Both America and China are republics (Let us get some political terms right!). But the two governments are very different. Why is it? Which one is better, actually?
1. What is the role of a republic government?
Domestically, everything “public.” Three examples:
- Public safety, such as fighting crimes.
- Public education: For a society to become truly advanced, public education is not only essential but also must be good.
- Public works, such as building and maintaining roads and bridges.
Internationally, everything between the country and the world. Three examples:
- Defense.
- Diplomacy.
- Trade.
2. America vs. China
Domestically, China has done far better than America in all three categories.
- Public safety: China is much safer than America, especially in big cities. For more, read Crime Stats: compare key data on China & United States.
- Public education: Overall, China is far better at it than America, resulting in a far better-educated population than America. For more, read Shanghai is number one in world education rankings. More profoundly, read Brainwashing and America.
- Public works: Watch the video below.
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Internationally, China has also done far better than America in all three categories.
- Defense: No 9/11-like attacks on China. Fewer foreign terror threats to China.
- Diplomacy: Global approval rating: China (34%) vs. America (31%). For more, read China’s global approval rating has surpassed the U.S.
- Trade: Read United States goods trade deficit with China from 2013 to 2022.
Why, then, is America so poor at governance, especially when compared with China?
Let us briefly examine America and China, respectively, before comparing them …
3. America
Let us briefly examine yesterday and today …
3.1 Yesterday
America was founded by/of/for the rich, with the government being a necessary evil – The rich wanted a limited (or minimalist) government, which would leave them alone to become richer and also be controlled by them (via money).
Worse yet, Americans must be prepared to defend themselves against the government by bearing arms (Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution).
In short, not only is the Federal government extremely limited in power by design, but it might also be viewed as the enemy of the people, against which Americans must be armed.
What a funny way to start a new country like that in 1776 (or 1789)!
For more, read What is the American Revolution, anyway (V3)?
3.2 Today
America remains a country by/of/for the rich, with many Americans living in ignorance.
Worse yet, the American government remains a potential enemy of the people, against which Americans must arm themselves. As a result, it may take another civil war to address the gun ownership issue, just like America did with slavery in the 1860s.
Worse still, many Americans, including President Reagan, are foolishly proud of the fact that the “government is the problem”!
Worst of all, America is obviously losing its head-on competition with China, but most Americans live in denial or ignorance.
3.3 Summary
America does not even have a working government, let alone an effective one. The image below reasons profoundly.
For more, read America is a lie!
4. China
In China, the government is [almost] everything, and the head of the government is a father figure, with great wisdom and to be respected.
China got the role of government correct 2,000 years ago and continues to be correct, with the century of humiliation being merely an aberration. For more, read The People’s Republic of China at 73.
5. Discussion
Governance is hard.
Most basically, there must be a correct definition of the role of government – China has got it right, but America has not …
In other words, it is much harder to have an effective government than to have a bunch of successful individuals (e.g., millionaires and billionaires).
China has both – China got the former right first and then took care of the latter. For example, over the past few decades, China has produced far more millionaires and billionaires than America has (China is making new billionaires much faster than the US). For more, read China overtakes US in rankings of world’s richest people.
In contrast, America has only the latter, and it will take a long time to have the former comparable to China’s.
6. More discussion
The image below highlights the profound difference between China and America.
The image below offers another perspective.
For more, read the book cited at the end of this post.
7. Closing
In terms of the role of the government, America started on the wrong footing to begin with. As a result, on governance, America is behind China by quite a few decades at least!
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline), or become a fiddle, second to China!
