[preach]

> If there was any further indication that a group of people needed to all band together and overthrow their government, you'd think that'd be it, but I guess some people just love living in near slavery.

Which people? What if the majority agrees with this move but they won’t speak out in public about it?

I for one am perfectly fine with China being able to do this. It would, at the very least, keep Zuckerberg and others in check.

The anti-China rhetoric on HN is mind boggling sometimes when it’s put next to the constant stream of complaints in the West, regarding inflation/monetary handouts, zoning laws, corruption, real estate, oil spills and companies getting away with shit, etc. The list is endless.

And yet, you’ve accomplished nothing. In fact, things are now worse than they were and yet you just keep complaining thinking it will make a difference. You’ll never get anywhere complaining without having a path to act. China, evil it may be, actually acts.

Go and call your congresspeople. They’ll listen to you over the sound of money that is pouring their way to look the other way.

[neither_color]

constant stream of complaints in the west

That's because we're more open and hyper-critical of our flaws and that's how awareness builds. Better than controlling the press to hide your flaws and only publishing good news.

[refenestrator]

I don't think I've seen a US/UK MSM article comparing China to us favorably in at least 5 years. Ive seen dozens or hundreds beating the drum against them..

It's a major coincidence for such a free press, right?

[LurkingPenguin]

> I don't think I've seen a US/UK MSM article comparing China to us favorably in at least 5 years. Ive seen dozens or hundreds beating the drum against them..

There is no shortage of articles published by Western media suggesting that China is out-hustling and out-innovating the US, and that the West is in decline as China rises.

This alone doesn't entitle China to praise or admiration. It's an authoritarian total surveillance state in which information is censored, citizens have little to no recourse when harmed by government action, enemies of the state disappear, and ethnic minorities are rounded up and sent to camps for "reeducation".

[preach]

Until China tells you to shut up and then you have people flying over there groveling with apologies and self censoring.

You can engage in self-flagellation if you think it helps, but you’re not fooling people watching this thing unfold.

[LurkingPenguin]

> You’ll never get anywhere complaining without having a path to act. China, evil it may be, actually acts.

Acts for whom?

> Go and call your congresspeople. They’ll listen to you over the sound of money that is pouring their way to look the other way.

You taunt Americans, suggesting that politicians in the US ignore their constituents, but what do you think happens in China? Do you believe that the CCP gangsters who run just about every level of government listen to the Chinese citizens they govern?

Do you know what happens to plebs in China when they make too much noise?

[ahevia]

> And yet, you’ve accomplished nothing.

Citation needed. Over what timeframe? In what sector? The US has accomplished a lot and nothing depending how you frame it.

> Go and call your congresspeople. They’ll listen to you over the sound of money that is pouring their way to look the other way.

I (and many others) have actually had great success organizing & calling my federal reps. Even the Republican ones! (Although I have the most success with Democrats)

Don’t generalize the politics of a country you’ve only read about. It isn’t fair to call out Anti-China rhetoric just for you to spin the same top.

[sumedh]

> I for one am perfectly fine with China being able to do this.

If you are fine when the govt kidnaps a billionaire then what makes you think you will be safe?

[jesterson]

You must be very naive thinking any other government can't kidnap anyone. Think of Assange - perfect illustration of what "free" western governments can do.

I'm not a fan of CCP in any way but I find naivety of HN commenters speaking about China and CCP here very amusing.

[sumedh]

Was Assange kidnapped and did he disappear for months?

Read my comment again, I think that if you are a billionaire the US govt wont kidnap you like what they do in China and Russia.

I find your comment amusing unless you can give some sources where the US has kidnapped billionaires and kept them hidden for months.

[jesterson]

> Was Assange kidnapped and did he disappear for months?

I suggest you to educate yourself about the matter. He did disappear for years, not months, unfortunately.

And there is not need to become so defensive - if you look at history with intellectual curiosity you may find at certain point that similarities between US, Russian or Chinese government are quite extreme when it comes to fighting with forces opposing the government.

[sumedh]

Where did he disappear for years, perhaps I missed that memo.

We are not talking about history here, we are talking about the present.

[jesterson]

Perhaps you did indeed, that’s why I suggested you to educate yourself about the matter

[atatatat]

How about non billionaires?

Are those humans human enough for you?

[truetraveller]

This is actually a very valid comment. And Snowden as well.

[jesterson]

thank you - good point, Snowden is a perfect illustration as well indeed

[helloworld11]

It's possible to muzzle monopolist practices and politician-buying by billionaires in the west without applauding or descending into China-style totalitarian control. The obvious thing comes to mind if you follow the latter path: That you have simply replaced the manipulating power of very rich business people with the literally authoritarian power of political leaders with armies and police to enforce their rule (plus lots of public money they control as if it were their own). And even then, some of the businessmen you previously hoped to muzzle with such measures find ways to buy their way into the new political power structure.

Eventually try the same in the U.S and more likely that someone like Zuckerberg becomes one of those who can pull policing power strings than him being punished by "tough on billionaires" politicians with too much coercive authority.

As a basic bottom line, i'd prefer a country with a Bezos or Zuckerberg trying to manipulate me into depending on them to a country where a Xi can literally force my dependence at any time. Neither is ideal but the first at least leaves room for saying no without being imprisoned or killed.