America dumping Maui for Ukraine and the Pacific Islands

 When Maui residents resorted to self help through donations, knowing the USA Government is not making attempts to help them, the Hawaiian Government is now trying to deal a blow even to that, by attempting to shut down mutual aid, claiming such help could be used by unscrupulous people running Maui fund raising scams. The real reason, I believe, stems from the fear that such mutual aid could enable the fire victims to have the financial means to wage court battles against those land grabbers. Would the USA Government now come up with 'Executive Orders' to grab those money already raised? I would not want to bet against that.

Put it in another way, it seems that the Hawaiian Government just wanted to get rid of even those survivors in any way possible, so that rich elites could move in to grab their land. Now that there are so many survivors fighting for their rights, it is going to be a battle looming to prevent such land grabs. This attempt to prevent mutual aid from increasing its fund raising activities is getting preposterous. First they were reported to be denying water for fire fighting, presumably to let the fire burn uncontrollably, and possibly to kill off even those now surviving as well.

And what is the USA Congress doing all this time for Maui? A miserly US$3.8 million or US$700 for each Maui fire victim household. Is that it? Oh, they have been too busy sending Senators to visit Ukraine looking for more money laundering loopholes, and have to do more for Ukraine. Hosting Zelenskyy in the house with his begging bowl is turning out to be such a meaningful activity for the Senators.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden has been going around building castles all over the world, such as the IME Corridor and infrastuctures for the Pacific Islanders to be 'free, prosperous and secure'. 'Free, prosperous and secure' makes me puke. Rather than caring for his own citizens, Sleepy Joe and his administration is doing more for others like Ukraine.

Suffice to say, both Democrats and Reppublicans obviously have forgotten the saying that 'charity begins at home'. Oops never talk about charity from the USA. They have been beset with the exploitation mentality since its birth, and that is still deeply ingrained in their sick minds.

Anonymous

The American terrorists planning WW3!!! Be warned of the agenda of these evil savages!!!

 Perhaps more to come from Joe Biden, to perk up his 2024 attempt. Joe Biden does not want to talk about issues at home - the homeless situation, the drug infestation, the train mishaps, the deadly fire in Maui, and of course the perennial debt issue problems to provide support for his campaign. He knows it is a disaster to do that and digging his own grave. So, expect even more 'super-duper' projects from Joe Biden, imaginery or not. And both parties will meanwhile be using Russia and China as their punching bags.

And I am talking about the 'pettest pet' project of Joe Biden, which is starting the war in East Asia against China. The USA is abandoning a lost cause in Ukraine, though it does not openly say so directly. That gives Russia the impetus to go East, as they are doing now, evidenced by their latest military exercise in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, where their economic interest lies and needs protection. And that gives China the kind of support that is important, morally and militarily.

You see, the USA will then still be fighting two nuclear superpowers, like it or not, with North Korea solidly behind the duo. It was basically Russia alone in Ukraine, but Russia, China and North Korea are closing together in the East. Now, what could Putin be doing in Bejing next month? Will it be loudly spinned off again as 'worrying' for the USA?

Putin, Xi and Kim are having a busy time visiting each other, I believe not just exchanging T shirts as LKY used to say. Russia just gifted Kim with drones, military uniforms and bullet proof vests, which is pronounced as violating United Nations Security Council sanctions. What sanctions are they talking about when all three are under sanctions by the USA iself, one way or another. In fact Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world. Incidentally, does that gifting of military hardware by Russia to North Korea indicate that Russia is running out of drones and other weapons as reported by the Western media? 

Anonymous

Democracy is an American lie to cripple emerging economies

 The Americans did not become rich and powerful due to democracy. This also applies to the European and British Empires. They became rich and powerful from exploitation of the weak, from invasion and plundering of countries, from violation of human rights and war crimes, including massacres and genocides. They only pretend to champion democracy after they became rich and comfortable, with a big economy to cushion the destructive nature of democracy. 

China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea did not become rich because of democracy. Did Singapore become rich because of democracy in the western mold? The Indonesia used the term guided democracy to describe democracy under a strong man like Suharto.

The Russians tried democracy but broke apart and almost slipped into the third world. Many ex colonies are still struggling to be functional and stable countries while practising democracy or so called democracy. The more democratic they become, the more unstable were their countries and the more dysfunctional were their economies. This is the truth about democracy in poor and developing countries, like an infant wanting to behave like an adult but really behaving like the ill disciplined and rather wild adolescents. 

Democracy is destructive in the sense that it unleashes the factional forces of all interest groups to compete against each other, pitting one group against another for their own selfish interests. When the pie is small, when a country is divided, the liberating of competing forces would only destroy the little pie and make the country and people poorer. In the early stages of a country's development, there is a critical need to unite the people as one, with a common interest to bring unity and prosperity for the country and people. This is basic. A poor and developing country cannot have the luxury of division in the name of democracy. They need to be one people with one common goal, to bring progress and development to their country to raise the standard of living of the people. A hungry people, a disorganised country and economy has to put democracy on the back burner, get the house in order first. The basic needs of the people is about food, security and a roof over the head. Democracy is a luxury when a country is rich and secured. It is like getting rich first and then talking about having more life style choices. 

China is a good example of getting the priorities right. Feed the people well, give them proper housing and education, jobs etc, alleviate poverty. Once these have been attained, there will be room and time to play with democratic ideals. Many countries are being lured and lied to about putting democracies above all, never mind if the people are hungry, the country poor and in distress. Democracy is not the cure all or the first priority to live a better life.  This is just a western myth, to keep the poor developing countries in trouble, to destabilise poor countries and keep their countries dysfunctional with infighting among the different interest groups on a little piece of pie and pretending to be happy without the basic needs to live as dignified human beans?

Democracy is about self, the interest of individuals and groups. Where these interests are diversed, it would lead to factionalism and infighting and destruction. Many poor countries cannot afford such divisiveness within the country. There is a bigger common good that must be attained first. Build the nation first, on a surer and stronger foundation before releasing the destructive forces of democracy to allow everyone and every group to fight for themselves against the common good. However, some prefer to have liberalism and democratic values while going hungry. This is a case of choosing the right priorities.

The Americans would like every poor country to be democratic and in chaos, forever fighting among themselves instead of uniting for a common greater goal. The difference in development between India, the biggest democracy in the world, and China is for all to see. China is getting richer and attaining all the basic needs of its people. China will move along to be more and more democratic in the long run, benefiting the people of the country. China will develop a democracy based on a sound economy and a higher standard of living of its people. Such a democratic development would be more stable and lasting as the foundation is strong. India will continue its democratic system with divisive forces dragging its feet and preventing it from running at full speed. 

Who would be the winner? Which is a better model?

Gangster Americans lie, lie and lie

 Rest assured they will continue to put the USA oncoming financial train wreck on ICU. The debt ceiling had already been raised multiple times in the past, so what is the problem? That show in Congress is just, well a show, much ado about nothing, put up by the senators to make it problematic. It is nothing more than creating an imaginery threat we saw many times before.

The 5G threat of Huawei, first about the relay stations built by Huawei being dangerous to humans and emitting waves of 'death' and must be taken down, LOL, then to full fledged unsubstantiated, no holds barred, National Security Threat, that was later to extend to allies as well. Later the USA was reported to be struggling with new relay stations using a different set of 5G wavelengths for transmission, that was to interfere with aviation communication. But keep this embarassment under wraps, as it is a shameful fiasco and the USA is now into 6G, leaping a hurdle they could not overcome.

The weather balloon threat was also hype up to high heaven as a spy balloon, but that obviously failed to be convincing. The USA could not find credible evidence to stick, after shooting it down, so they resorted to trying to cover up the embarrassment by claiming that the spying equipment on the balloone was not even turned on according to sources. It was further admitted that what the Chinese side told them was factual, relayed once only without further rambling, and that the balloon was supposed to fly over Hawaii and had been blown off course due to strong winds. But from the start this was brushed aside arrogantly and they refused to listen and insisted it was a spy balloon all along. After failing to find the evidence after sieving through the debris, they sheepishly admitted their incompetence.

The spy balloon incident even allowed Antony Blinken to have an excuse to put off his, then uninvited, visit to Beijing. After that, no invitation was to come from Beijing again, not even to Sleepy Joe, who is still waiting. But rest assured Sleepy Joe, even sleepwalking, will crash the party sooner or later, even uninvited. Joe was hoping to talk to Xi at the G20 in New Delhi weeks ago, but was disappointed that Xi was not interested in attending.

Oh, by the way Joe Biden had the whole G20 circus to himself, making some game changing announcements like the IME Corridor project, all to counter China's BRI, and not serving any strategic or useful purpose. As they are saying, when Joe Biden talks, people just laugh it off. When Putin talks people listen. When Zelenskyy talks, people hide their wallets.

Anonymous

Can China steal technology that the Americans did not have? Aren't the Americans embarrass by their stupid lies?

 With all the claims that Huawei is stealing USA technology, Zen Rengfei puts it in perfect perspective. Put simply, how could Huawei be stealing technology that the USA has not yet succeeded in mastering or implementing, like 5G. In fact Huawei and Chinese companies in general, leads even the USA in technology patents in many fields. In other words, the USA is trying to cover its future technology grounds than existing in reality today, by claiming Huawei is stealing USA's 'tomorrow technology'. That is how preposterous the USA is, making such claims.

China is doing the right thing to slowly get over its dependence on USA's and its Allies' equipment like iphones and computer programes like Windows, initially in official Government circles and Government linked entities. The next step is sanctioning the use of USA made chips from companies like Micron, that have proven to be a 'National Security Risk'. The term 'National Security Risk' is such a wide and useful tool against all threats proven or unproven, and China is taking a leaf from the USA by using this useful 'National Security Risk' argument to its advantage. The sword cuts both ways.

Yes, there are obvious pros and cons to de-coupling and both sides will suffer the consequences. It is a zero sum game that neither side will gain any advantage. But since the USA wants to engage in such a move, China cannot just continue to remain its punching bag forever. There has to come a time when the victim is strong enough to retaliate, and then retaliation can no longer be avoided.

Because China is starting to retaliate, the USA and the West is calling China assertive or provocative and advocating such hubris, using fear mongering and fabricating imaginery threats to demonise China. China should not be worried too much about such sabre rattling, but be aware and be ready to face any eventualities. My guess is that China knows what the USA and the West is up to. The fact that Russia, North Korea and now Iran is in its corner is an added bonus.

Anonymous