They should market them as trash compactors.

 

so scary.. But i dont think they're that far back.. look at the neon..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N13KO...related&search=

 

yeah..it was!

 

umm, would rather not look at a neon. j/k! what's scary is these pieces of junk will make their way over eventually in one form or another.

 

That has as much to with the fact that nearly no country in history hasn't engaged in war (at any point along their maturation) as it does that waging war galvanizes national superempowerment. The most recent ascensions to empire were over sixty years ago. And, yes, everything from "Rome to Russia" followed your rule, but in international relations terms, the post-Westphalia world until 1950 had more in common with itself than did the brief years between 1960 and today. I expect the "democratic peace" would be more accurately termed "the capatalistic peace," and in today's flattened world, war with China is highly unlikely.

 

Partially true, but that wasn't the point of what I was saying.

Actually, the most recent ascenion is right now, and it's called China. Remember, empires are built not through force alone, but by projecting economic power. The Romans did it, the British did it, the Americans did it - and now China is doing it, but they're putting it first. Rest assured, China will end up in a war, either with the West...or with one of its Asian neighbors. It's just a matter of time.

I think you mean "the capitalistic piece.

 

That I can't disagree with so confidently, but I expect you'll be proven wrong in claiming "In five years the U.S. will be at war with China..."

In case you haven't already checked them out, I recently read Sam Huntington's Clash of Civilizations and Friedman's The World is Flat and found them both interesting and informative. I expect you would too, and I know you Canadians have alot of free time on your hands...

 

China is not going to be initiating war with anybody. If anything, communism will continue to erode to capitalism.

 

Eh, I don't believe capitalism plays a zero sum game with communism. Their system of government hasn't seen much in the way of liberalizing reform outside of the economic sector. I would predict the system currently in place (one of cutthroat semi-capitalism and a communist government leaning against one another for support and legitimacy) will continue to operate into the near future. Eventually economic progress and the apparent success of market-opening reforms might permeate other aspects of governance, but the progress will be slow and volatile. Volatility lending greater likelihood to civil infighting than fullblown international war.

 

Yep, it's amazing how much time one has for other pursuits when one isn't meddling in the affairs of other nations, or starting unneccessary wars on behalf of the interests of ones corporate masters.

 

Well said.

Though I still think China's rise to superpower status, it's abhorrent human rights record and its complete disregard for environmental stewardship could foster conflict with the West when combined with other key issues. The recent issues with Chinese products (toothpaste, pet food, etc.) tells me they have a LONG way to go before they share the same values as us.

Then place all of that in relation to their enormous military budget (undervalued); the amount of military hardware they're building; the fact they shot down one of their own satellites earlier this year (actually a shot across the bow of the U.S.), and you can imagine how dicey things could get in a potential conflict with Taiwan - which the U.S. has sworn to protect, and which China still considers its own.

There are lots of possible flashpoints there. IMHO, China is a much greater long-term threat than al Quada. More people die in traffic accidents in North America every year than have been killed by terrorism. A conflict with China, on the other hand, could get ugly very quickly.

 

Here's another crash test video. This one is the Chery Amulet. It's freakin' scary!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Swzbt76wBM

 

slow motion looks cool.
the quality worries me.

and yeah china is a forc to be reckoned with.
i hate how blatant they are about abusing their work force, the environment, and just totally raping the concept of capitalism.
at least if the U.S. did this they'd be undercover and outsource the rape-age.

no honor in money.

 

Good god!

Antifreeze-laced toothpaste, tainted pet food, childrens' toys with lead in them, lard made from sewage...and now THIS.

Can't we just close the door on these imports and be bloody well done with it.

Oh that's right, we're tied to China's economic apron-strings thanks to 30+ years of failed trade policies.

 

Absolutely incredible. I mean, I don't have any words for that Chery car...er, deathtrap. Did they make it out of tinfoil??

 

That is really worrying. Chery are doing a marketing push here at the moment, in advance of the cars actually arriving. I hope to God that no-one I know considers buying one!

Oh yeah. Enough of the politics. If you want to discuss trade, food, comunism/capitalism, please do it in off topic.

J

 

What? You don't think cars that intentionally crush their occupants are a first-strike Communist weapon against the West?