5 Reasons to Stop Fearing China

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I rather hope this article is tongue-in-cheek. "Don't be scared. They're just scrambling up from third-world poverty and technology levels to modern in about 1/10 the time it took the US to do. EVENTUALLY, they will match and surpass our economy; EVENTUALLY, they will have the largest military budget; EVENTUALLY, they will hold most of US debt in their hands; EVENTUALLY, they will import more 'made in the USA' products than we ever did from the entire world. Ha ha! But not today! Let's keep dancing!!!" I'm very happy that China is experiencing an economic renaissance. That does not excuse us burying our heads in the sand and pretending the rest of the world isn't out there. Isn't that what is claimed made China the poverty-stricken economic back-water it used to be? I'm ashamed of this article, selling complacency and evidently basing this assessment on China not learning from Western mistakes and making all the same wrong decisions we did. He doesn't know much about Chinese culture if he expects this social group to behave just like we do. Healthy competition drives us forward. Take this as motivation to do better and pull back ahead. Dig our antiquated American ingenuity out of the attic, celler or closet where we stuck it, dust it off and polish it, and let's get to work again. China has, as a nation, been around a lot longer than we have. It should not be any surprise that they have a different perspective and plan to reach their goals than we do. And think on this: with that population mass, the inherent inertia of that mass alone will make it harder for the US to pull ahead in time--especially if some yahooey continues to pat us on the back with a there-there/everything is okay; really! They are not our enemy, but they are our opponent; any game master knows that the first step to guaranteed success is knowing your opponent. Be healthily respectful of China and its development, and let's get cracking here, lest we find ourselves drifting in their wake.

Ishtar of WA 11:47PM February 11, 2011

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THOSE CHEAP ASS CHINA MADE TOYS TOOLS AND OTHER CRAP THAT COMES FROM CHINA AND ONE COULD ONLY THGINK TO LOOK AT THE THINGS PRODUCED IN AMERICA ALL THE CRAP I BUY FROM CHINA BREAKS AND HAS NO WARRANTY I CAN RAERLY BREAK SOMTHING I HAVE BOUGHT WITH A "MADE IN AMERICA" TAG STAMMPED ON IT SO BEFORE THEY MAKE A PLANE STEALTH OR NOT WELL PROB ALY HEAR IT COMING OR BE PICKING UP THE PIECES OF WRECKAGE ALL OVER CHINA BEFORE IT GETS HERE. I "AINT" SCARED OF CHINA....... BRING IT!!!!!!!!!!!! MY GUNS MADE HERE IN AMERICA AND PROUD TO HAVE IT OHH AND THERE POLICE AND MILITARY CARRY STICKS GUESS OUR LINE OF PERSONAL DEFENSE IS YEARS AHEAD OF THERE MILITARY AS WELL AGAIN I SAY "BRING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris of MD 11:42PM February 11, 2011

But GOD throne will always be in AMERICA no matter how big or small America be, his THRONE will be in America for ever and ever.

Michael el Hombre of CA 11:33PM February 11, 2011

Communist China is the most dangerous and most untrustworthy country in the world today, it has suppressed the people's freedom rights for decades, the press is totally controlled by the government, lets all pray and hope that Communist China never becomes a world power, either military or economic wise.

Lachman 11:32PM February 11, 2011

Good comments by all others, and I agree with most of them.
Just wanted to emphasize (again) that if we don't really get a handle on our primary and public high school education in the major inner cities of this nation......we will not be able to compete. Did you know that in most major urban cities in the US the drop out rate exceeds 50%? And the percentage of those eligible for college is dismal compared to other nations.....not just China.
Where are the parents?????
It starts at home!

Ron of IL 11:31PM February 11, 2011

I think it is foolish to dub America's lack of knowledge about China as "fear". Ignorance of the up-and-coming world power is more appropriate, and to drub up reasons why America is "still awesome" to blatantly paraphrase this article is ridiculous and childish. I think Americans need to worry about how to fix their own economy, government and social ills before worrying about China. I have been living in China in an area that is leaving my American home behind in technology, education and growth because the Chinese are focused on how to better themselves. I applaud Amy Chua's book and I hope every American parent looks at themselves in the mirror before worrying about another country. If they don't, their sons and daughters will be here living as my neighbor as another expat who couldn't find a good life in America.

Christopher England of IL 11:28PM February 11, 2011

Rick has succinctly put together an article that's close to every day life in most part of industrialized China today. Effective in unravelling the myth, separating truth from fiction and telling it as it is.

Paul Hsieh 11:07PM February 11, 2011

This was one of the best written and highly informative articles I have ever read on the relevance of China in the 21st century. Why isn't it getting hundreds of comments? Very well thought out and insightful. Thank you.

Geddy of CA 11:04PM February 11, 2011

China's future are bright as a new star, America had its time and it looks like the flame isn't as strong as before. Education in China will make American education look like a joke from Sesame Streets. And they say education is the future.
America and China might not have any conflicts (lets all pray and hope so) but China will still be a step or two above America, in about 10 years, if not already.

Tyler of CT 10:53PM February 11, 2011

Outlined great key indicators of the fact that we are, in fact, our own worst enemy. Fear China? Laughable. Can't wait for the next article, "5 reasons TO fear Washington."

Buggaboo of LA 10:52PM February 11, 2011