Written by Frank Li
Is America more polarized today than ever? Perhaps yes. Why is that? Blame extremism as one key reason!
In this post, I will address three grand examples of American extremism:
- Democracy is good; dictatorship is bad.
- Capitalism is good; socialism is bad (or vice versa).
- Free trade is good, or free trade is bad.
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1. Democracy is good; dictatorship is bad
Dictatorship can be good or bad, with good being the overwhelming case throughout human history, or we would not have advanced so far!
In other words, if we acknowledge the advancement of human civilization over the past 6,000 years, we must unquestionably acknowledge the good side of dictatorship, because history has been made mostly by [good] dictators, from Alexander the Great and China’s First Emperor in ancient times to China’s Deng Xiaoping in modern times, not by “We, the Peopleâ€!
In contrast, democracy is a tried-&-failed doctrine throughout human history, without a single example of lasting success. Two highlights:
- Athenian democracy not only was small in size, but also lasted only about 150 years. For more, watch the video at the end of this post.
- Modern western [liberal] democracy is a lie built on top of capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism. For more, read: History 2.0: Western Liberal Democracy is a Big and Fat Lie!
Bottom line: Unless there is a real alternative, dictatorship remains a valid form of government, with China’s system (i.e. state capitalism) being the best available for now. For more, read: Towards an Ideal Form of Government.
2. Capitalism is good; socialism is bad
Capitalism, with many endemic problems of its own, is the best thing ever happened to mankind. Capitalism has not only been feeding more and more people on earth, but also created unprecedented prosperity around the world. For example, it was capitalism that propelled the West ahead of China some 200 years ago, and it is state capitalism that has enabled China to lift more than 600 million people out of abject poverty over the past four decades, with a burgeoning middle class.
In an advanced world like ours, a successful nation requires both capitalism and socialism, balancing them optimally. Three highlights:
- Capitalism creates extra-ordinary wealth for the able and lucky folks, while socialism provides the less fortunate with a safety net, thus creating and maintaining a “harmonious” society.
- Public works (e.g. infrastructure) are often carried out by the government via some kind of socialistic central planning.
- The government has a role in the national economy bigger than any individual capitalist (e.g. What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies?). Therefore, all efforts must be made Towards an Ideal Form of Government, with competent people working in, and leading, the government.
Now, let’s go several levels deeper by listening to both Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, and Karl Marx, the father of communism …
Simply put, both Smith’s works and Marx’s works are highly relevant and valuable today (Adam Smith vs. Karl Marx), but neither alone is adequate. Two highlights:
- Smith: Capitalism, based on his free market theory, alone does not work anymore. Instead, some kind of government intervention (i.e. socialism) is necessary. The challenge is to balance between the two, not just having one without the other. For more, read: John Maynard Keynes: The Best Economist Since 1899?
- Marx: His call for a communist revolution is wrong. A society can peacefully evolve into a mixture of capitalism and socialism, without a bloody revolution, like China did in recent decades. For more, read: What is China’s State Capitalism, Anyway?
Bottom line: America must find its own formula to balance between capitalism (e.g. unfretted individualism) and socialism (e.g. social security), against the extreme argument of having just one without the other!
3. Free trade is good, or free trade is bad
Free trade is to trade without coercion. It has nothing to do with tariffs, government subsidies (What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies?), or currencies, which are all sovereignty issues, unique to each sovereign nation.
People and nations had been trading freely for thousands of years (e.g. via the Silk Road), before the phrase “free trade” was coined as an extension of “free market”, which was coined by Adam Smith.
Unfortunately, “free trade” per se seems to be mostly for empires. For instance, Adam Smith invented it for the British Empire, while Milton Friedman advocated it for the America Empire. It faded in Britain as the British Empire faded, and is now fading in America as the American Empire is fading.
Specifically, what about the trade war President Trump is waging against China, as well as many other nations?
A trade war is a war.
What, then, is the deception behind President Trump’s trade war?
Getting re-elected ad nauseam! Two informative readings:
Bottom line: We have trade deficits with more than 90 countries. We have two choices: arguing with each and every one of them about fairness, or simply facing the truth: our cost structure is too high.
Watch this short video:
4. Discussion
Why is America so polarized, not only in public, but also in private (e.g. politics is off the limit at many Thanksgiving dinners)?
Our political system is failing, with polarization being merely a symptom!
The bad news: “We, the People†do not know what to do, other than seeking something, anything, dramatically different, including electing someone very different to be the President (e.g. first Barack Obama and then Donald Trump), in hope for change. For more, read: The Second American Revolution under Way?
The main-stream media is guilty too. Below is one example.
The good news: I have the most accurate diagnosis for America, as well as the best solution. Better yet, they are all documented in this book: American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it? Please read and judge for yourself.
5. Closing
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested, or become a fiddle, second to China!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the long video below.
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