tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post3872967768499276990..comments2024-03-22T19:52:46.571+00:00Comments on SOCIALISM OR YOUR MONEY BACK: Burma and "democracy"Poetry Coalshedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514953133244910986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post-51440748804670260022007-10-04T10:07:00.000+00:002007-10-04T10:07:00.000+00:00If it's a "tad Western-centric not to mention naiv...If it's a "tad Western-centric not to mention naive" to think the US/UK have any influence over this, what are we to make of this warning, from a representative of a worldwide movement of about 100 people, to Burmese workers not to become a pawn in a capitalist game? These are people who took to the streets knowing that, last time they did so, they were gunned down in their thousands. And, according to some reports I've read, most people went on the street with no real hope that this time would be any different. What bravery! What courage! And we can sit here and type out some advice for them? How absolutely fucking ridiculous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post-87596162010444769322007-10-01T08:09:00.000+00:002007-10-01T08:09:00.000+00:00DazI don't think there are many who will quibble o...Daz<BR/><BR/>I don't think there are many who will quibble on China's growing power.<BR/><BR/>And it's a scary thought actually.<BR/><BR/>The USA on one side and China on t'other side. Wars have started over less.grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537849684816752973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post-18624973320556264132007-09-30T17:11:00.000+00:002007-09-30T17:11:00.000+00:00Note to self: proof read before submitting...That ...Note to self: proof read before submitting...<BR/><BR/>That should be "float the yuan against the dollar", obv. Not that Japan is economically powerless either.<BR/><BR/>ymudazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986316263684748677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post-30376340618006096772007-09-30T16:09:00.000+00:002007-09-30T16:09:00.000+00:00It's just a tad Western-centric, not to mention na...It's just a tad Western-centric, not to mention naive, to think USuk have any influence over this situation now or in the future. China is a vast economic powerhouse, and along with the two other huge ASEAN powers, India and Japan (both nominally free-market democracies) owns nearly all of the US ~$8 trillion national debt.<BR/><BR/>China only has to float the yen against the dollar to destroy the US. The US is already panicking because the euro is challenging the dollar hegemony as global unit of exchange. (Iraq, North Korea and Venezuela switched already; you do the math).<BR/><BR/>China has been isolationist for decades, but that is no longer true. It might be waiting for the Beijing Olympics for the big coming-out party, but it's been investing heavily elsewhere (especially Africa) and is no longer in a position to be pushed around by anyone at all.<BR/><BR/>The only relevant question, IMO, is whether there is any interest (for China) in Burma becoming a dependency; an interesting question for the newly-emergent and most non-interventionist state in the very powerful ASEAN group of non-interventionist states. <BR/><BR/>I don't know, but if we can get over this obsessive belief that the US is actually a global power that could plausibly interfere on China's doorstep...ignoring the fact that it's in deep deep hock to it's main rival and displaying all the signs of an empire in decline...well maybe there'd be a sensible debate to be had.<BR/><BR/>ymudazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986316263684748677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028082.post-53442517769688946962007-09-30T13:50:00.000+00:002007-09-30T13:50:00.000+00:00hopefully, after the latest fiasco's in Iraq, Afgh...hopefully, after the latest fiasco's in Iraq, Afghanistan,etc and the u.s.a.'s rulers past, as the 'Cops of the World' who go around trying to 'impose' their version of 'democracy' (sic) Myanmur/Burma's workers won't fall for this.<BR/><BR/>But like the article says, could use it as a window of opportunity, to provide a little elbow room to agitate for class struggle.<BR/><BR/>The U.N. Security Council seems a bit of a sham really - unless of course its security for countrys to get away with 'human rights' abuses.<BR/><BR/>Like this article points out, China will veto any dissing of or action again the Burmese leaders; just as the U.S. makes sure Israel gets away with its behaviour towards the occupied Palestinian territories,etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com