Japan intends to distance itself from US (politics)

[kirakira]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

But tell me... how will China become a consumer nation without a middle class?

It has a growing middle class. The one country with no middle class and a fragmented market is ironically democratic India. Why? Because they have bad economic policies. You still need a expensive business license in India to set up shop and peddle your wares on side of the street. That's anti-capitalism.

China is helping the poorer farmers to consume by giving farmers, AND ONLY farmers/rural population rebates on white goods.

You are totally blind to your ideals, that you don't even have your facts straight anymore. I'm glad you are not running any country's economy, that country will go bankrupt tomorrow.

I'm not saying sound economic management leads to democracy necessarily, I'm saying sound economic management leads to prosperity, democracy doesn't lead to prosperity. You can't argue with that unless you are a hippy.

[komitsuki]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

For example... ever hear of Democratic Peace theory?

List of possible exceptions to the democratic peace theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are too many exceptions for the DPT.

Originally Posted by kirakira

The one country with no middle class and a fragmented market is ironically democratic India. Why? Because they have bad economic policies.

India had a very terribly organized Socialist economy despite being a dysfunctional democratic country.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by kirakira

It has a growing middle class. The one country with no middle class and a fragmented market is ironically democratic India. Why? Because they have bad economic policies. You still need a expensive business license in India to set up shop and peddle your wares on side of the street. That's anti-capitalism.

You are totally blind to your ideals, that you don't even have your facts straight anymore.

Oh you think I'm making a correlation between economic prosperity and democracy? Read what I said...

"China's growing middle class... while a sign of prosperity... also spells uncertainty for the CCP."

The world's smallest and poorest nation is a democracy (Timor Leste).. so how can I say there is an inherent correlation?

I never said it would lead to democracy inherently.. but for you to become defensive about it is blind to the fact that liberalisation of Chinese society has been happening since Mao kicked the bucket (good riddance).

All I'm doing is asking the question... how far will this liberalisation go? I think it is unwise for you to count out Democracy.

[kirakira]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

All I'm doing is asking the question... how far will this liberalisation go? I think it is unwise for you to count out Democracy.

Of course I know China's making baby steps towards democracy. I agree with that, prosperity may lead to democracy but definitely not the reverse.

When it does, what would happen to the power in the west?

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by komitsuki

List of possible exceptions to the democratic peace theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are too many exceptions for the DPT.

Please... that link lists possible exceptions (as well as the arguments why they aren't exceptions)... but they're hardly conclusive.

[komitsuki]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Please... that link lists possible exceptions (as well as the arguments why they aren't exceptions)... but they're hardly conclusive.

And possibly "true" exceptions.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by kirakira

Of course I know China's making baby steps towards democracy. I agree with that, prosperity may lead to democracy but definitely not the reverse.

When it does, what would happen to the power in the west?

Where did I argue for the reverse?

You're not reading what I'm actually saying.

Democracy leads to freedom... that's all I've been saying all along.

As for power in the West? I have no idea.. maybe it becomes dissipated even further as China joins the fold?

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by komitsuki

And possibly "true" exceptions.

I suppose it depends on what you believe...

They're pretty pedantic exceptions in my opinion.

I mean I can agree with kirakira that Singapore is an authoritarian state (even though technically it's a democracy if I wanted to be pedantic)

There are some grey lines perhaps... but by and large Democratic Peace Theory holds true... at the very least for all intents and purposes in this discussion.

[ssibal]

It ain't sound like America is getting powerful after 5 fucking years.

Islam already destroyed the Western civilization this year with all of the refugees and they're still people who want to talk about the glory of the west and democracy?

Now that's what you call a top level bullshit.