₦airaland Forum

Gerrard59:
Within the past two days, I have read quite a number of news articles on the Financial Times, and most importantly, the comment section. Most times, the comment section is more interesting, fun-filled, and informative than the actual article. One such article was about EU manufacturers trying to "decouple" from China. Decouple just like its sister-phrase "de-risk" is one of the buzzwords currently in supply chain management in the West. Anyway, commentators narrated how they worked in China and in order to gain market access, the Chinese requested technical transfer, which Western companies were eager to offer. Because hey, the market was and is juicy. Bigger profits and higher salaries.

You know, the belief, misplaced anyway, was that by offering China ascendancy to the WTO and the country becoming capitalistic, Western elites believed China would become "democratic". Democracy in the sense that there would be elections through which Western governments can influence the numerous parties in order to cause chaos, especially as China, unlike Japan and South Korea, is too big both in land mass and population. That has not come to fruition. Moreover, the intentional upskilling of the Chinese and their entrepreneurial nature to go anywhere in the world as long as money can be made has shocked Western elites, all of whom are men. As a result of these two factors, China is competing head-on with the West. This time around, unlike Japan which was spoon-fed the Plaza Accords' medicine, China has refused to gulp it. Also, China is a nuclear power. So, nothing like invasion or we-are-going-to-offer-them-democracy something something Libya or Iraq.

I must commend the foresight nature of Chinese elites, both political and private, and most especially the politicians. The deliberate and painstaking devotion to learn techniques, hone them and mass-produce them for societal development and profits. Additionally, the focus on hardcore science and technology, plus improving so much that most patents in new technologies come from Beijing rather than Washington. The EU does not come close at all. It is a lesson to developing countries such as Indonesia, India and Africa. However, I am not too sure about us in Africa as we are so culturally/ethnically divergent - only skin colour binds us - compared to the rest or the Chinese.

Reading through the posts, one could sense the agony, disappointment, disbelief, sorrow and sometimes anger that China turned out so economically powerful that it cannot be stopped. In other words, China is that coconut head person you must work with even when you don't like the person. You just don't have a choice.

And the Chinese are brilliant, man. The foresight is legendary. Take Graphite for instance, whether synthetic or natural. It is an important feature of lithium batteries in EVs. Both forms are produced in China with dominance of almost 100% of the global supply. Graphite is so important that carmakers had to pressure or better still, lobby (a favourite word over there) Washington to give them a two-year grace period to find alternative sources. This is because the new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) prevents parts or materials from Chinese producers or China. However, analysts are even saying that bringing those plants into operation would take time. Also, China could flood the global market with graphite thereby reducing the price to scare away competitors.

Lest I forget, as I envisaged or advised or predicted, Chinese EV makers are building factories across the world and this is way ahead of Western carmakers. Obviously, you don't expect a politician in Brazil or Indonesia to reject FDI simply because the source is Chinese. And as I stated, this decision would lead to Chinese cars being the most sought-after in the world. After all, the West with its declining population is less than 20% of the world's population.

In summary, I wish China and its people strength to continue the good work so far. I admire everything about them. I really do.

Please the links to the two articles

LordAdam16:
Talking about the EU parliamentary elections.
What are your thoughts about the results?

-Lord

Honestly, I don't know. I didn't follow up.

I quickly did some research about it, and don't have any data to give any concrete opinion.

What do you think about it though?

pansophist:
Honestly, I don't know. I didn't follow up.

I quickly did some research about it, and don't have any data to give any concrete opinion.

What do you think about it though?

I get the sense that the West is more conservative than their election results and liberal policies suggest.
But their elite go to great lengths to rein in conservatism.
For the most part, they're extraordinarily successful at this.
However, occasionally, there are these spurts like the recent EU parliamentary elections that sort of pull the curtains back a little.

-Lord

Gerrard59:
In summary, I wish China and its people strength to continue the good work so far. I admire everything about them. I really do.

If we had one China in each continent, and I don't mean population-wise but in terms of efficiency, the West would have already been put in their place.

-Lord

LordAdam16:
I get the sense that the West is more conservative than their election results and liberal policies suggest.
But their elite go to great lengths to rein in conservatism.
For the most part, they're extraordinarily successful at this.
However, occasionally, there are these spurts like the recent EU parliamentary elections that sort of pull the curtains back a little.

-Lord

That is very true.

It's not far-fetched if you consider facts such as Western demographics, hot topics such as immigration, LGBT, and the lack of unison of opposing entities within the bloc.

Western demography is quite old, and old people in general tend to be conservatives. Also, liberal people tend to be conservatives as they get older. Liberalism thrives in lack of depth, and someone else will pay the price, not you.

Liberal folks that support open-door immigration policies for example usually tilt towards conservatism when immigrants start committing crimes, won't integrate and rape becomes rampant.

Liberalism sees the good and positive in things/people, minus the dark part of it. Aka refugee needs help, lets open our homes for them, which sounds good, but conservatives would prefer that the root cause for migration be solved, so they stay in their homes.

Specifically about the EU, the bloc is fed up and depressed. In anonymous channels such as forums, one can read the minds of Europeans and how they feel about different issues.

Many of them, even the young ones are tilting towards conservatism in opinion in mass, because they see clearly that liberalism of the past hasn't done any good.

Take London and Brussels for example, these capitals' demographics have been changed for life. There are more non Ethnic British people in London, and there are more non-Ethnic Belgians in Brussels.

It was liberal policies that changed all these, and Europeans are really powerless, you see their anger through the voting poll, where they vote in leaders that will reverse it, like the Netherlands and Geert Wilders

This reminds me of the fall of IBM and those with new technology ate their toast.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-New-Trucking-Trend-Transforming-Chinese-Oil-Demand.html

cc: pansophist

What do you make of Ukraine's recent success against Russia? To be honest, though, I care less about them killing themselves because they (on both sides) care(d) less when Nigerians were/are brutally murdered. As I write, black Muslims in Sudan are being slaughtered while people and their communities are razed in Zamfara. I never see anybody shout or rally against those deaths. What I am more concerned about is having a sole superpower as power corrupts and absolute power corrupts the more. For this reason, I wish to see another superpower(s) emerge as this gives options to smaller nations. Should Russia fall, China is next and by then, it is finished.

Recently, I have concluded that black people, regardless of location and ancestry, in this century cannot emerge as a dominant economic and military force as China for many reasons. So, we should have different power blocs to prevent monopolies and abuses of power. Also, I have come across books such as "White Malice: The CIA And The Covert Recolonisation Of Africa" and "African Literature And The CIA" which detailed the extent the US and the West have attacked and destroyed our nascent growth over the years. Other books such as "Kaiser Holocaust: Germany's Forgotten Genocide", "German Rule, African Subjects: State Aspirations and the Reality of Power in Colonial Namibia" and "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa" show the extent the dehumanisation against black people have lasted. It is why I am bemused and sometimes amused when I see our people have a say in the Ukraine-Russian issue or that of China-Taiwan/US or Israel/US/West and the Arab World. Sha, I was once like them, so I can understand a part of it.

Gerrard59:
cc: pansophist

What do you make of Ukraine's recent success against Russia? To be honest, though, I care less about them killing themselves because they (on both sides) care(d) less when Nigerians were/are brutally murdered. As I write, black Muslims in Sudan are being slaughtered while people and their communities are razed in Zamfara. I never see anybody shout or rally against those deaths. What I am more concerned about is having a sole superpower as power corrupts and absolute power corrupts the more. For this reason, I wish to see another superpower(s) emerge as this gives options to smaller nations. Should Russia fall, China is next and by then, it is finished.

Recently, I have concluded that black people, regardless of location and ancestry, in this century cannot emerge as a dominant economic and military force as China for many reasons. So, we should have different power blocs to prevent monopolies and abuses of power. Also, I have come across books such as "White Malice: The CIA And The Covert Recolonisation Of Africa" and "African Literature And The CIA" which detailed the extent the US and the West have attacked and destroyed our nascent growth over the years. Other books such as "Kaiser Holocaust: Germany's Forgotten Genocide", "German Rule, African Subjects: State Aspirations and the Reality of Power in Colonial Namibia" and "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa" show the extent the dehumanisation against black people have lasted. It is why I am bemused and sometimes amused when I see our people have a say in the Ukraine-Russian issue or that of China-Taiwan/US or Israel/US/West and the Arab World. Sha, I was once like them, so I can understand a part of it.

Too early to tell if Ukrainian incursion is successful. I mean, how deep into Russia does the Ukrainian wants to advance into!?

You need men to capture and keep territories, and Russia can just turn a blind eye, to make them advance them cut them off from supply, using their landmass as an advantage.

It's called "the scorched earth tactics". USSR used samw tactics on the Germans in ww2.

Do we really want China?

kkins25:
Do we really want China?

Do we really want the US?

US seizes Venezuala's Presidential Jet.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/02/politics/us-seizes-venezuela-president-maduros-airplane/index.html

-Lord

LordAdam16:
Do we really want the US?

US seizes Venezuala's Presidential Jet.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/02/politics/us-seizes-venezuela-president-maduros-airplane/index.html

-Lord

Apples are apples, oranges are oranges.

Yes. The U.S has done tremendously better. Hell, it's the least of the evil on the planet. So far, it's the only sort of "self-reflective" government in the world. And countries that took after the U.S are doing tremendously well. China looks gook when you look at it as a single entity. It's facing the same challenges as the U.S. with extra.

kkins25:
Apples are apples, oranges are oranges.

Yes. The U.S has done tremendously better. Hell, it's the least of the evil on the planet. So far, it's the only sort of "self-reflective" government in the world. And countries that took after the U.S are doing tremendously well. China looks gook when you look at it as a single entity. It's facing the same challenges as the U.S. with extra.

All I see is cope.

You should tell Palestinians, Libyans, and many other victims of America's brutal foreign policy that they are "the least of the evil on the planet".

The US unilaterally instituted sanctions against a country outside the bounds of international law. Seized the national property of the victimized country and you have the chutzpah to whine about like-for-like comparison.
Come back with your gotchas when China seizes Nepal's presidential plane because Nepal did not embrace communism.

It is an indictment of America that China and Russia enjoy broad support within the Global South because of how horribly they've abused their primacy.

-Lord

LordAdam16:
All I see is cope.

You should tell Palestinians, Libyans, and many other victims of America's brutal foreign policy that they are "the least of the evil on the planet".

The US unilaterally instituted sanctions against a country outside the bounds of international law. Seized the national property of the victimized country and you have the chutzpah to whine about like-for-like comparison.
Come back with your gotchas when China seizes Nepal's presidential plane because Nepal did not embrace communism.

It is an indictment of America that China and Russia enjoy broad support within the Global South because of how horribly they've abused their primacy.

-Lord

These countries? If I was world power, I'd sanction them too.

kkins25:
These countries? If I was world power, I'd sanction them too.

The U.S. can sanction and behave as recklessly as it wants.
In response, the global majority feels compelled to demand competing and counterpoint axes to blunt America's psychopathy.
In one word, multipolarism. The topic of this thread.

The U.S. has FARA laws that mandate citizens, residents, and organizations who operate on behalf of foreign nations to register as foreign agents.
Georgia enacted a law with the same objective. The U.S. sanctioned Georgia for doing the same thing they do.

In economics, anti-trust and anti-monopolistic principles are favored to protect consumers. Competition is preferred.
The hegemony has had its run as a monopoly. The community of nations is keen to prop up the competition and it is already paying dividends.

-Lord

LordAdam16:

For every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

- Newton

The U.S. can sanction and behave as recklessly as it wants.
In response, the global majority feels compelled to demand competing and counterpoint axes to blunt America's psychopathy.
In one word, multipolarism. The topic of this thread.

The U.S. has FARA laws that mandate citizens, residents, and organizations who operate on behalf of foreign nations to register as foreign agents.
Georgia enacted a law with the same objective. The U.S. sanctioned Georgia for doing the same thing they do.

In economics, anti-trust and anti-monopolistic principles are favored to protect consumers. Competition is preferred.
The hegemony has had its run as a monopoly. The community of nations is keen to prop up the competition and it is already paying dividends.

-Lord

It's not like the U.S. is going about sanctioning random countries. Even you wouldn't want anything to do with 95% of the countries on that list. My point, anyway, is, do we want to cripple democracy for the good-ole dictatorship? Wouldn't you want to live in a society where you can call out the government and not fear for your life? China's government is a "if you talk you collect" system.

kkins25:
It's not like the U.S. is going about sanctioning random countries. Even you wouldn't want anything to do with 95% of the countries on that list. My point, anyway, is, do we want to cripple democracy for the good-ole dictatorship? Wouldn't you want to live in a society where you can call out the government and not fear for your life? China's government is a "if you talk you collect" system.

Only within China, and frankly is not the business of outsiders. Most citizens don't like outsiders to have a say in their countries' politics, and rightfully so. But the Chinese are all about business. Just don't harm its interests or nose-poke into its internal affairs. Talking about so-called freedom, here is a word or two from a prominent Chinese politician, Lee Kuan Yew:

"You’re talking about Rwanda or Bangladesh, or Cambodia, or the Philippines. They’ve got democracy … But have you got a civilized life to lead? People want economic development first and foremost. The leaders may talk something else. You take a poll of any people. What is it they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools.”

I am not saying China is perfect, but as long as trade opportunities exist for Africans (who have to improve at negotiations) to become wealthy, I am okay with it. Nothing consine me with another person's politics.

LordAdam16:
All I see is cope.

You should tell Palestinians, Libyans, and many other victims of America's brutal foreign policy that they are "the least of the evil on the planet". The US unilaterally instituted sanctions against a country outside the bounds of international law. Seized the national property of the victimized country and you have the chutzpah to whine about like-for-like comparison. Come back with your gotchas when China seizes Nepal's presidential plane because Nepal did not embrace communism. It is an indictment of America that China and Russia enjoy broad support within the Global South because of how horribly they've abused their primacy.
-Lord

I am always wary of Africans who lampoon China every time and over flimsy issues. Fine, there are issues here and there. One of which has to do with over-fishing or illegal mining. But that is where laws have to be implemented and the Chinese will follow suit. Ghana complains of illegal mining by the Chinese, but Zimbabweans don't because they enacted laws to prevent such. Today, a Chinese company has opened a large processing facility in Zimbabwe whereas the US geoscience company Kubold Metals in Zambia has not and does not intend to do the same. Kubold Metals is just interested in transporting raw minerals over the railway line backed by US funds. The US grudgingly invested there with the assistance of an Indian or Emirati company just to counter Chinese investments in the Eastern axis (Tanzania and Rwanda). If the US is so interested, why did it not commence railway investments across the continent? Tomorrow, dem go talk about loan traps whereas the major lenders to Africa are multilateral institutions dominated by the West.

Look at the massive railway investments in Lagos and Ogun by Chinese companies. Over sixty years of being associated with the West, how many French, German, Swiss and British companies have sought to invest in railway in one of Africa's most populous cities? I omit the US because those ones no sabi construct railway lines.

Germany enters a 250K labor deal with Kenya.

-Lord

LordAdam16:
Germany enters a 250K labor deal with Kenya.

-Lord

Seems like Europe is committed to change its demography permanently. The browner the better lol.

pansophist:
Seems like Europe is committed to change its demography permanently. The browner the better lol.

Should we be concerned about the voluntary slavery making our country and continent more desolate and dependent on whites and Asians?

Will it change the one drop rule

The one-drop rule is a social and legal principle of racial classification that was historically prominent in the United States in the 20th century. It asserted that any person with even one ancestor of sub-Saharan African ancestry ("one drop" of black blood) is considered black (Negro or colored in historical terms).

This concept became codified into the law of some states in the early 20th century.

It was associated with the principle of "invisible blackness" that developed after the long history of racial interaction in the South, as well as the hardening of slavery as a racial caste. It is an example of hypodescent, the automatic assignment of children of a mixed union between different socioeconomic or ethnic groups to the group with the lower status, regardless of proportion of ancestry in different groups.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-drop_rule

The EU demands intellectual transfer from the Chinese. How the mighty have fallen!

This goes to show that if one works very hard and plays the long game, success is most assured.

Kudos to the Chinese! I am proud of them!

cc: RodgersAkpafu The West cannot defeat China, certainly not in this century. Lovey-dovey cannot sustain the economy in the long run. This century is the Asian one.

Gerrard59:
The EU demands intellectual transfer from the Chinese. How the mighty have fallen!

This goes to show that if one works very hard and plays the long game, success is most assured.

Kudos to the Chinese! I am proud of them!

cc: Rodgers.Akpafu The West cannot defeat China, certainly not in this century. Lovey-dovey cannot sustain the economy in the long run. This century is the Asian one.

The world is collectively shackled by the US pursuing a negative policy of hobbling everyone--both "friends" and foes alike--so they remain #1 in perpetuity.
The day the planet escapes that grip will be Day 1 of an age of technological advancements that'll dwarf all previous industrial revolutions combined.

Europe is prepared to make that leap.
Washington is still running the "over my dead body" script.

Can you imagine what we could get up to if Musk, Russia, China, Europe, Japan, and India got together to jointly develop an interplanetary habitat. You know, the ISS of the 21st century. But grander. It'll be a marvel.

Japan is stuck in purgatory.
Germany is being ushered into a cryogenic capsule.
These are their friends.
They want to roll back the clock on China.
Russia they expect to be the newest North Korea.
India will only get so far before they pump the brakes.

I don't know how anyone can look at this devious behavior and applaud it as better than all available options for the species.
Never mind the African homeland.
I'm supposed to be reassured that the same guys who bullied Japan into the Plaza Accords and destroyed Germany's energy infrastructure will let Africa achieve its $100T (4.5b people strong) potential over the next century.

I do hope the Axis Powers work out a way to help keep the Europeans above water.
We are all victims. Some better fed and clothed than others.

-Lord

LordAdam16:
The world is collectively shackled by the US pursuing a negative policy of hobbling everyone--both "friends" and foes alike--so they remain #1 in perpetuity.
The day the planet escapes that grip will be Day 1 of an age of technological advancements that'll dwarf all previous industrial revolutions combined.

Europe is prepared to make that leap.
Washington is still running the "over my dead body" script.

Can you imagine what we could get up to if Musk, Russia, China, Europe, Japan, and India got together to jointly develop an interplanetary habitat. You know, the ISS of the 21st century. But grander. It'll be a marvel.

Japan is stuck in purgatory.
Germany is being ushered into a cryogenic capsule.
These are their friends.
They want to roll back the clock on China.
Russia they expect to be the newest North Korea.
India will only get so far before they pump the brakes. I don't know how anyone can look at this devious behavior and applaud it as better than all available options for the species.
Never mind the African homeland.
I'm supposed to be reassured that the same guys who bullied Japan into the Plaza Accords and destroyed Germany's energy infrastructure will let Africa achieve its $100T (4.5b people strong) potential over the next century.

I do hope the Axis Powers work out a way to help keep the Europeans above water.
We are all victims. Some better fed and clothed than others.

-Lord

THANK YOU very much! Imagine those countries who are allied nations yet see what they had to experience. As it is, Germany's industrialisation is on the brink. Manufacturing CEOs have lamented already. I don't want the Asian folks to help them. They should help themselves as this anti-China and soon-to-be anti-Indian rhetoric is based on racial superiority. I admire how China transfers the technology to neighbouring Asian and African countries. That is where the technical know-how is much needed, not by people who mocked the Chinese for copying "their technologies" yet suddenly want the copier to teach them. How can a thief know more about a product than the producer?

cc: IbeOkehie see the bold to understand our situation.

LordAdam16:
I do hope the Axis Powers work out a way to help keep the Europeans above water.
We are all victims. Some better fed and clothed than others.

-Lord

Brother, create more topics on different subjects of life. Curious and open minded individuals have a lot to learn from you.

Gerrard59:
THANK YOU very much! Imagine those countries who are allied nations yet see what they had to experience. As it is, Germany's industrialisation is on the brink. Manufacturing CEOs have lamented already. I don't want the Asian folks to help them. They should help themselves as this anti-China and soon-to-be anti-Indian rhetoric is based on racial superiority. I admire how China transfers the technology to neighbouring Asian and African countries. That is where the technical know-how is much needed, not by people who mocked the Chinese for copying "their technologies" yet suddenly want the copier to teach them. How can a thief know more about a product than the producer?

cc: IbeOkehie see the bold to understand our situation.

The only thing holding Black Africa back from prosperity & good HDI is the innate inability of Black Africans to generate prosperity.

Take all of the people of the USA and move them to Sub-Saharan Africa and move all the people of Black Africa to the USA and strip BOTH populations of all financial assets, what do you think the outcomes will be in 100 years? I'm sure you know.

Black Africa didn't have THE WHEEL before Contact.

Black Africans sold THEIR OWN PEOPLE into Slavery AND now leverage the plight of the victims for profit I still can't get over it.

Even TODAY, the main method by which Black Africans get ahead is via parasitism on others and exploitation of their own kind.

Please stop being funny. @Lord Adam doesn't even believe what he wrote. You know better.

Good Luck to Nigerians.

Gerrard59:
The EU demands intellectual transfer from the Chinese. How the mighty have fallen!

This goes to show that if one works very hard and plays the long game, success is most assured.

Kudos to the Chinese! I am proud of them!

cc: RodgersAkpafu The West cannot defeat China, certainly not in this century. Lovey-dovey cannot sustain the economy in the long run. This century is the Asian one.

After stealing intellectual property from across the world, it is only fair that the EU DEMAND that China "transfers tech"
In fact, the Chinese often demand western companies to transfer tech to Chinese companies when setting up in China
So it's tit for tat.....

Nothing special here

RodgersAkpafu:
After stealing intellectual property from across the world, it is only fair that the EU DEMAND that China "transfers tech"
In fact, the Chinese often demand western companies to transfer tech to Chinese companies when setting up in China
So it's tit for tat.....

Nothing special here

Now before people come running their mouths
I am not "diminishing" the Chinese achievements over the last 50 years

they have done well, really well 👏
However in this particular post you tagged me in @Gerrard59, its no big deal
Technology transfer demands from someone who demand tech transfer is a fair deal and nothing special

On the side, I was paired with a Doctor Wang to do some work, and I have to say, apart from her not so perfect English, she is really sound, and eats the mathematics for breakfast

I really had to step up to the plate, so as to at least make the same impression she had on me, on her
Thankfully I did not fall hand lol

She is really really really good

There aren't too many Africans making that huge impact in my field, and it's a challenge to me to step up to the plate

Posts like these inspire me

RodgersAkpafu:
After stealing intellectual property from across the world, it is only fair that the EU DEMAND that China "transfers tech"
In fact, the Chinese often demand western companies to transfer tech to Chinese companies when setting up in China
So it's tit for tat.....

Nothing special here

Everyone steals. The British stole from the Germans. Europeans stole from the Arabs. Americans stole from Europe. Japan stole from the US. South Koreans stole from the Japanese. When e reach China's turn, we are made to believe that only China stole. If so, how come the producer of the IP seeks the knowledge? At least, the Japanese and Koreans aren't asking for tech transfer.

RodgersAkpafu:
Now before people come running their mouths
I am not "diminishing" the Chinese achievements over the last 50 years

they have done well, really well 👏
However in this particular post you tagged me in @Gerrar.d59, its no big deal Technology transfer demands from someone who demand tech transfer is a fair deal and nothing special. On the side, I was paired with a Doctor Wang to do some work, and I have to say, apart from her not so perfect English, she is really sound, and eats the mathematics for breakfast

I really had to step up to the plate, so as to at least make the same impression she had on me, on her
Thankfully I did not fall hand lol

She is really really really good

Oh! The Chinese are damn too good! As I have noticed, while one is thinking 1, they have moved to stage 5. They are so good whether Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Mainland or Singaporean. They are ruthlessly good!

Gerrard59:
THANK YOU very much! Imagine those countries who are allied nations yet see what they had to experience. As it is, Germany's industrialisation is on the brink. Manufacturing CEOs have lamented already. I don't want the Asian folks to help them. They should help themselves as this anti-China and soon-to-be anti-Indian rhetoric is based on racial superiority. I admire how China transfers the technology to neighbouring Asian and African countries. That is where the technical know-how is much needed, not by people who mocked the Chinese for copying "their technologies" yet suddenly want the copier to teach them. How can a thief know more about a product than the producer?

cc: Ibe.Okehie see the bold to understand our situation.

Russia invented hypersonic tech.
They transferred the tech to every Axis Power. China, Iran, and India have hypersonic capabilities now.
The US refuses to allow ASML open an R& lab in Japan.

Imagine a SinoGermanic tech collaboration.
Let your mind run wild with the possibilities.

For the sake of humanity, we should not let the Europeans waste away.
I'll be honest with you. I consider this whole Europeans prefer WLB to be premium BS.
Like I understand the influences in their culture like Jantelagen.
But for the love of all things sacred, these are prideful, still-firmly aristocratic, top-down societies.
I don't believe for a second that the monarchs and the blue bloods are content brownnosing the Yankees.
Or that if there was an opening, they wouldn't discard that ineffectual, unproductive MO in a nanosecond.
These are the guys that sailed out to colonize the New World for crying out loud. They are not domesticated hippies. That go-getter shit is only dormant.

The EU's economy was larger than America's in 2000.
Today, the US economy is 50% larger than the EU's.
Many thanks to the US tech dominance.
But we're at a point where the EU simply has no way back.
Look at Musk and co with space. Then Altman and co with AI.

So yea, I'm not concerned about the EU.
They're a fractured bunch that hate each others guts and that's a natural impediment to any repeat of the late third millennium.
Especially when China will always outperform the eurozone. Hopefully India too. And when you aggregate the Global South, it's not even a competition anymore.
As such, IMHO, we should carry them along because they still have a heck of a lot to contribute.

-Lord