Americans losing the plot, the narrative and the initiative

 For the last few centuries, the initiative in global affairs was with the West. They wrote the narrative and charting the course of history in their interests. What was right or wrong was decided by them. What was good or bad was also decided by them. What was right was right to them and could be very wrong to the rest of the world.  Likewise, what was good to them could be very bad to the rest of the world. The enemies of the West could be the friends of the rest of the world, but would be branded as enemies by the western narratives.

As time goes on, the arrogant, aloof and conceited West, led by the Americans in the last few decades, began to lose touch with the rest of the world. Their primary narrative and agenda were to destabilise the world with chaos and constant warfare. The only language they know is violence and the only initiative is war. The only narrative is to create enemies to be demonised for the unthinking to hate and to fear.

The Ukraine War is a turning point when Russia took the initiative to attack an American running dog. This used to be the work of the Americans, launching wars against other countries, and Russia or China would be on the defensive, trying to help the victims of American aggression and invasion. Now the Americans are trying to help Ukraine, defending and afraid to counter attack.

On the economic front China is writing the agenda with the BRI. This monumental initiative in 2013 threw the Americans off guard and did not know how to respond until now. The only reaction from the Americans was to stir shit, disinformation and mistrust by hyping on debt trap. This proof ineffective as the participating countries could see the merits of the BRI and the nonsensical debt trap that was an obvious lie. 

Failing to frighten the participating countries, the Americans finally came out with a half baked infrastructure development plan, basically all words without any concrete plan and no money to fund the project. This is the best the Americans could do for the moment, words but nothing to show, trying to play catch up with China. Now China said run and the Americans would have to run along.

China's latest initiative is in the Pacific Islands offering infrastructure development and security development. The Americans have forgotten about these islands, treating them as non existence. Now they are panicking and trying to outdo China with a few handouts to please the islanders. China is raising the stakes and the Americans and the AngloSaxon countries would have to follow with more and better offers or be out of the game. The only card they are left to play is war, the threat of invasion to threaten the islanders.

In Africa it is a gone case for the Americans and the West. China has been actively investing in Africa for several decades while the Americans and the West wrote off the continent.  They had robbed and looted whatever they could from Africa and did not see anything worthy in the African countries. Now they are worried of the inroads made by China but unable to do anything. No political will, no money and no time as they are too involved in all the wars all over the world. 

China has won over the friendship of the African countries with generous aids and economic and infrastructure development for all to see. China did not go into Africa like the white men, invade and conquer, massacre and loot and enslaved the Africans, taking everything, all the resources, treasures and land for free. China paid for everything and even offer aids and technological assistance to the Africans, tangible assets to promote developments in the African countries, without wars and strife, no killings of the Africans, no bullying of the Africans, no slavery, no interference and threat to their domestic affairs, and no regime change.

The Chinese genuine effort to help the African countries and promotion of economic development and trade is an agenda that the Americans and the West have never really done through the centuries of colonisation. Now they are left in the rear mirror of China's high speed economic trains.

China's narrative and initiative are all about trade and economic cooperation, and infrastructure development. This is a win win game that the Americans did not know how to play. The developing countries have wisen up to the abuses and oppression of the white men and have welcomed China as their new partner for growth and prosperity for their people and countries.

American and European circus on show

Thankfully, no one can now surpass the USA in COVID19 infections and death. Otherwise the USA will nuke them, LOL. Ironically, I do not think any country would want to surpass them in that department. Let them be number one in this case, unhindered.

China has lately been accused of building a secret naval base in Cambodia. How is that one base, even if it is true, going to surpass the USA's almost a thousand military bases all around the world? But the USA is still going all out to create hysteria by stirring up the dogs to bark as loud as they can about the issue. Even the Indians are joining in the chorus of the barking ensemble.

The USA thinks that by having the sole naval power to blockade the sea routes through the Straits of Malacca, in times of conflict, they can strangle China's energy supply and trade through the Straits, and wants to make sure China has no way to counter that. That is probably the reason for their fear of a Chinese naval base in Cambodia that could give China a base for their naval vessels to be close to the Straits.

That thinking is no longer a paramount strategic move today, as China has already built a land route via the BRI and is well served by Russia in the energy sector. The USA had already demonised the BRI project for obvious reasons. Cheaper Oil, gas and coal from Russia has been a bonus for China in the aftermath of the Ukraine War. That is why the USA and the West are adamant that China must condemn Russia's liberation of Eastern Ukraine, in order to pry apart the ties between Russia and China. It will not work going forward, because the vile and nefarious attitude of the USA and the West towards both of them, is totally without redemption, and has been revealed as an open book for both countries to consider.

Another plan that the EU is planning to put up in the aftermath of the energy shortage is the talk that they are desperately going back to coal. That is another wrong assumption and futile move, as the EU depends for 47% of it's solid fuel (coal) from Russia. In any case they have already cut off Russian coal imports, and there is not way back. Sure, they are at liberty to import more coal from the USA and Australia among others, but again begs the question, at what cost? In terms of price, nothing can compete with Russian energy for the EU. That is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The lying and posturing are not going to override the truth when the shit hits the fan.

So, watch the circus unfolding in the EU and hope the clowns can put on more entertaining shows to entertain the world. Nancy Pelosi would love that.

Anonymous 

Singapore needs a new growth narrative to Cloud Nine

 The last two decades have been a time of open leg policy to boost the GDP with more heads to increase consumption. Yes, it is all but a consumption economy, blowing the balloon with hot air. Everyone knows that this cannot go on and on and the strain on the balloon is showing. With no real gain in productivity and technology, the only certainty is for the balloon to go bang.

Relying just on consumption of everything is so elementary and so fragile. The current inflation crisis is waking up all the drunkards just like the Fukushima nuclear disaster that stopped the snake oil sellers to throw in the towel on a nuclear powered Singapore.  We are totally dependent on food, energy, water and all the basic needs from external sources and supplies. The bigger the population the bigger the stress if the supplies are cut. We are stretching every inch of our land and water/sea to produce food and energy. 

The present crisis is still in its infancy and still manageable. If it is prolonged, another 6 months or a couple of years, our reserves would not hold up and the pressure would become unbearable for the paycheck to paycheck families.

Singapore needs more than just a consumption and rentier economy to go forward, to stay in the first world, with enough real growth to be sustainable, to be able to feed the millionaires and their million dollar salaries. The West have priced themselves out of the competition. Singapore is closely behind with the high compensation packages and it needs a new miracle to keep the balloon inflated. Applying low productivity and low technology formula for growth just cannot match the demands for a high income employee economy.

Maybe Singapore should revive its meritocracy policy, called it meritocracy 2.0. This time Singapore really need to employ the really talented to drive the economy. Put the best and most talented men and women in the right places to boot start the economy into top gear. No more joking. 

For a start, the top jobs in banking and IT industries must be filled by the best from India, as they are the best in banking, finance and IT. If the Indians can convinced the Americans and the West to let them be CEOs of their top corporations, they must be really good. We can bring them in to head all our GLCs and we will have world beaters. Similarly the legal industry, including the judges, should also be Indians as Indians are the best in laws and legal matters. The civil services should also be staffed by the Indians, they are the best civil servants trained and brought up by the British colonial system in the finest British tradition. Many archetype Indians have risen in the past to be top civil servants. This is proven, with good track records, and many living examples are still around. Indians made the best civil servants. And don't forget the foreign ministry. Indians made very good diplomats. They are naturally talented in diplomacy. And our neighbours are more comfortable dealing with Indian ministers.

Indians are also natural politicians. More Indians should be made ministers and prime ministers to raise the standard of our political leadership. They are really good in politics. Then not only Singapore can punch above its weight. Singapore can also punch China and the USA.

Indians are also very good soldiers and policemen. They were very well regarded and complimented by the British lords for fighting for the British Empire in Europe, Africa and also in China. They are also the best policemen in keeping peace in the British colonies. 

Education is a very important ministry. Who are the best teachers and professors? I think Indians are the best, highly educated, talented and eloquent. More Indian professors and teachers should be recruited to teach and educate our young, to be the best they could be, like the Indian professionals and super talents now in our midst. The Indians graduates are the most sought after talents in the West and also in Singapore. It is only logical to have them to teach our in our schools and universities, to raise the level of education of our students, graduates and post graduates.

Indians are also very good doctors. And you know where to get them. 

Indians also have very good command of the languages and they should run the media industry, to be editors, journalists, reporters and media presenters. We need the best to be in this field.

Singapore must seriously put the best talents in the right positions, based on meritocracy. Only then can Singapore move away from a consumption driven economy. And talents are not determined by a piece of paper. If a talented person with no degrees, or with a fake degree from the degree mills, can convince or con our super talents that he is a talent, then he should be hired for the top jobs. It is not easy to make our super talents think highly of another person. And having no degree super talents to run big organisations is nothing new. Many billionaire CEOs did not have degrees but have hundreds of PhDs working for them. This fundamental shift to look for real talents, not necessarily with straight As or from the best universities, would be a dramatic and innovative change in our policy on meritocracy.

Singapore needs to think differently to go to cloud nine, to remain in the first world. And meritocracy is the only way to go. Singapore must import all the world's best talents to be exceptional and to be able to pay everyone million dollar salaries. Those with only a piece of paper to show but with no talents to prove should make way for the true talents. Meritocracy is about real talents, survival skills in the real world, not straight As.

'Put the right people in the right places for an enterprise to flourish and not just Generals!'  Lim Tean 

Now you are thinking.

Thoughts of a mediocre mind

The evil American Empire said: No country is allowed to surpass the Empire in anything

The USA stance of not allowing any country to do better than them is already apparent in their treatment of Japan, Germany and France decades ago. These latter three are all spineless countries that have now even lost their will to fight back and just follow like obedient dogs.

Now, China is the current target. Biden already spelt out his agenda when he said that he will not allow China to overtake the USA during his watch. But China is not going to let them walk all over and strangle it's progress. China had long been expecting this to happen, and placed priority on upgrading it's military deterrence and forging closer relations with Russia years ago. For all this, the USA and the West is hysterical.

When the USA and the West tried to put China out of contention, the Chinese have become even more determined to overcome that and be self reliant. When the Anglo Saxon clique refused to allow China into their space station program, the Chinese went ahead to put up their own space station without their help. When they denied China access to space exploration expertise, China developed it's own space program which saw them going to the moon and landing a space probe on Mars. China now makes it's own jet engines, rockets, hypersonic missiles, super computers, a leader in AI and is able to construct it's own aircraft carriers.

In the field of communication technology, China is now well into using 5G and going into 6G, while the USA and the West are still struggling with setting up enough base stations for 5G. Now they think that they can strangle China in the Chip Making sector, indicating that they probably still underestimated China's capabilities.

The USA still depends on China in many areas, like cheap consumer goods, a skilled manufacturing base for many USA companies, supply chain cohesiveness and a big market for USA manufactured products in China itself. Sure there are other places to site those manufacturing activities, but can they find the skilled labour, scale of production capabilities that are able to support the same mass output in order to capitalise on 'economies of scale' and a ready market already inside China.

India better watch closely, as they should, in time, rise to compete globally, and if the USA is still able to retain it's US$ hegemony, which is most unlikely, it will be the next target for the USA. Already India is targeted for not condemning Russia in Ukraine and doing more trade with Russia in Rupees.

The USA stance of not allowing any country to do better than them is already apparent in their treatment of Japan, Germany and France decades ago. These latter three are all spineless countries that have now even lost their will to fight back and just follow like obedient dogs.

Now, China is the current target. Biden already spelt out his agenda when he said that he will not allow China to overtake the USA during his watch. But China is not going to let them walk all over and strangle it's progress. China had long been expecting this to happen, and placed priority on upgrading it's military deterrence and forging closer relations with Russia years ago. For all this, the USA and the West is hysterical.

When the USA and the West tried to put China out of contention, the Chinese have become even more determined to overcome that and be self reliant. When the Anglo Saxon clique refused to allow China into their space station program, the Chinese went ahead to put up their own space station without their help. When they denied China access to space exploration expertise, China developed it's own space program which saw them going to the moon and landing a space probe on Mars. China now makes it's own jet engines, rockets, hypersonic missiles, super computers, a leader in AI and is able to construct it's own aircraft carriers.

In the field of communication technology, China is now well into using 5G and going into 6G, while the USA and the West are still struggling with setting up enough base stations for 5G. Now they think that they can strangle China in the Chip Making sector, indicating that they probably still underestimated China's capabilities.

The USA still depends on China in many areas, like cheap consumer goods, a skilled manufacturing base for many USA companies, supply chain cohesiveness and a big market for USA manufactured products in China itself. Sure there are other places to site those manufacturing activities, but can they find the skilled labour, scale of production capabilities that are able to support the same mass output in order to capitalise on 'economies of scale' and a ready market already inside China.

India better watch closely, as they should, in time, rise to compete globally, and if the USA is still able to retain it's US$ hegemony, which is most unlikely, it will be the next target for the USA. Already India is targeted for not condemning Russia in Ukraine and doing more trade with Russia in Rupees. 

Anonymous 

Breaking News - Larger wildlife, oops dogs of mixed breed allowed in HDB estates

 This is about the most dangerous and irresponsible decision ever made by the govt. We have wildlife on two legs infesting HDB estates, the safe sanctuary of working class Singaporeans. Now we have 4 legs wildlife being allowed to join in the fray.

Wildlife are wildlife and their animal instinct cannot be eradicated completely no matter how well trained they are. You need only 1 percent of error and the victims of wildlife would suffer immeasurable pain and agony for their whole life. When the safety of our little children and old folks, even adults are concerned, there cannot be any compromise. Who is going to be responsible should a little child or an adult be killed by a wildlife, or be disfigured by the attack from a wildlife? 

Can anyone recall the vicious attack of a peacock on a poor little girl and disfigured her for life? Can you imagine the pain the poor child had to go through, or that of the parents and grandparents, to see a beautiful little girl suffering that kind of agony when it needed not happen at all, but because of a wildlife?

And now with this regulation, wildlife are going to be everywhere in HDB estates and you would not know when their animal instinct would take over them and hell breaks loose. Wildlife have extrasensory abilities. They can sense thing that normal human beans cannot. They could attack when least expected. What do you think dogs howl in the middle of the night...for no reason?

Do not take safety from harm from wildlife for granted. When an innocent, normally well behaved wildlife turns wild and attacks a human bean, it has its reason that we cannot explain.

Please, for goodness sake, for the safety of our children, including adults, withdraw this dangerous regulation immediately. The safety of human beans, especially children, cannot be compromised just because a few would want to enjoy the company of wildlife.

Singapore is a very safe place and does not need to keep large wildlife for protection. Many years ago, a Brit told me he was retiring to Rhodesia. And the first thing he would do was to buy two large dobermans for protection against the African natives. In Singapore, it is the Singaporeans that need to be protect from the wildlife, two legs or four legs. Do not endanger the lives and safety of Singaporeans, young and old, for something so frivolous, good to have but not necessary, that may come with pain and suffering for others.

I want to put this on record that whoever approved this regulation has/have been warned of the consequences. No amount of apologies would be enough to allay the pain and suffering of the victims and their families.

Keep large wildlife out of HDB estates. Do not endanger the safety and lives of Singaporeans by your decision. It cannot be 'for the good of Singaporeans' to allow large wildlife in HDB estates. The selfish and frivolous interest of a minority is not good enough to endanger the safety of the majority of Singaporeans. In fact all big and ferocious dogs that were bred to attack must not be allowed in the island. When a supposingly harmless peacock can inflict so much damage and pain, the damage and suffering from a big wildlife is unimaginable.

Be responsible.

PS. I have just seen a video clip of a friendly domesticated dog devouring a child like a plaything.

Be warned.

I would like to put up the video but it was too painful and horrifying to watch.