You need to do more research. China is actively loaning us money. They recently bought 400 billion dollars in T-bills. Let's examine that - they give us a bunch of money now, and we in turn promise to pay them back, plus some interest, at a later date. Sounds very much like the very definition of a loan. We owe them about 1.4 trillion dollars total. That is completely separate from any products they sell us or any US dollars they are "hoarding".
Really, China isn't lending the US any money? I would say buying up 400 billion in T-bills would be considered a "loan" by most sane people. Who do you think has been financing the war in Iraq during the recession in the US?
Ok, I will take it a step further too.
And China's response to that would be "Okay. You are cut off from any future loans. Say, how is that little problem in Iraq going for you? Don't suppose you need any additional money to fund that now, do you?"
Whether or not we are "winning" the war in Iraq is certainly not a fact - one way or the other. Since we declared "Mission Accomplished" a few years back, the number of deaths per month has either been they same or risen. In case you hadn't heard, we didn't "win" the conflict in Vietnam either. Ho Chi Minh City is still the official name for Saigon. Not winning that conflict had nothing to do with military power. We lost the support of the population, and that is as good as losing the military aspect of it. And in Afghanistan, I was more specifically referring to the Soviets activity there in the 1980s. They most certainly did not "win" and their military had every advantage. Maybe if a country isn't certain who their enemy is, they shouldn't get involved in civil wars.
Remember how the US gained it's independence? We had a "guerrilla" army that didn't have official uniforms, and the redcoats weren't sure who exactly was their enemy at all times either. Just goes to show you that one man's "terrorist" is another man's "freedom fighter". They are just words that are propaganda that can vary in meaning depending on your point of view.
Or you could call it an Information War. (Because if you come down to it, information is what wins or loses wars.) "Wars" are not solely winnable by using military strength and tactics. See also: Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.
Correct. And everyone pretends it doesn't happen until somebody gets caught. Then said person has to face the consequences, which are sometimes severe. Remember Gary Powers and the U2 incident?
"the US is not going to war with China over espionage. They are using it as a propaganda opportunity though"
Well thank God China isn't using propaganda to further their political agendas. That would just be terrible. (I mean, it's not like they block every objectionable site on the internet or anything. Oh, wait.) Too bad they couldn't even join this discussion if they chose to.
"The US is not going to war with its allies either"
China is one of the US biggest economic allies. They are the ones making the war in Iraq possible. Do you have any idea how much money the US owes them, and how much of the US they actually own? The US could never go to war with China because of economic ties. A war would be detrimental to both countries economies.
"Maybe the US people like wars so much and thus only see things in those terms - War or not war."
Maybe the Chinese people hate freedom so much and thus only see things on those terms - Freedom or not freedom. You can believe the propaganda if you want. I'm just pointing the correct terms.
See how easy it is to change a few words around and make the propaganda work the other way???
"And that's why they have "war against drugs", "war against terror", "war against cancer", "war against obesity".
Unwinnable wars against undefinable, intangible objects are never a good idea for any country. The US certainly doesn't have a monopoly there.
So that proves a 2 year old has crap taste in music.
What's next? "2 year old baby Anna likes crap music and also stupid television shows featuring morons in costumes"
Funny. I knew a guy who worked for Best Buy and he said the only bonuses they got from sales were the extended protection stuff they sold. This was years ago, maybe they have changed. But I doubt it, considering I have never had any pressure to buy anything from them, except those service contracts.
Cars? Nobody ever talks about cars or uses them in bad analogies on Slashdot!!
I don't think corvette means what you think it does. Actually, I was talking about the CR90 Corellian Corvette a.k.a. the Rebel Blockade Runner.
Really? A salesperson who works on commission recommended you buy the much more expensive product rather than the cheap one? Gadzooks! That sounds almost *gasp* unethical! And from a salesman! They are usually the bastion of ethics and morals.
I like how at Best Buy the salespeople will tell you "We don't get commission." But I can guarantee you they get a bonus for selling the bogus "product protection service" crap. I have never seen more aggressive techniques to get you to buy the coverage. One time I was buying a $20 product, and was asked if I wanted to buy "protection" for it. Just for laughs I asked how much it would be. "$19.99 for 2 years" was the answer. I laughed in his face and told him if it broke anytime in the next 2 years, i would just come back and buy a brand new one for the same price, without the hassle of having to return the item and wait for them to decide to send me a new one. Or if in broke in 3-4 years, I would have already spent $40 on it and would have to spend another $20 to replace it. Now which plan sounds better?
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Is crying okay? If so just punch the baby before the picture is taken.
Where do you think the term "Hoosier" came from? You don't need coffee, you were right on the mark.
Right. And if we piss off China, guess who will stop buying our t-bills and bonds? In effect cutting us off from lending us any more money...
You need to do more research. China is actively loaning us money. They recently bought 400 billion dollars in T-bills. Let's examine that - they give us a bunch of money now, and we in turn promise to pay them back, plus some interest, at a later date. Sounds very much like the very definition of a loan. We owe them about 1.4 trillion dollars total. That is completely separate from any products they sell us or any US dollars they are "hoarding".
Really, China isn't lending the US any money? I would say buying up 400 billion in T-bills would be considered a "loan" by most sane people. Who do you think has been financing the war in Iraq during the recession in the US?
Ok, I will take it a step further too.
And China's response to that would be "Okay. You are cut off from any future loans. Say, how is that little problem in Iraq going for you? Don't suppose you need any additional money to fund that now, do you?"
So what you are saying is the difference between porn and art is about $100 in price to purchase?
Only tax rights. Corporations still can't officially vote (although they can and do make rather large donations to political candidates.)
Yeah. I was just talking about the vig on the loan..heh...
Whether or not we are "winning" the war in Iraq is certainly not a fact - one way or the other. Since we declared "Mission Accomplished" a few years back, the number of deaths per month has either been they same or risen. In case you hadn't heard, we didn't "win" the conflict in Vietnam either. Ho Chi Minh City is still the official name for Saigon. Not winning that conflict had nothing to do with military power. We lost the support of the population, and that is as good as losing the military aspect of it. And in Afghanistan, I was more specifically referring to the Soviets activity there in the 1980s. They most certainly did not "win" and their military had every advantage. Maybe if a country isn't certain who their enemy is, they shouldn't get involved in civil wars.
Remember how the US gained it's independence? We had a "guerrilla" army that didn't have official uniforms, and the redcoats weren't sure who exactly was their enemy at all times either. Just goes to show you that one man's "terrorist" is another man's "freedom fighter". They are just words that are propaganda that can vary in meaning depending on your point of view.
Or you could call it an Information War. (Because if you come down to it, information is what wins or loses wars.) "Wars" are not solely winnable by using military strength and tactics. See also: Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.
Correct. And everyone pretends it doesn't happen until somebody gets caught. Then said person has to face the consequences, which are sometimes severe. Remember Gary Powers and the U2 incident?
"the US is not going to war with China over espionage. They are using it as a propaganda opportunity though"
Well thank God China isn't using propaganda to further their political agendas. That would just be terrible. (I mean, it's not like they block every objectionable site on the internet or anything. Oh, wait.) Too bad they couldn't even join this discussion if they chose to.
"The US is not going to war with its allies either"
China is one of the US biggest economic allies. They are the ones making the war in Iraq possible. Do you have any idea how much money the US owes them, and how much of the US they actually own? The US could never go to war with China because of economic ties. A war would be detrimental to both countries economies.
"Maybe the US people like wars so much and thus only see things in those terms - War or not war."
Maybe the Chinese people hate freedom so much and thus only see things on those terms - Freedom or not freedom. You can believe the propaganda if you want. I'm just pointing the correct terms.
See how easy it is to change a few words around and make the propaganda work the other way???
"And that's why they have "war against drugs", "war against terror", "war against cancer", "war against obesity".
Unwinnable wars against undefinable, intangible objects are never a good idea for any country. The US certainly doesn't have a monopoly there.
"If it's really anything warlike, the US would make an announcement that China should stop messing about if they know what's good for them."
And China's response would be "Hey, how about the billions of dollars you owe us. When you planning on paying up?"
So that proves a 2 year old has crap taste in music.
What's next? "2 year old baby Anna likes crap music and also stupid television shows featuring morons in costumes"
Yes the Americans "started" Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese bombed the shit out of it. Thanks for the history lesson Adolph!
Funny. I knew a guy who worked for Best Buy and he said the only bonuses they got from sales were the extended protection stuff they sold. This was years ago, maybe they have changed. But I doubt it, considering I have never had any pressure to buy anything from them, except those service contracts.
Because nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.
Cars? Nobody ever talks about cars or uses them in bad analogies on Slashdot!!
I don't think corvette means what you think it does. Actually, I was talking about the CR90 Corellian Corvette a.k.a. the Rebel Blockade Runner.
Really? A salesperson who works on commission recommended you buy the much more expensive product rather than the cheap one? Gadzooks! That sounds almost *gasp* unethical! And from a salesman! They are usually the bastion of ethics and morals.
I like how at Best Buy the salespeople will tell you "We don't get commission." But I can guarantee you they get a bonus for selling the bogus "product protection service" crap. I have never seen more aggressive techniques to get you to buy the coverage. One time I was buying a $20 product, and was asked if I wanted to buy "protection" for it. Just for laughs I asked how much it would be. "$19.99 for 2 years" was the answer. I laughed in his face and told him if it broke anytime in the next 2 years, i would just come back and buy a brand new one for the same price, without the hassle of having to return the item and wait for them to decide to send me a new one. Or if in broke in 3-4 years, I would have already spent $40 on it and would have to spend another $20 to replace it. Now which plan sounds better?
Bad car analogy next time please.
Too expensive. I plan on selling individual toothpicks for $1 - and saying "winner must pick up item in person". I like a profit of $1 per item.
No, I am talking about the actual car made by Chevrolet, not some "skin" for some game.
I agree. Can you point me to a torrent for the new Corvette? I'd really like to have one, but don't want to pay for it.
Exactly. Working pro-bono cases isn't going to pay off the $75,000 in student loans they have racked up.