evilgenius wrote:So, as an advanced economy, we face other economies in what fashion? Do we always compete?
David Ricardo, I think, is the one who suggested the importance of trade between partners who each had something they did well, that the other didn't, that sort of thing. Then, the whole world can, theoretically, at least, self-assemble according to markets.
Very good. Yes comparative advantage works out great when there is a candle maker, a baker and a butcher in town. And it works out good when the rancher runs his beef on good upland pasture and the farmer raises wheat on the bottomland black dirt.
But now we have 75% of chips made in Taiwan and half by one company. The result of such a monopoly is the current inflexibility shortage and I assume monopoly pricing that is affecting a large number of other industries.
I don't have a guess how China will turn out. There are pitfalls to a controlled economy but as is obvious now, there are great advantages as well. China is kicking our butts on everything from solar panels to rare earths to steel pipe. China produces ten times the steel we do! Ask them if they care if they aren't playing fair, LOL US General so-n-so said the other day the Chinese hypersonic missile is a sputnik moment—or it would be if our government hadn't shined the whole episode.
And by putting it that way, I suggest it is absurd to say that it applies to right wing panic. They are not actually being stripped of their dignity, but they do perceive they are.
As for old, white, rural evangelicals and their angst, they are entirely correct in assuming the culture is leaving them behind and is ready for them to be gone. None other than Dickey Nixon said, paraphrasing: "If Goldwater wins the Republicans will become a white man's party." Unfortunately for them, white people are no longer 80% of the country. This incarnation just can't last long, though I'm afraid they will do more damage before it is over. The corporate sponsorship of the party went just a little too far in ignoring the blue collar folks (not to mention the Ds turning their backs as well) and they revolted. Just like on 1/6/21 they haven't figured out what to do now that they've knocked down the barricade. As well, they haven't figured out that the last guy who was gonna get back at "those" fat cats gave them and himself a huge payout at their expense, perhaps they just don't care.
I think at most there will continue the low level violence. The anti-democratic urge is more concerning. Not sure how many that tell pollsters they think the election was crooked actually believe it, but the gullibility and willingness to suspend their common sense in service of their wounded pride is kinda breathtaking.
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