Another Sputnik Moment for America
Energy Secretary Steven Chu has compared China’s recent surge with the Russian satellite of 1957, saying this should be a wakeup call for American innovation. Sputnik inspired America to compete with Russia by entering the space race.
Fifty-odd years later, China is light years ahead of the U.S. in computer technology, renewable energy development and mass transit. China not only has high-speed rail, which the U.S. lacks; they also have the world’s first maglev (magnetic levitation) transportation system.
Maybe someday the United States will rub its eyes, look around dazedly and notice that other countries have joined the 21st century and we haven’t. Will the land of collapsing bridges and dumbed-down schools ever compete again?
Hmmm... things don’t look hopeful, do they.
And now for this week’s cover story from DUUUHHH Magazine: Cut-off of jobless aid would lower economic growth.
Ya think? It’s too bad such simple two-plus-two logic needs to be spelled out for millions of people. (See “dumbed-down schools” above.)
If Congress lets unemployment benefits expire, economic growth could fall by one percentage point; there could be up to a million additional job losses. This is because (yes, you already know this) jobless/low-income people spend every cent they have, which stimulates the economy and creates jobs.
But try telling that to Republican politicians and their simple-minded followers.
Labels: China maglev, Sputnik moment, Steven Chu, unemployment benefits economy
posted by Tom Harper @ 6:37 PM
7 Comments:
America will never join the 21st century if these bible thumping repuglickers have their way...
"Amensty." Lovely!
We do know that letting the economy freeze up again, and letting another million go jobless, and letting the 99'ers go homeless, is the point, right? Look what happened just a few weeks ago - the republicans picked up more house seats because the dems didn't bother to vote. They're looking to do that again in 2012, only this time they're looking to pick up the entire prize. At which time, they'll finish gutting the country.
This is why we see huge bonuses in the private sector right now, too - they're basically rats leaving the sinking ship but looting the stores before they go.
Jeez, the unemployed are so impatient. Just wait for all that rich man tax cut scratch to trickle on down.
The idiot Sen from AZ, Shadegg really summed up how ignorant and uncaring the immoral Rethugs are yesterday. He actually argued that unemployment checks do NOT help the economy.
China also has a substantial segment of it's people living in stone-age caliber poverty and they open a new fossil fuel power plant on a nearly weekly basis. They also get upwards of twenty percent of their power by damming every major river in the country.
China, as is often the case with centrally controlled nations, has a number of banner programs and events that it can hold up to impress the rest of the world. Whether these programs do any good in the aggregate is another matter.
Does the US need some serious reforms on a number of major issues? Certainly we do. But to suggest that China has it all figured out and that we are going down the tubes denies much of the truth on both accounts.
But, Thomas, it also points up one very important point; the Chinese are MOVING on getting it all straightened out, while we DISMANTLE the mechanisms necessary for US to go forward.
China loves Rushpubliscums because they know that the Rushpubliscums will make it ever-easier for them to dominate in all aspects.
Teeluck: The "bible thumping repuglickers" would rather have the 21st century B.C.
Bee: You're right, Republicans keep pulling all this shit because it works. They're financed by wealthy donors and they have millions of stupid voters who fall for every soundbite. "rats leaving the sinking ship but looting the stores before they go." LOL, that's exactly what they are.
Randal: Those jobless bums need to learn patience, and periodically chant "Serenity Now!"
Dusty: Republicans never let facts get in the way of a good slogan. They don't need to, since Fox viewers can't tell the difference.
Thomas: No argument there. China has plenty of problems; I wouldn't want to live there. But the U.S. could learn a lot from China and other countries that are emerging. But this country is backsliding, and there doesn't seem to be any motive to reverse that. We're sort of like Al Bundy, reminiscing about his glory days on the high school football team 30 years ago, while everything in the present is falling apart around him.
JR: That's exactly it; China has made incredible strides in the last few decades. They're at least trying to fix what's broken.
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