China Becoming a Democracy

[opebo]

I seriously doubt it.  you need to stretch your mind around this just a bit more, lest we become like the hapless spaniards.  We'll no doubt lose our hegemonic grip on the world one day, and it will will no doubt be china that becomes the number one economic force in the world.  but you will be long dead by then.  so, too, will this childish notion of "democracy"

or, like spain in its heyday, you can continue to pour money into converting the world to your own way of thinking, thus hastening that moment when we are knocked off our economic perch.

You are certainly correct that China shows no signs of being a democracy.  It is a rather repulsive culture in some respects.  And I also agree with you that the U.S. is wasting its time trying to force the world into its own rather misbegotten image - but I thought you supported the war in Iraq?

I think we should be working hard to become like post-Imperial Netherlands - prosperous, hedonistic, libertine, liberal, and yes, democratic.   

[opebo]

but I thought you supported the war in Iraq?

surely you jest.  at least I'll assume that's the case until I decide that whatever venereal disease has taken your senses has also taken your sense of humor.

No, I honestly assumed that you supported the war in Iraq, mostly based on your Republicanism and your self described 'nationalism'.  You don't?

By the way, China will not be 'free' - that is even less likely that it becoming democratic!

[opebo]

well, it's nice to know that you've never actually read my 4200-plus rants.  I'd only thought you hypocritical and bigoted.  Now I see you're lazy as well.

Wow, so you're a potsmoking social liberal who's against the Iraq war.  What're you doing in the Religious Party?

[opebo]

Not that citizens of post-imperial powers have it all that bad.  Opebo and a handful of others do better during imperial periods, but the vast majority of us will be better off once we take our place among the mature nations of the world. 

Actually, angus, it is the Scandianavian, Dutch, German, Belgian, Swiss  sex tourists who do well in Southeast Asia.  The American is but a poor cousin with a debauched currency.  The Euro holders - many of whom never had empires, or who's empires were centuries ago - are the 'better off' in the international sex game. 

[opebo]

they eventually colapse under a combination of overpopulation ...

Actually China's population growth rate is very low and declining rapidly.  Their number one problem, like most of the world, in future, will be an aging population, not excess population.