TRUMP 2020!

[Lachlan]

Folks who treat anyone badly due to their country of origin or race for any reason are crappy people, who honestly you're probably better off not associating with, but that's just my opinion. I don't blame any Chinese people for what their government does, most of them have no say in it. Sorry some folks treat you bad cause of it. Though, I doubt most folks treat Chinese people bad just because of it's government- that sounds more like an excuse to me to try to justify racist behavior. Though I also don't doubt some paranoid folks might see an Asian person and think they be a spy or something stupid. Lotta folks who are crazy and stupid honestly. Thankfully I'm just crazy

Well depending who you ask

yeah it's never happened very often to me though due to me still being in high school and kids I feel aren't generally racist compared to adults because we've been told since we were small not to be racist and sexist and all that

[Most Lee Harmless]

Chinese use child labour? Get a grip : who do you think made your trainers? Child labour is endemic across the world and not restricted to any one political system. Prison labour? Yep, chinese prisoners are used as cheap labour. But go google who works as emergency firefighters in California.. yep, prison labour. They aont in the chain-gang anymore but using prisoners as cheap labour is common across the world, US included.
The WHO did not declare an emergency? Why not blame the Lebanon for that? Or Australia? Its an international organisation and like most, aint perfect and is riddled with political chicanery. But that only seems to be a problem when they dont do as they are told by the US. A bit like NATO which gets pushed from pillar to post to please US domestic politics.

US exceptionalism is the disease which will bring down US influence in the world. It undermines any good done and accentuates those times when policy is enforced just to suit US domestic needs. But that is what happens to any Empire. It rises, stagnates then loses the vision that once drove it, it turns inwards and concerns itself with its petty internal strife then almost unnoticed, it slips over the edge and down it slides in a spiral of self-defeating hubris.

Manifest Destiny is not tied to any one nation, nor is it eternal and permanent. If it was the Romans would still be Numero Uno.

The USA had great promise, noble ideals and was gifted with the natural resources to grow into a powerhouse. Unfortunately it decided waste those gifts on fripperies and nonsenses.

Ozymandias would smile.

[Meliva]

I don't put words into your mouth, so I would appreciate if you don't put words into mine.

Did I say china was the only country that has child labor? No. Child labor is a horrible thing that does happen in many places. Those places need to enact laws to protect said children and enforce them. China is one of the ones who is guilty of not protecting children from unfair labor.

As for prison labor, I don't mind if prisoners are made to do safe labor, though I don't approve of them being forced into dangerous jobs like firefighting. Though I will also say that prison labor is a far less of a problem then child labor. Prisoners wouldn't have to do cheap labor if they didn't commit crimes.

I don't think the USA is perfect, or unflawed or the best at everything period. It has flaws, like any nation. Now how about instead of shifting focus and talking about things that I never even mention, you address some of my points.

The Chinese have censored a lot of speech and used things like tariffs on countries that wanted to investigate. Do you not agree that is a very vile thing to do, and is very suspicious? Now I don't believe that the virus was made by them in a lab, or anything extreme like that, but I do certainly think that they tried very hard to keep it secret, and gave some bad information which helped lead to the pandemic growing.

[Mack]

WHO failed we supplied them woth most of thier money we pulled out that was smart they were clearly not there to help us

we are still the most powerful and influetial nation on earth

[Meliva]

After reading a bit about the prisoner firefighters, Couldn't see if they were forced into those roles or volunteered, if the latter then I'm fine with them working as firefighters. I did however find that California was making/made it so that once released they could potentially become fire fighters as a profession.

Which is a very good thing. Rehabilitating them, giving them training and experience and allowing them to secure a job upon release that helps them and the community. All in all, I do not see how you could compare that to child labor.

I do thank you for giving me an excuse and reason to read up a bit more on the topic. I had heard of them using inmates as firefighters, though I never looked into it until you gave me a reason to.

[Mack]

kind of a dark joke sorta, but maybe if cali would have had real firefighters it wouldnt be burning down

[Most Lee Harmless]

I'm sure California would love to have more than enough 'real' firefighters. I doubt Californians would welcome the taxes needed to pay for them.

Prisoner labour is often called 'voluntary' : but it dont take a genuis to see that, as in the military, not 'volunteering' comes with its own price.

[Mack]

right, im sure it would be very exspensive... they did use to have the largest economy,what happened

[Most Lee Harmless]

WHO failed we supplied them woth most of thier money we pulled out that was smart they were clearly not there to help us

we are still the most powerful and influetial nation on earth

Nope, they are not there to help the US, they are there to help all of us, including the bits of the globe that are not the US.

Power and influence are a bit illusory. They are there until, one morning, they are not. Lots of nations have claimed that mantle until, one morning, another had claimed it. A lot more have wanted to claim it and failed but along the way they whittled down the holder until it too fell.

It's an illusion that once shown up as an illusion is rarely, if ever, regained. Looks at an atlas, look at the languages spoken in the countries in it, even the countries themselves, and you will see the vestiges of the formerly powerful and influential.

All will come to.pass and who knows, one day historians of an as yet unconsidered nation risen to Empire might look and wonder whatever became of the USA.

[Meliva]

I'm sure California would love to have more than enough 'real' firefighters. I doubt Californians would welcome the taxes needed to pay for them.

Prisoner labour is often called 'voluntary' : but it dont take a genuis to see that, as in the military, not 'volunteering' comes with its own price.

Care to share any links or sources to back up that claim? What price is it they pay for not volunteering? Perhaps even a former inmate who was in a program speaking out against it?

Ultimately, I would not support forcing prisoners to do any dangerous tasks such as firefighting. I would not however find forcing them to do safe jobs, such as cleaning roads of litter, to be a serious problem, though that opinion is subject to change depending on conditions. They still needed to be treated humanely, given water and not forced to work on dangerous days. Ultimately though, I would prefer not forcing them to work even then, but I also would not condemn it.

Also, would you care to answer my question?

The Chinese have censored a lot of speech and used things like tariffs on countries that wanted to investigate. Do you not agree that is a very vile thing to do, and is somewhat suspicious?

Edit-also doesn't Cali already have like, the highest or one of the highest tax rates in the US already? Pretty sure they should have the income to pay for more fire fighters.