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InitialsDiceBearhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearhttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/„Initials” (https://github.com/dicebear/dicebear) by „DiceBear”, licensed under „CC0 1.0” (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)DO
Posts
5
Comments
438
Joined
2 yr. ago

  • Okay gang, I need you to think a bit more critically than 'China Bad.' First, why was the term "debt collector" used? China lent money, now they're taking payments. Is that debt collecting, or just the second part of lending money? Is a mortgage lender a debt collector? That's a loaded term meant to give you a negative impression, cuz no one likes a debt collector except perhaps an American hospital.

    Second, the countries agreed to the loans. Paying them back was expected and predictable. If payments can't be made, then the debt will be restructured, meaning the payment schedule will be modified so the debtor country can make payments.

    Third, the money was often used to build a potentially money-making asset, like a port. If used correctly, the assest should pay for a decent chunk of the loan.

    Forth, I see a lot of half baked comments like 'China will take the port back' or 'China will take the hospital.' You must first ask, with what will China take back an African port, or hospital, or whatever? They don't have the means. They're not going to park an aircraft carrier off the coast and drop bombs until the loan is repayed, because they can't. So what does China want? China doesn't want the fucking port, they want resources and friends with benefits.

    China's basically going here's a loan, build a port to import goods for your people. Import from whoever you like, it's your port. Oh by the way we make the cheapest and best everything (cuz they do), we'd be happy to sell you whatever you want, like solar panels or EVs. We also need colbalt and the finest silicon sand to build you these awesome EVs and solar panels you want, so we'll buy that from your mines and use your cool new port to ship it. Here's the loan payment schedule. No payments for the first 5 years, then afterward you pay X per year for 20-30 years. Oh no, you're having trouble making payments? Well we benefit from you having that port too, so let's restructure that debt so your people don't revolt and get cozy with the US.

    There's no fucking debt trap. That's just racist and moronic. 'Those sneaky Chinese tricked the backwards brown people with a loan they can't repay.' Plus you can't repossess a structure on the other side of the world without a credible threat of violence. China does not have the means. Economic coercion, sure, but the debtor agreed to that and they're not stupid.

  • Booooo. You must be so fun at parties.

    I refuse to believe. I don't care how rational or well reasoned your arguments may be, I won't give up hope that someday someone will be living somewhere other than Earth. Your arguments will only result in a roadmap of challenges to overcome. I, likely we, need an open ended future, don't try to take that away.

  • No, I'd be worried about viruses. With common animal milks, I know there's almost zero chance any viruses present in the milk are capable of infecting a human. Obviously that isn't the case with human milk.

  • That's true, I think they're a weapon of last resort, only to be used if Russia may cease to be. Who knows, maybe nobody would have the gall to use them in that situation. Probably not worth testing.

  • They're using this little one in Ukraine, but that aside, would you like to call their bluff if you think their missles don't work? I'd rather this shitshow continue than play real life fallout.

    1. those missiles will work. They have been modernizing.
    2. There still is no credible defense to a full on attack by Russia. Trump's golden dome is as real as Reagan's star wars.
  • Nuclear threats never went away. There's a proxy war between nuclear powers happening right now. India and Pakistan just had a spat. Seems like some American elites want to fight China.

    Sometimes I wonder if nuclear winter will cancel out climate change.

  • Okay... Bootlicker: A person who behaves in a servile or obsequious manner.

    You seem to be an ardent defender of the ownership/elite/capital class's controlling behaviors. If you're not a member of that class and say what you have been saying, then you are a bootlicker of said class.

    I don't believe me calling you a bootlicker is an endorsement of fraud or sabotage, although I hope things work out for OP. That would be such a demeaning situation to be in.

  • What was the human population predicted to be? Everyone seems surprised that the birthrate is falling across the world for what appear to be economic/philosophical reasons. Was a decline at this time predicted by the models? If not, how would that affect every other prediction?

  • OP, I wish you would stop spreading rumors. As others have pointed out, there's no real evidence these allegations are credible.

    For more context, nearly all modern solar equipment and energy storage devices (like Tesla Powerwalls) come with cellular equipment for firmware updates and production monitoring when there isn't a better connection available. It's just how it's done nowadays, it's not inherentely nefarious.

    Now for some critical thinking. What does China really gain from taking out PV power sources? Those power sources are only producing power less than half the time people need it. Wouldn't it be better to attack the 24/7 baseload power producers like a gas powerplant? If you take out the PV that gas plant will compensate, just like it does when it's cloudy. For this reason there's little point to attacking the auxillary, intermittent power sources.