[0n0n0m0uz]

One of the USA greatest strengths is the almost unprecedented degree of transparency of governments records going back decades. We can actually see the true facts including when our government has lied to us or covered things up. Many other nations do not have this luxury and it has provided the evidentiary basis for both legal cases and "progress" in general. Not surprising that authoritarians would target and destroy data as it makes their objective of a post-truth society that much easier

[bamboozled]

It’s also the driver for a great economy imo. Why can’t Russia and China build and innovate like the USA can?

Because they spend a lot of time censoring and covering things up.

RIP USA.

[johnnyanmac]

China as of late is indeed running circles around the US. We spend 3 decades depending on them for manufacturing, and surprise. They got really good at manufacturing stuff for themselves when the chips are down.

I guess great economies also give it away. RIP USA.

[stackedinserter]

> Why can’t Russia and China build and innovate like the USA can? > Because they spend a lot of time censoring and covering things up.

What a statement! How did you come to this conclusion?

[bamboozled]

Who built all Russia’s oil infrastructure ? Who has the strongest economy? Who builds the airliners ? Has the most advanced space programs ? Landed men on the moon ? Etc ?

It’s not just America either. Europe too. Australia.

Authoritarians copy and steal. Democracies innovate and adapt.

Democracies are more transparent and honest, which leads to better outcomes in all areas.

Time spent hiding information to appease the dictator and protecting “the party” is time wasted.

[achierius]

> Who built all Russia's oil infrastructure ?

The Soviet Union? Yeah, the new offshore stuff (mostly? developed after the fall of the USSR) relied on western firms, but I believe the bulk of oil production still comes from / goes through domestically sourced systems. Gas production on the other hand was initially almost entirely built out by western firms, though that's obviously begun to change since the war in Ukraine.

[hylaride]

A not insignificant percentage of Soviet-era drilling and pipeline pumping equipment and tech is/was western. There's even many allegations of CIA sabotage before delivery (which is hard to prove).

[cess11]

Do you apply the same thinking to the workplace?

[bamboozled]

I have definitely worked in companies where the "higher ups" ruined the company because of this sort of authoritarian leadership.

[qwytw]

That's Russia, not China. Russia is a petrostate run owned by corrupt dictator and his oligarch cronies. It really has nothing going for it whatsoever besides its natural resources.

China is in a very different spot. They did what the USSR failed, showed a an authoritarian/totalitarian state can keep up with Western democracies or even innovate much faster than them.