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Chinese Authoritarianism Stumbles on Covid; American Democracy Shakes It Off
WSJ ^ | 30-NOV-2022 | Greg Ip

Posted on 12/01/2022 1:01:23 PM PST by SpeedyInTexas

When Covid-19 first erupted in 2020, the U.S. struggled to balance the trade-off between lives and livelihoods. Infections and deaths soared while lockdowns devastated economic output and sparked demonstrations across the country.

China, by contrast, was a model of authoritarian efficiency. Mass testing, lockdowns and closed borders suppressed outbreaks. This allowed most Chinese to live normal lives without fear of infection, sustaining broad support for “zero Covid” (as best as outsiders could tell).

The ruling Chinese Communist Party held out these divergent responses as proof of its superior governance model. The U.S. had lost its historical “capacity for self-rectification,” one Chinese scholar concluded.

Nowadays, it is China whose economy is staggering under repeated, draconian lockdowns, while infections continue to spread. Public trust has eroded. Protests spread over the weekend, some challenging not just Covid restrictions but Communist Party rule—an almost unheard of, and risky, show of defiance.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; paywall; wsj
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To: McCarthysGhost

“But America no longer exists, friend. I’m not even sure you could call this a country anymore.”

Its still my shining city on a hill.

America prospers not because of its faults, but in spite of them.


21 posted on 12/01/2022 1:27:00 PM PST by SpeedyInTexas (RuZZia is the enemy of all mankind)
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To: Theoria

And our republic is dead.


22 posted on 12/01/2022 1:27:19 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: mewzilla

Our republic has been dead for decades. We’ve just been coasting along.


23 posted on 12/01/2022 1:30:06 PM PST by Theoria
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To: All

24 posted on 12/01/2022 1:32:51 PM PST by SteveH
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To: Theoria

Graveyard
Morgue
Prison Factory


25 posted on 12/01/2022 1:34:09 PM PST by L,TOWM (An upraised middle finger is my virtue signal.)
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To: SpeedyInTexas

“RuZZia is a power in decline.
We have reached Peak China.

The 21st century will be: “Another American Century””

When you mother repeatedly told you like Nancy Reagan: Don’t do Drugs!

‘US military rated as ‘weak,’ may not be able to win one war, as tensions grow with China, Russia’
https://nypost.com/2022/10/18/us-military-rated-as-weak-may-not-be-able-to-win-one-war-as-tensions-grow-with-china-russia/

‘Navy Approaching ‘Weak’ Rating in New U.S. Military Strength Survey’
https://news.usni.org/2021/10/21/navy-approaching-weak-rating-in-new-u-s-military-strength-survey

‘Yes, the U.S. Military Is Weak’
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/yes-the-us-military-weak

‘Ukraine War Shows the US Military Isn’t Ready for War With China’
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/ukraine-war-shows-the-us-military-isnt-ready-for-war-with-china/

‘Weapon System Sustainment:
Aircraft Mission Capable Goals Were Generally Not Met and Sustainment Costs Varied by Aircraft’
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106217

‘If you think the US is ready for a conventional war with Russia or China, think again’
https://sonar21.com/if-you-think-the-united-states-is-ready-for-a-conventional-war-with-russia-or-china-think-again/


26 posted on 12/01/2022 1:39:06 PM PST by cranked
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To: SpeedyInTexas

I find the contemporary view on the Japanese internment of WWII to be naive. With the war propaganda that was coming, Americans would have skinned the Japanese, if they had remained where they were. No one seems to want to admit that they were relocated, probably, more for their own protection.

Roosevelt had a war. What is Brandon’s excuse?


27 posted on 12/01/2022 2:07:04 PM PST by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: SpeedyInTexas

these following fixes need to be added to the archive:

“This allowed most Chinese to live normal lives” Fixed “This allowed most Chinese to live the same oppressed lives”

“proof of its superior governance” Fixed “proof of its superior Tyranny”

“Historically, controlling epidemics required that some individuals sacrifice freedom for the collective health of the community” Fixed “Historically, planned epidemics were used so individuals would sacrifice health for the freedom of the community”

“China’s response to the initial outbreak in Wuhan became a template for the world” Fixed “China’s response to the initial outbreak in Wuhan was direct orders to the compromised and corrupt leadership around the world”

“as much more contagious variants emerged.” Fixed “as more vaccinated individuals became more contagious from a week virus that already had known successful treatments and people began to wake up“

“In a democracy, protests aren’t just allowed,” Fixed “In a democracy, protests aren’t allowed, unless it is organized to push a specific narrative, thus, anyone who opposes that narrative will end up labeled as a terrorist and threat to that democracy”

“with economic life mostly back to normal.” Fixed “with economic life and the 80% of the economy of small businesses almost wiped out.”

“Ms. Whitmer was re-elected this month” Fixed “Ms. Whitmer was re-Selected this month”

“a fire hose of often-conflicting information” Fixed “The lack of truth from the current administration and media of often-conflicting misinformation”

“Rather than approve Western mRNA vaccines” Fixed “Rather than approve Western mRNA bio weapon injections”

“the very flaws Chinese critics attribute to the U.S. “ Fixed “the very flaws Chinese critics attribute to the themselves as they dictate the US administration “

“Xi’s personal stature is directly and inextricably bound up with the success of the zero-Covid policy,” Fixed “Xi’s personal stature is directly and inextricably bound up with the success of the Globalist hostile takeover of the world,”

“while Democratic-led states tended to give priority to infection control.” Fixed “while Democratic-led states tended to give priority to tyranny, destruction, and murder.”

“Don’t over-interpret these events.” Fixed “Don’t do your own research.”

“A chaotic exit from zero Covid now doesn’t invalidate its success in prior years” Fixed “A chaotic exit from zero Covid now doesn’t invalidate its successful destruction and attempt at world dominance in prior years”

“, just because the U.S. has achieved a relatively peaceful coexistence with the virus doesn’t vindicate its often chaotic response of 2020.” Fixed “, just because the U.S. citizens are relatively peaceful and loving doesn’t vindicate this administrations chaotic response of 2020.”

NCSWIC/WWG1WGA


28 posted on 12/01/2022 2:10:01 PM PST by Callnote (Solid state is the way to go!)
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To: SpeedyInTexas

You’re irritating it!

Please, carry on.


29 posted on 12/01/2022 2:10:40 PM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: SpeedyInTexas

American democracy??? With Russia and China no longer Communist, there isn’t that much difference between the political systems of the US, Russia, and China.


30 posted on 12/01/2022 2:12:05 PM PST by xxqqzz
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To: SpeedyInTexas

U.S. - Less and less extensive lockdowns, more regular mild cases and greater natural immunity developed

China - more and more extensive lockdowns, less natural immuniity developed, leading to continued multiple local spikes in severe cases and deaths

Best epidemic/pandemic practices - protect and isolate the most vulnerable and let natural immuniity build as fast as possible among those for whom a case is most likely to not be severe.


31 posted on 12/01/2022 2:32:54 PM PST by Wuli
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To: SpeedyInTexas

It’s a nice title but, unfortunately, not true. We did not shake off Covid. The Wuhan virus and our response to it ruined elections and ruined lives. We have not recovered.

It seems that portions of Africa have shaken off the Wuhan virus. I credit ready access to HCQ and Ivermectin.


32 posted on 12/01/2022 2:43:13 PM PST by ChessExpert (Dem mandates: slavery, segregation, Indian removal, experimental vaccines)
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To: ChessExpert
We did not shake off Covid.

Thanks! I came here to say this.

But to an extent, it is true in the Red states.

But go up North and to the West, and you still have Blue states requiring masks for kids in schools, jabs for employees, and punishment for those who spread "misinformation" that is, not agreeing with the CDC line.

I just heard DC public schools require unvaccinated kids to bring a negative test--every day--to school, or they must stay home.

We need a national divorce.

33 posted on 12/01/2022 2:51:16 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (Rush, we're missing your take on all of this!)
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To: SpeedyInTexas

Many claim COVID is a bio-weapon developed and released by China. If so, it’s one of the world’s biggest strategic blunders in history. It’s huring China far more than the rest of the world. But, if if is true that it was a bio-weapon, this proves that bio-weapons aren’t a good idea since they can rebound against the user.


34 posted on 12/01/2022 3:12:15 PM PST by DugwayDuke (Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
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To: SpeedyInTexas

We’ll see.


35 posted on 12/01/2022 3:13:50 PM PST by sauropod (Fascists also buy Comcast cable packages" - Olby - Wanna buy mine?)
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To: SpeedyInTexas

Another American Century... That’s a fact, Jack, I mean Sorry. Finding facts is like panning for gold, you have to get rid of a lot of dross before you see the shine. America may not be may perfect, it may have a lot of faults, but you know what? It is better than all the rest. Other countries and ideologies know this, that’s why i don’t want to do destroy us they want to take us over... that’s the proof. Hail to our Constitution!


36 posted on 12/01/2022 3:37:56 PM PST by SandwicheGuy ("Man is the only pack animal that will follow an unstable leader." Cesar Chavez)
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To: SpeedyInTexas
American Democracy Shakes It Off

I must have missed that part.

37 posted on 12/01/2022 3:42:05 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: RoosterRedux

We’re about to find out... Totally agree with you. And here’s a funny fact, when you mention about information around the world, one of the reasons the Chinese are having this big protest is that the people were watching international soccer and they so all those people having fun with no masks...Hmmm


38 posted on 12/01/2022 3:44:54 PM PST by SandwicheGuy ("Man is the only pack animal that will follow an unstable leader." Cesar Chavez)
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To: Theoria

Europe is an Islamic colony


39 posted on 12/01/2022 3:55:31 PM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: SpeedyInTexas
Ukraine is a former country ;)
40 posted on 12/01/2022 5:40:17 PM PST by WMarshal (Neocons and leftards are the same species of vicious rat.)
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