I, too, met many from the ‘other side.”
I do think most that remain behind are incompetent because they will act that way to survive in that cesspool of ignorance they call socialism/communism.
“Both China and Russia have effectively 100% literacy these days, which I don’t think the US can truthfully claim.”
And you think their claim is legitimate? Reminds me of something I read a long time ago, and I paraphrase: socialism, communism, no human rights. . .but hey, at least they can read.
Ref acquisition; you specifically called out military staff and such for the broken system and having too many military filling those billets. I pointed out there is a shortage of military acquisition personnel and it is congress and civilians running procurement causing problems. That is where the frustration should be directed. I am sure your reading indicated this as well.
Cheers.
No human rights, but way less bureaucracy over there getting in peoples faces.
They really arent “communist” that way. They are into real private enterprise in a way we no longer are. Believe it, I have been in the machine tool business and I know how it goes. If you want to set up to manufacture over there its easy peasy. If you want to source parts its also ridiculously simple.
I made no distinction of military vs civilian in our system. The system as a whole works badly, no matter who is at fault.