Check the gain on your sarcasm sensor.
If the Left has its way, we won’t be remembered at all.
Terry,
I am not being too clear myself. Luckily, only one guy on the page is paid for his writing skill and he’s good at it.
My point is that you used examples of government doing government. Capitalism cannot do everything and isn’t best at everything, and neither is government. There are often excellent benefits from government. Our problem, as I see it, is that we have government trying to do things best left to capitalism.
When this happens, it can sometimes have positive effects which get trumpeted. What gets left out is that capitalism may have created better results or maybe not, but you cannot now know. What rarely gets discussed are all the negative externalities of government action. Often they are not fully known or even knowable.
So I agree that government projects can be good. Not all desired goals are easy for private institutions and businesses to reach given problems of incentives or government interference or risk.
I just want folks to remember that successful government projects are almost always military or infrastructure oriented. As soon as the politicians and academics start changing word meanings so that “people are our most important infrastructure” or other demagoguery, the result is going to be waste and interference and never ending new bureaucracy.
Sorry. Here in the Peoples Republik, we’re required to set those to -30 dB. ?
Yep, we’re toast!
BOHICA on Jan 20th, 2021. It’s impact on what we do and enjoy here will ultimately likely be the last nail in the GA coffin no matter what China does … or doesn’t.
It befuddles me why this Country can’t have five, 10, 25 and longer “plans” for all sorts of things. All we do is react and often over-react to external events.
The damage is done - the PRC is ahead by 30 points with 15 min to go. The People’s Republic of China, the largest economy in the world by PPP since 2014, the second-largest by nominal GDP since 2010, the world’s largest manufacturing economy since 2010, and the second-wealthiest nation in the world, keeps on gobbling up technology R&D free while gaining in military strength. Yep, looks like, IMO, we’re toast!
BOHICA - 'B’e 'O’ptimistic, 'H’eart and 'I’ntelligence is 'C’oming for 'A’ll
This is the new, updated version.
Raf–you are correct. Either we can and should cut off their R&D–or barring that, we will have to hope that China has the same type of inept politicians that has afflicted the U.S. No nation lasts forever–most are brought down through their own faults.
Perhaps we could create a “reverse pandemic” to export and unleash upon them. Instead of a medical virus, LET THEM COPY our own failures–the Edsel–cheap mass-produced products–synfuels–Solyndra–“war on poverty”–worldwide “peacekeeping missions”–“FREE” government programs–government over-regulation (belay that, China has already TRIED THAT, AND FAILED)–and of particular interest to aviators, the SKYCATCHER–it was produced in China.
In short–if China had to put up with the over-regulation we have here in the US, they would not be competitive in the world market, either. Ship them a boatload of FAA bureaucrats, and another of CONGRESSCRITTERS–we will have them on their knees in a matter of only a few years!
Interesting and the usual thought provoking blog from Paul B who is not afraid of controversy.
When the US consumer and Walmart stop buying from China, China implodes economically. They need US consumerism, have gotten used to it, and are addicted to our spending habits. They have bought huge amounts of US credit debt as a result.
It’s anyone’s guess how long the dollar remains the world’s reserve currency. It’s an equal crapshoot how long the dollar will be accepted by other countries as we smoke our currency printing presses to keep up with our Covid-19 pandemic relief/stimulus packages, ever expanding government programs, lack of domestic manufacturing, and promises made by our past, present (that is really hard to define that right now), and future government promisemeisters. As a result, if China, like anyone else who currently accepts the US dollar, could end up with nothing should our economy and currency comes apart with global credit promises that cannot be kept. So, it make sense if one feels they will end up empty handed in the near future to use US dollars to buy US technology via various company purchases. At least you have something of value currently, even if it is not necessarily profitable, and certainly have something that will be of great value vs a fistful of worthless US dollars when our day of reckoning inevitably comes.
Secondly, China has a very corrupt internal system led by greed and short term leadership mirroring a lot of backroom deal making that is the normal modus operandi in many large US cities. While US GA companies were preparing how they were going to spend this cash influx provided by China’s supposed desire for the masses to fly little airplanes, local Chinese officials used US GA aviation is the vehicle to obtain manufacturing space that is at a premium, normally impossible to get.
That is why there are airports with no airplanes, manufacturing buildings put up under the disguise of producing aviation parts, airplanes, and avionics, with airshows as public displays of world aviation promises that will never be kept. Many of the original Cirrus SR20’s that were shipped to China have never been assembled, still in crates. Those airplanes were a vehicle to provide manufacturing space for other Chinese interests other than expanding aviation. This has been the case all over China.
The greedy Chinese local and regional leadership manipulate US GA aviation for their own interests. At the same time, the Chinese military gets access to US aviation technology and manufacturing processes, while promising to maintain US jobs in Chinese owned companies located all across America’s technological heartland. US execs offer glowing promises of business stability as a result with the US aviation consumer buying the largest portion of Cirrus, Diamond, Continental, and Mooney production. China wins, the local job market wins.
So far, the largest portions of the GA airplanes are still US made providing the illusion that all is well with these strange bedfellows. As long as that continues to happen, China has constant access to US government officials, local and regional business leadership, with considerable lobbying power with out firing a single shot.
There is a lot to be learned from Diamond, Cirrus, Continental, Piper, and Mooney that can either used in aviation or other pursuits. And it makes a great smoke screen for other manufacturing endeavors outside of aviation that is ultimately detrimental to the US. What can be learned of the VisionJet makes for a great opportunity for a prototype basis for a COIN fighter for example. Think about a Chinese knock off of AutoLand.
So, keep selling those US built Cirrus jets, and SR20/22’s, Canadian and Euro built Diamonds, powered with Continental engines made in Alabama, with even a handful of Mooneys now and then when the Chinese need a favor from Texas…mostly paid for by Americans. China indeed has long term goals and making US investments don’t have to make money to be highly profitable for China. But they do need the US consumer to continue, for a time, buying Chinese made products. And while we hear all the sabre rattling from various media talking heads, China and the US has some interesting financial relationships that must continue.
I still remember all the bladder splatter from all of the world’s experts about Japan owning the US and eventually the world. Likewise, the same warning has now shifted toward the Chinese. They need us just as bad as we need them.
It’s hard to dismiss that China was ground zero for this current pandemic that has turned the entire world’s economy upside down. But within chaos come all sorts of internal opportunity that is and will be exploited for perceived gain exercised by every global government. Unfortunately, I see no knight in shining armor that will right these global injustices. In the meantime, I will continue to fly while I still have the freedom while dealing with the ever dwindling resources. It offers me the finest therapy to maintain my sanity in a totally screwed up world.
So, to recap, because of lack of government involvement (ours), the US aircraft manufacturing industry now is in foreign hands (since foreign governments see a need and opportunity to bolster a national interest, e.g., a thriving civil aviation industry), but because of government involvement (ours), our aircraft manufacturing industry has now fallen behind EU based manufacturers because they can more quickly certify aircraft (I feel I need to point out the EU environment has a lot of government involvement).
I’m starting to see a trend. If only we could make our government more responsive to the needs of the nation and not just the corporate CEOs.
In my teen years, several of us actually tried this experiment. What we found out was that our parents lied to us again. The frog had no intention of staying in the bucket from the start. The only way to keep him in was to use a deep enough bucket so he couldn’t get out or maybe wrap him with duct tape. Anyway it was obvious that he wasn’t going to just sit there quietly while we boiled him.
No problem. Hunter and Pops will fix all things Chinese. ?
Unfortunately every time we buy a Chinese product we invest in China
Agreed, Doug…selective censorship…because PURELY political splurges from devotees of the vindictive dictatorial democracy-disrespecting LiarInChief like this live on: “YARS . November 21, 2020 at 9:50 am. If the Left has its way, we won’t be remembered at all.”
Acknowledging my bias, I’d restore the non-incendiary at least somewhat topical ones…but this is not my blog and PB has more important work to do. Just ought to be consistent when he DOES referee.
Lemon socialism.
Getting cold up there YARS?
Daily highs 43° to 57°. So far. “Winter is coming.” [Channels Game of Thrones.]
Yars–Here in Minnesota–we have TWO seasons: “Winter’s coming” and “Winter’s here!”
From the OTHER Jim H–“But within chaos come all sorts of internal opportunity”–sounds a lot like that Blazing Saddles line–“Nietzske says–'Out of chaos COMES order…”.
I took it to mean altitude, but maybe it was longitude? 