Time to learn Chinese and ditch the American "accent"

[gutharius]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4272577.stm

China has overtaken the United States in the consumption of basic agricultural and industrial goods, a new survey says.
It is now the world's biggest consumer of grain, meat, coal and steel. Only in oil does the US consume more.

China is well ahead of the US in the consumption of goods such as television sets, refrigerators and mobile phones.

The Washington-based Earth Policy Institute says that China is now an emerging economic superpower.

However, per capita consumption in China, the world's most populous country, remains far below that of the US.

According to the report:


64m tons of meat were consumed in China in 2004 compared to 38m tons in the US

258m tons of steel were used in China in 2003 compared to 104m in the US

China's factories and homes burned 40% more coal than in the US

The number of PCs in China is doubling every 28 months.
'Writing history'

The latest official figures for the Chinese economy, the sixth-largest in the world, show that it is growing even faster than expected.

It expanded by 9.5% in 2004, its highest rate for eight years, the figures show.

"China's eclipse of the United States as a consumer nation should be seen as another milestone along the path of its evolution as a world economic leader," Lester Brown, the institute's president said.

"China is no longer just a developing country," he said. "It is an emerging economic superpower, one that is writing economic history".

The report said China's massive appetite for goods ranging from grain to platinum had placed it "at the centre of the world raw materials economy."

"Its voracious appetite for materials was driving up not only commodity prices but ocean shipping rates as well," it said.

At this rate of growth the current role of the US and China relationship will soon flip and the US will be feeding the Chinese economically instead of the other way around. Ecentually China will be leading the way in economic progress and direction instead of the US. Though I still think the US will maintain it's ability to keep the US as a global marketplace. China's economy is booming so fast it is mind boggling!

 

[ntdz]

They have 4 times our population..and still have 1/3 the GDP we do. We are 12 times more efficient than them. China isn't anywhere near where we are.

 

[gutharius]

Not yet... but they will soon meet us and zip past so fast we will not be able to stop them. Not that this is a bad thing after all.

Edit: also in regards to the population. That is precisely my concern. with a population that large and their growth running so fast they will quickly surpass the US in consumption and economic power.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: gutharius
Not yet... but they will soon meet us and zip past so fast we will not be able to stop them. Not that this is a bad thing after all.

Edit: also in regards to the population. That is precisely my concern. with a population that large and their growth running so fast they will quickly surpass the US in consumption and economic power.

IF China keeps growing at 10% (EXTREMELY unlikely), it'll take over 40 years to catch us...

 

[Aimster]

The thing with China is the state owns most of the businesses.
In the U.S they are all private.
China gets the money where in the U.S the companies get the money.
We have lots of billionares and millionares in the U.S. How is it like in China?

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: ntdz
They have 4 times our population..and still have 1/3 the GDP we do. We are 12 times more efficient than them. China isn't anywhere near where we are.

Yup. Although they also know that there is no way they can have all one billion of them live life the way we do because its too unsustainable for the entire world. But I don't think it'll create a "chinese" revoluton around the world for the language, like how English too command and power. Chinese is much more difficult in the speaking part (grammar i would say that it is easier) so I don't think people will put that much effort towards it, but the big part is they already speak english. English is the business langauge and will remain so for a verrrrry long time. Besides, to read english we need to know 26 letters...not learn two to three thousand characters 😛


Either way the emergence of China as a consumer society will put a big strain on the enecomy and things in this world

 

[gutharius]

Really the thing that shocks me about this is not the growth but just how much potential for growth there is and that if that potential is ever satiated what that would mean for the US.

 

[raildogg]

Is it any surprise? We have turned China into the worlds factory. Shameless corporations like Wal-Mart and others continue to rape and exploit the ordinary poor Chinese worker. To be blunt, America is digging its own grave.

There was a great deal of sophisticated missle technology transfer to China under the Clinton administration. And of course, Bush is a hypocrit by not inviting Taiwan and welcoming the Chinese dictators with open arms.

Wait, so one dictator who controls 25 million people and has killed hundreds of thousands of people is worse than the dictators who control 1.3 billion people and have killed millions throught all these years? Bush, please follow on your own words before you lecture us on fighting evil dictators. Bunch of BS by the GOP. And the demican party are a bunch of checkered pants peaceniks.

Remember the spy plane incident? Well that clearly showed how scared Bush is of the Chinese. Basically he quivered in his pants while the Chinese went through that sophisticated plane and basically copied it while it was on their soil.

Which party has the best interests of America in its mind? Noone! So sad, really.

I urge all decent people of this world to think before they step into a Wal-Mart, just think who made those super cheap products and under what conditions they worked in.

Keep in mind, we are talking about China here. Underneath all that glitter and high growth figures is darkness. Tyranny, corruption and mass murder.

As for China growing, well in the next couple of decades I see huge growth. A shift has been made, the world is moving away from the west to the east. To China and other emerging markets. America's power will decrease slowly, Europe is nowhere near as powerful as it used to be. The Europeans are drooling over selling arms to China while the US, rightfully so, warns them of the dangers of doing so. In fact, its France that is ferociously pushing the EU in lifting the arms embargo against China. So in other words, the EU wants to arm China against the US.

Also, keep in mind, Russia will not always be on its knees. It will rise again, so that will complicate matters further.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: gutharius
Really the thing that shocks me about this is not the growth but just how much potential for growth there is and that if that potential is ever satiated what that would mean for the US.

I don't think just the US, but the entire world. Imagine if every chiense even lifted 3/4s the standard of the AVerage American....I think its unsustainable. I would hope China knows they can't live like "Americans" because ieven if they tried...they can't! So however they modternize and move foreward, it'll have to be in a radically different manner than we do. For example, I don't expect to see thing slike suburbia flourish in China at all...or the car penetrating culture as much as it does here~

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: raildogg
"Bush is a hypocrit"

Ok stop right there. Who are you really? What have you done with the real Raildogg?

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: gutharius
Really the thing that shocks me about this is not the growth but just how much potential for growth there is and that if that potential is ever satiated what that would mean for the US.

I don't think just the US, but the entire world. Imagine if every chiense even lifted 3/4s the standard of the AVerage American....I think its unsustainable. I would hope China knows they can't live like "Americans" because ieven if they tried...they can't! So however they modternize and move foreward, it'll have to be in a radically different manner than we do. For example, I don't expect to see thing slike suburbia flourish in China at all...or the car penetrating culture as much as it does here~

They will probably have to go the route of the Europeans. Push mass transit and national rail systems to link the country together.

 

[Chinadefender]

Highways and new railway systems are both built.
Transportation problem remains as a huge bottleneck problem for many years although many efforts have been put

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: raildogg
"Bush is a hypocrit"

Ok stop right there. Who are you really? What have you done with the real Raildogg?

Raildogg's account has been taken over or he has realized that one needs to bash Bush here to be accepted.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: raildogg
"Bush is a hypocrit"

Ok stop right there. Who are you really? What have you done with the real Raildogg?

Raildogg's account has been taken over or he has realized that one needs to bash Bush here to be accepted.

Listen speedy, look at my sig. I like Bush, but the man isn't perfect.

I could care less if I'm accepted here or not.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: raildogg

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: raildogg
"Bush is a hypocrit"

Ok stop right there. Who are you really? What have you done with the real Raildogg?

Raildogg's account has been taken over or he has realized that one needs to bash Bush here to be accepted.

Listen speedy, look at my sig. I like Bush, but the man isn't perfect.

Uh oh, signs of possible dissent with the maladministration? Expect your "Bush Fan Club" membership to be revoked shortly. 😀

 

[dmcowen674]

Nothing new here, the U.S. is now a follower in every way except for Military.

Same thing happened to Rome.

 

[irwincur]

The thing people don't realize about China is that 2/3 of the people essentially still live in the dark ages. In the cities the standard of living (minus the pollution) are pretty decent. Now, until China can bring everyone up to speed (and this is a HUGE task) they will maintain semi third world status.

Yes in the next Century China will surpass the US - if all goes well. Barring civil war, major war with Taiwan, etc... However, does this mean the end of the US. No, not by any means. The position of the US as a large free market economy does not hinge on it being the largest economy in the world. In my opinion, China will not have a real advantage until they are open and Democratic.

Not to mention that they need to make more of ther own products. What good is it for them to host foreign companies that in the end remove their profit. Seriously, their economy is almost totally based on foreign production. Now, how is that helpful. Most of the money created by the Chinese economy is flowing to the US, EU, and Asia. So, in a way this is a paper economy - they really don't get the money. So until they can become and independant and competitive producer they will technically be behind.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Nothing new here, the U.S. is now a follower in every way except for Military.

Same thing happened to Rome.

Have you been learning your history in the lousianna public school system? Rome was at the peak of the world in science, technology, trade and ecnomic power when Rome fell. In fact they fell to a less advanced enemy because they allowed their millitary to degrade, the moral structure of the empire to collapse and the christians to take over.

Ya know Dave, if you hate america so much why don't you move to canada or europe?

 

[irwincur]

Actually, Rome fell via the slow corruption of immigration. At a certain point, the average Roman in Rome, was not a Roman, he was a Hun, a Vandal, a Visigoth, etc... The great melting pot of Rome corrupted the entire system. Overextension was the primary downfall of the Roman empire, there were not the proper logistical and political capabilities back then to rule a massive empire.

The US will probably go out slower. Granted, every empire has its end, but they all end differently. Look at how Europe is fading, the US wll probably follow their lead.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Nothing new here, the U.S. is now a follower in every way except for Military.

Same thing happened to Rome.

Have you been learning your history in the lousianna public school system? Rome was at the peak of the world in science, technology, trade and ecnomic power when Rome fell. In fact they fell to a less advanced enemy because they allowed their millitary to degrade, the moral structure of the empire to collapse and the christians to take over.

Ya know Dave, if you hate america so much why don't you move to canada or europe?

"Rome was at the peak of the world in science, technology, trade and ecnomic power when Rome fell."

"They allowed their millitary to degrade, the moral structure of the empire to collapse and the christians to take over."

The U.S. used to be at the top of Science and Technology up until the Republicans and Christians took over, sounds exactly the same as your Roman Empire example to me.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: irwincur
Actually, Rome fell via the slow corruption of immigration. At a certain point, the average Roman in Rome, was not a Roman, he was a Hun, a Vandal, a Visigoth, etc...

If you would say the average "roman" in the army, i would agree with you. Toward the end the roman militray was almost completely made up of foreigners seeking the automatic citizenship and pension that military service gave. The the germans controlled the military, they also controlled the politics.

The great melting pot of Rome corrupted the entire system. Overextension was the primary downfall of the Roman empire, there were not the proper logistical and political capabilities back then to rule a massive empire.

If this is true then how did they manage it for the previous 250-300 years before the decline?

 

[Genx87]

Once they uncouple their currency from ours things may change.
But may China will becomes the worlds whipping post shortly.

 

[Genx87]

Really the thing that shocks me about this is not the growth but just how much potential for growth there is and that if that potential is ever satiated what that would mean for the US.

If we get in early and establish economic dominance. It could be a windfall for the United States.

 

[Genx87]

The U.S. used to be at the top of Science and Technology up until the Republicans and Christians took over, sounds exactly the same as your Roman Empire example to me.

Grow up, sometimes your rants sound like a 4th grader who didnt get his snack pack.

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: Genx87

The U.S. used to be at the top of Science and Technology up until the Republicans and Christians took over, sounds exactly the same as your Roman Empire example to me.

Grow up, sometimes your rants sound like a 4th grader who didnt get his snack pack.

Sometimes they might... but this one doesn't. What kind of 4th grader... you know what, I don't even feel like finishing my argument. Why don't you lay off the hackneyed "you sound like a <insert age below 15> who <insert petty schoolyard incident>" jabs? They're lame.

As an aside to my Genx87 bashing, I have to say that the fundamentalist Christians are certainly trying their hardest to do this, but I doubt that it will happen. The US may not be the leader in scientific studies and discoveries, but that's like saying 99 is less than 100. You know, 99 is still pretty close to 100.