link reporting on another tear in the financial fabric
Archegos Fallout Begins: Nomura Crashes 15% After Reporting Record $2BN Loss From “Transactions With US Client”
Will this be the tear that starts a bigger shred? I keep hoping the shit shows ends soon…

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2021 1:51 utc | 65

@ tony_0pmoc.. thanks for your posts…

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2021 2:03 utc | 67

This is truly astonishing:
Biden excels at his first news conference. The media embarrass themselves. By Jennifer Rubin, WaPo
Biden Meets, and Defeats, the Press: The president should postpone future news conferences. Not because he can’t handle them—but because the White House press corps can’t. By Joan Walsh, The Nation
What is impressive is not the reporting per se – after all, both journalists are describing the same event.
The astonishing thing is their opinion over the event is identical: Joe Biden was the best invention since sliced bread and the press are a bunch of useless morons. A theatrical imagery, more dign of a Hollywood B movie.
I’m not against independent sources coming to the same conclusion over the same subject – on the contrary. The problem here is it looks almost as if the two combined their columns before publishing them, echo chamber, single official narrative style.

Posted by: vk | Mar 29 2021 2:12 utc | 69

@61 Tony_0pmoc
Thanks for the link to Gas Resources. I’ve seen your name on several sites over the years, by the way – I guess over time we all get bounced from some of them.
With your link you’re referring to the abiotic theory of the genesis of hydrocarbons – essentially, that oil doesn’t result from the decomposition of organic material, it is simply most easily discovered in those deposits.
And the conflating of correlation with cause was an obvious mistake, but one which meant that the theory of organic genesis was never actually studied or proved – not even to this day, I believe.
I read William Engdahl’s article on this once, and it gave me a huge sense of a future life for the world, as opposed to what had seemed to be looming, namely death by resource depletion. Engdahl mentions that after a time, the Russians quit trying to share their science with the unbelieving west, and simply got on – quietly – with finding oil where no one else even thought to look for it.
The Engdahl piece:
Confessions of an “ex” Peak Oil Believer – F William Engdahl, 2007

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 29 2021 2:31 utc | 71

dammit – who knew that the thought police filter would grab a link to Engdahl’s own site for moderation? Well, actually I thought it might so I copied my comment before posting. Here’s my post, minus the link:
~~
@61 Tony_0pmoc
Thanks for the link to Gas Resources. I’ve seen your name on several sites over the years, by the way – I guess over time we all get bounced from some of them.
With your link you’re referring to the abiotic theory of the genesis of hydrocarbons – essentially, that oil doesn’t result from the decomposition of organic material, it is simply most easily discovered in those deposits.
And the conflating of correlation with cause was an obvious mistake, but one which meant that the theory of organic genesis was never actually studied or proved – not even to this day, I believe.
I read William Engdahl’s article on this once, and it gave me a huge sense of a future life for the world, as opposed to what had seemed to be looming, namely death by resource depletion. Engdahl mentions that after a time, the Russians quit trying to share their science with the unbelieving west, and simply got on – quietly – with finding oil where no one else even thought to look for it.
The Engdahl piece:
Confessions of an “ex” Peak Oil Believer – F William Engdahl, 2007
~~
but you’ll have to search on that title to find it.
Come tomorrow, b will release my comment with the link, or maybe not. In truth, I’m with the Russians and not pressing too hard to get this theory known in the west anyway.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 29 2021 2:38 utc | 73

@ Grieved | Mar 29 2021 2:38 utc | 71 who is telling me that the earth is not the center of the universe……but, but my religion tells me it is….
What will Western humanity do this time through an Enlightenment period? I hope we can squeeze out true enlightenment this time and leave the religious baggage behind……go long secular.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2021 2:59 utc | 75

China is lucky their labor aged work force is in decline. Going forward over population and too large of a work force will be the problem, not the opposite.
Robotics and technology are already decreasing the need for a large work force. This is why people like Andrew Yang are discussing guaranteed incomes. Not enough jobs to go around…that will be the trend going forward. It is a big reason why India will never solve it’s poverty problem.

Posted by: Jason | Mar 29 2021 3:00 utc | 77

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 29 2021 2:38 utc | 71
09.10.2015 Author: F.William Engdahl
Oh Oil, where is thy peak?
https://journal-neo.org/2015/10/09/oh-oil-where-is-thy-peak/

Posted by: pogohere | Mar 29 2021 3:06 utc | 79

@73 psychohistorian
But let’s be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you want to go long secular, look into Buddhism, which insists on personal proof of the path for oneself, and calls faith a very advanced practice, to be undertaken voluntarily and only by those who know the difference between baby and bathwater.
In plain terms: if you do away with religion, do you manage to retain the inherent holiness of beings? Oh, ye materialists, do you have a recognition of that thing? Do you have a plan for it?
Just asking, because it won’t go away. Not ever. Not until the universe ends, and perhaps not even then.
It’s the best part of us, this sense of the sacred, and the only part that really aligns with the natural universe. It aligns with the natural universe far more closely than does the materialist’s nihilism that so many who turn away from religion decide that they have to invest their faith in.
Baby – bathwater. Don’t go long on secular without it 😉

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 29 2021 3:09 utc | 81

G @ 72 said;”After all, the nation in the ultimate case owns its means of production, and cares more about its people than its machines, ruling that the latter exist to serve the former.”
If China, in fact, believes in the above statement, that in its self, would be a reason for all caring humans to wish them the best of fortune, and hope for that thought to manifest here, in the U$A…

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 29 2021 3:13 utc | 83

@ Grieved 72
Thanks for the reply!
Is it Taoist to rush headlong into becoming the mercantilist-hegemon? Is it Taoist to intermingle itself amongst the affairs of other nations? Dag gummit, I can’t find my copy of the Tao Te Ching, but one of my favorite chapters holds the lines (to some paraphrasing effect):

The leader keeps their workers happy at their tasks
They barely notice the neighboring country
Or care to travel there at all

IMHO, this does not smack of China in its current epoch.
To my point above re: China’s meteroric-rise:

The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.

…
You may hold the same opinion that China has in its grasp an infinitely malleable philosophy in its dialectical materialism. I believe that China, in its current form, is a mish-mash of material/spiritual dialectics, and, in the end, it will prove to be more of the Hegelian-variety than of the Marxist one. Indeed, it already as illustrated above, is facing the reality of intermingling itself with foreign workers which will erode its homogeneity and weaken its surefooted path which at various points in its history was guided by the Tao.
The alternative is to throw off the shackles of hegemony and not compete or be ruled by laws of economics, its God being perpetual GDP-growth, just as vk is always one to point out China’s spot-rate happily.
…
Perhaps you think that China could simply reinvent ad hoc these economic laws and principles and do so so that it will perpetually “win.” Of course, as long as the elites in this country who profit from such an arrangement with China are in charge, this remains an option.
But no. These internationalist politicians are wearing themselves very thin in the eyes of many Americans. And any further erosion of our standard of living or general further upwelling of wealth will be noticed and the resulting conflagration will proceed evermore, exponentially until the powderkeg finally erupts.
…
Can China balance all of these things on the tightrope of the world stage? Is it Taoist to have that many balls up in the air?
To know when you are finished is second-best to not beginning at all.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Mar 29 2021 3:28 utc | 85

On Religion; ” Religion is the greatest fomenter of hatred the world has ever known.” Forgot who said it, but, for the most
part, its true.
At a starting point, why not treating people as you like to be treated? Then, make up your own. Why? because the others did.
If reincarnation is a reality, then maybe,” what goes around, comes around.” As you do unto others, comes round to you through many lifetimes.
The ultimate fairness. Maybe, or maybe not.

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 29 2021 3:36 utc | 87

Below is a link to a Xinhuanet posting with a title that says it all
China’s Tibet opens memorial hall on serfdom history

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2021 3:37 utc | 89

This may interest some;
https://www.near-death.com/reincarnation/research/ian-stevenson.html

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 29 2021 3:56 utc | 91

NemesisCalling #83
and Grieved #72

You may hold the same opinion that China has in its grasp an infinitely malleable philosophy in its dialectical materialism. I believe that China, in its current form, is a mish-mash of material/spiritual dialectics, and, in the end, it will prove to be more of the Hegelian-variety than of the Marxist one. Indeed, it already as illustrated above, is facing the reality of intermingling itself with foreign workers which will erode its homogeneity and weaken its surefooted path which at various points in its history was guided by the Tao.

Consider the possibility that it is not about race. Workers and people of the world, UNITE. Intermingling with the people of the world that yearn for development, peace and a fruitful life is a fair objective. It does not matter if the people are not Chinese, they are the people, and they are united in their humanity NOT their race.
You motivated me to find my old worn Basic Tactics – Mao Tse-Tung, translated by Stuart R Schram, 1966. This collection of Mao’s early military lectures has been invaluable to China as it sets out a clear discipline to win the guerrilla war. It repeatedly venerates the people as the both the reason and the means to carry out a successful people’s revolution. It is a most helpful political text and for any involved in social change, it is among the essential texts. It has been a cornerstone for me as a guideline to think through tough political actions and build mass movements.
If you obtain a copy and consider its advice in a global context what emerges is a sharp contrast for what China has been doing in the past year or half century. The revolution and the framework for the revolution is ongoing. It is now visible in a global context. The people are the people of the world.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 29 2021 4:14 utc | 93

#83 Nemesis Calling
You are apparently ignoring the implications of the Century of Humiliation. But the Chinese people do not ignore it. They remember very well what certain Western countries did to China. They have also noted what those same Western countries have very recently done to various weak countries like Iraq, Libya, Somalia, and Syria. They therefore have concluded that the only thing preventing the West from inflicting a second Century of Humiliation upon China is Chinese strength.
Taoists try to understand the nature of the world, and to act in harmony with it. Since the world, and China’s place in the world, has changed since ancient times, so has China’s relationship to the Tao.

Posted by: Fnord13 | Mar 29 2021 4:34 utc | 95

@ fnord13 92
So just because China got humiliated, we have to suspend rational thought and spirit in world history?
My writing here is completely dispassionate but clearheaded, nonetheless. If you don’t like it, I am sorry.
Your post would make a good subject for a Disney movie, though.
Another passage from Tao Te Ching comes to mind:

Heaven and Earth are impartial
treating creatures like straw dogs
The Sage also treats the people as straw dogs

Are we also supposed to allow Israel to run roughshod because of the Holocaust? Certainly not, not least because it was also greatly exaggerated and skewed towards what Jews suffered.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Mar 29 2021 4:55 utc | 97

#94 Nemesis Calling
The leader keeps their workers happy at their tasks
They barely notice the neighboring country
Or care to travel there at all
You quoted the above text as if it were proof that China had somehow rejected the defining principles of Taoism.
Since you are rather upset with China because you think they are guilty of “wooing our industry away and gutting our heartland”, I’d guess you don’t want to give China any credit for following the principles of Taoism. But if you actually understood Taoism, you would know better than to project your own country’s failings onto another country. China has not
gutted our heartland. By contrast, China’s heartland was gutted during the Century of Humiliation.
The West needs to become a lot wiser than we have been if we are going to reverse the decline of our own culture. And there is a lot we could learn from China, including Taoism.

Posted by: Fnord13 | Mar 29 2021 5:29 utc | 99