The End of ....History?

Sorry for the break from semi-consistency. I was on vacation and then got sick and when I am sick I can't focus on anything.

I was reading some things, sci fi, and thought about how no one really thinks about the end, in real life. Some people ARE thinking about the end, currently reading a nonfiction book about where capitalism and growth should go, but most people prescribe growth for the sake of growth. But what does capitalism lead to? Incentives should guide th economy onto a path that doesn't destroy itself in the end. But, when these incentives don't mainfest themselves until it is too late, then we are screwed. There has to be development beyond stuff. Does it not seem obvious that intellectual or spiritual development has to take center stage in the end? The amount of knowledge in the world continues to grow, but do people take this into account in the everyday lives? No, people are just trying to survive, they have to. If each individual isn't doing it, shouldn't somebody be looking out for them?
I am not trying to say government or some supranational organization should be in charge of people's well-being per se. But, should not the leaders of industry, government, and other areas be enlightened to a degree. No, of course not, just look at who gets elected to Congress, both sides. I have seen the best minds of mind generation destroyed by greed and self-interest...because that is how the world works.
I think I just caused myself to become depressed....
Is there a point when you can't change someone for the better? Educationally (is that a word), or socially, is there a point when the oppurtunity has been missed? I have seen kids in elementary school and said "well, he probably isn't going to make it to college and will probably be a social burden in the future, what can I do?" I do not know. You can tell people to be good, but when people all around aren't reciprocating, how do you tell them to take the high road? Kids don't necessarily understand the high road. But, you can't wait until later, or can you? There has to be a point when you knuckle down and say "quite the bullshit and grow up. Look around and see the world and act like a person"...or something similar. What do you tell adults that have other things on their minds? Maybe you just need to talk to them. When I get older and have proved something I can help people. I just don't feel like I deserve to tell people anything.
In conclusion, everybody, including me, needs to think about where they want us all to go, and not just themselves. In the end, it seems that only knowledge/information and humanity, the caring for other people, are the only things that can last...and styrofoam cups...

Rural poverty

I was debating what to post on, rural poverty or infrastructure and budget surpluses...I have more unfinished business with rural poverty.
I would guess that most rural places are on the lower end of the wealth scale. Unless the "rural" place is on the outer each of ever-expanding suburbs, it is probably poor, because of lack of opportunity. I am trying to get to the idea that rural areas are inherently poor because of their lack of economic development, but have not figured out the right way yet. Because rural areas lack a large service industry, most of the jobs are in agriculture or resource extraction. The resources are not very valuable, if they were, then they area would develop beyond rural. Or the area is unlivable. Example, near oil wells in many areas it is rural because of pollution from the extraction, or the harsh conditions surrounding the extraction. What I wish to discuss is how to have rural areas not mired in poverty?
This post is getting out of hand as I contemplate high pop. density rural areas vs. low pop.density areas. High pop. dense areas that are rural because the lack of investment for a "city"to grow. This would consist of families in small single story homes close together with a large distance to the closest urban area. Other areas would just not have many people. My main focus will be on the more dense "trapped" areas. By trapped I mean that they cannot exact the cycle of poverty on their own because of poor farming conditions and/or lack of industrial or service opportunities. People are living in areas that have no chance of endogeneously becoming more than poverty stricken.
How do you improve these areas? Just move the people. "Hey, the land stinks. Why are you living here? Just give it up and move to an area that has potential and let nature retake this area." That would be an interesting experiment, but people are too attached to....just about everything to let it go. Though, China moving a couple million people to construct the Three Gorges Dam is very similar to this scenario. I respect the idea of moving people to accomplish a possibly, the jury is still out, worthy goal. But, it was the chinese govt. simply s***ting on people with no real political power. People should not live in disaster prone areas and expect the govt. to protect (new orleans sucks) them and bail them out.
I will continue this tomorrow, as I got nowhere today.

Shin Buddhism

I feel that I need to address a more spiritual topic, as development can only be pounded out so much until you realize that answers might not be there, but anyway.
When I was in Japan and refreshing myself in Shin Buddhism and the ideas embodied in it, I felt rejuvenated ("...was juvenated before, lost it, and then got juvenated again....rejuvenated" Pooty Tang). The all embracing concept of giving and receiving compassion on all levels just makes it feel good to be alive. Then, I return to Hawaii and to work, and eveything disappears in the busy-ness and tiredness. Maybe it was being on vacation, but it is so easy to lose oneself in the sometimes inevitable monotomy of life that we forget the uniqueness of each day and each person. The challenge is embracing that and not worrying about all the problems confronting us in the future. I wake up tired and regret getting out of bed because it feels so good to dream. But, I should be embracing the new day and ability to experience life some more.

Hygiene

This post is a little random. But, it is related to skipping layers of development in developing countries. What happens in the near, or far, future, if you just integrated technology/knowledge saturation into the lives of those still living in "backward" lifestyles. A library in the middle of Combodia (don't ask why I though of Cambodia), or in a similar place. Things would get dirty and technology would fail. Libraries in America have enough problems with mold, general decay, and computer abuse, how would less hygienic places fare? Should we be obsessed with cleanliness? Or, should materials science cope with such issues?
So much of the effort of the developed world is expended in cleaning everything we own...for good measure. I have a couple cleaning products in my room and there are numerous in the bathroom I share with others. If I didn't clean, partly a reflection on the people I live with, things would get stinky after awhile. Is it a negative that I am concerned with certain aspects? The areas where food is prepared can not be ignored. But is there a simpler way to keep the floors clean...occasionally? Is the packaging and chemical/environmental expense equal to the benefit of a clean floor and such? Those type of questions seem moot until you think of the cost of providing everyone in Africa with a hot shower in the morning. Why the ****does Arizona exist? It gets cheap water at the expense of so many others...as does Nevada. Talk about thievery.
At what point is ultimate cleanliness, beyond basic hygienic standards, too costly?

Food and Books

So you want to eliminate the developing countries' desire to become a developed country like the US, with the out of control consumerism and waste, what do you need to provide the people to be satisfied, and what do Americans, and others, need to change their ways.

The masses need to be satisfied. They, everyone/we, need is food and shelter, in the most basic sense. The emotional and psychological needs are beyond definition. Also, a cause of much woe in the world. Of course, you need to start with the physical, and build to the mental and metaphysical. Unfortunately, every discussion of how to engineer the good "citizen"(person), leads to the inevitable journey into distopia. But, I consider those more failings of the system in regards to people than an impossibility of a system. Later...maybe.

It would be relatively cheap to feed those that are hungry. Though, the international community is being prevented from feeding people by those who have power in certain areas . Petty insecurities lead to countless deaths everyday.

To return, the best plan would be to create enclaves of sustainable agriculture around large scale agriculture areas that can provide work and food. The problem is that the surrounding poor invade the areas that are to be developed/developed areas within poor countries. Attempts to open industrial parks in places like Indonesia have run into massive squatter problems. It doesn't help that Indonesia was/is extremely corrupt and the people are not being thought about...not that transnationals think about such things. Summary: Yes, widespread government action is needed to have a comprehensive enough plan.

There are hungry and homeless everywhere, except the suburbs, in America. That would largely be a consequence of the price of space in America, and most places. And, NIMBY(Not in my backyard). Who wants to help people next to their house? I feel that I cannot truly attack these selfish actions until I have my own family, or advocate that such "negative" things be moved near my family that I do not live near (aka mom, dad, sister). But, on principle, I find that people who do not accept facts and such as disappointing, but people are people.

I must pause here on this post for reflection....and yes, it does seem somewhat communist or socialist and self-righteous. But, capitalism/consumerism is not the answer as it has been shown to not take the true cost of inputs into account. I do understand economics...sorry.

Education Addendum

What I really wanted to say is the quest for consumption/attainment of goods is endless and pointless, while the wuest for knowledge is endless and fulfilling. That is only an opinion, but think about the implications in teaching it.

Education

Is education not the most important function of a government once the government structure has been stabilized? That question is phrased oddly, but the main point is that education is important. The only way to create stable development is to educate the people. Everyone can fight to acquire all the resources that they accumulate, which is what we have today in most parts of the world. Education is necessary to teach people to work together and subsume aspects of their individual to society. Do I mean social programming? I do, to a degree. This is not a Brave New World I am trying to create. But, with about the socialization of a large, hmm, value system, you have the anarchy of a "free" market, survival of the greediest. But, everyone needs to survive.

Note: Chad is becoming very annoyed at Sudan and threatening war. Isn't Chad the country Pauly Shore was deployed to in "In the Army Now". Makes you think doesn't it.

This post was interrupted halfway through and I lost my train of thought.

The Lost Continent

Another post about Africa...I will get more specific as I consistently post and get into the flow.

Is it not time for a new paradigm in development theory? Africa is done...put a fork in it. The only news is famine, fighting, or ****nuts being horrible human beings (Zimbabwe). Monkeys are being hunted into extinction. Resources are being taken to fund fighting, either by rebels or government. And, genocide is occuring while the world watches and goes "eh".

Development's answer is to strengthen intstiutions and industrialize while giving agriculture a more balanced reward. An industrialized Africa can only serve Africa...who buys a PSP that says "made in Ghana"? But, Africa is so compartmentalized that people are too stubborn to buy from some neighboring countries. Though, this only seems to be the case and I have no actual proof. Africa has no need for industrialization.

The world does not need more stuff. Small scale production would be an interesting approach. But, this would be interesting on many levels as many countries don't need industrialization and many Western countries need to de-consumerize. Africa seems to have lost its values. There doesn't need to be a specific set that they need, but they definitely need one that does not involve killing rivals and such.

The focus needs to be on education and infrastructure. Why is there not research being conducted in materials science in Africa's harsh climate? There is much to be learned, much to be taught.

The next post will be on education in America.

Philip K. Dick

This post strays from the hard facts and reflection on the current state of affairs to reflect on reflections of development. The title author that I would like to muse on is Philip K. Dick. He schizophrenic and such and wrote many stories that were out there. But, they are on the edge in that they take you on a journey with a mind that can't rely on reality, or even its beliefs. So few things in this world make people think in that way. People with chemical imbalances have similar things....I do not know this because I have not experienced and do not claim to know what it is like. I am approaching this from a "sane" person's standpoint, as most of the pop. is.

Many of Dick's stories involve development...of course, they are science fiction, so they involve the future. But, Philip usual imagines a near future and he delves into the negative of the technological and socio-chemical aspects that were developing is his time. The human psyche is very fragile, and without the comforts of what it assumes should be right, it fights and struggles and searches for purchase. You have to step out of the box and ask "what if?", "why this way?", "what values define this world?"

Also, are you interested in penny stocks and how to make money, I have a great link...just kidding.

What we create is lead on by what we value. Are we ruled by out innate desire to get our genes, or genes like us, passed on? Is it all a product of evolution? Or have we transcended to a greater understanded of what it takes to balance a system? No animal does not have the desire to over-reproduce and eventually destroy its ecosystem. Humans are just the best at it, it is natural. At some point we need to forget the natural and look at the future.

In conclusion, many of Philip's stories ask what is the ultimate end/have past or current actions looked at what might happen in the future, and/or where do our conceptions of what is right/wrong/or best for the world fit.

How do your values shape your perception of the present and future? And, what do you want to create with those values?

Development II

I found a good definition/criteria to define development. It was, surprisingly, in a book about development economics. Development, or its goal, is the improvement in the living conditions of the people. If GDP, or GNP, grows and the people's lives stink, then it is not positive development.

In America, we have pretty much given up on any form of positive development. Wait, sorry, urban redevelopment is an attempt to repair past mistakes, but it simply tries to give the middle class, or young single folk, an incentive to move back to parts of the city while not addressing why areas degraded, though it is usually because the tax base left, and not addressing the plight of the urban poor. Just because you shuffle the urban poor around does not mean you have improved their lot. Development in America means the elimination of "affordable" housing. Pretty soon, in Hawaii and Las Vegas, the lower classes that work the tourist related jobs will have nowhere to live. If they can find something, then it will not be very conducive to the creation of a positive environment. Yes, saying "lower classes" may not be the best label, but I can't think of anything better to capture what is happening in America, but especially Hawaii. I am only thankful that I do not, at this point, want to start a family on the medicore wages I get working at a hotel in childcare, at an elementary school in aftercare, and at a local home improvement store. I would have to possibly sacrifice my values and get a crap job if a kid suddenly showed up in my life, which it won't. And, people complain about service and price.

Without respecting how communities evolve and grow, people won't respect the community. Once that happens, there is no hope. Future development in the development world takes the awareness that life is not a one player game (horrible analogy). To escape this vicious downward spiral that we are in, people must realize that all people are people, not sons of bitches that can be **** upon in order to get ahead. Then there is the whole illusion of consumerism being the ultimate goal in life.

You'll never take me alive, unless my death will help people.

Growth

The obsession with growth is what will doom are future. Those are harsh words, but in the long term, everybody is dead...to quote a famous economist and not use quotes at the same time. The real question is how do we want the world to die? I would prefer we delay it a little by being smart.

My ultimate goal, I may have said it before, is to understand a zero-growth economy. I often confuse myself when trying to expand upon this concept, and am confused now, but wil try. A develeped economy with little real estate to grow with an a shrinking population has to create a situation where it grows even more, in order to compensate for the shrinking pop. In the end that is consuming more resources and a losing battle is being waged. A balance must be sought where production is renewable and finances are stable so increasing tax revenues are not needed. When it comes down to it, almost every single govt. has the ever increasing cost of debt to address as their populations mature.

You need to balance inputs and outputs while maintaining a standard of living. The question is, can this be done without a general paradigm shift in what it means to be alive? Different things need to be valued. The wage disparaities that are increasing everyday need to be reduced/eliminated. I am not preaching communism, though I am probably approaching socialism. The difference is that it can not be something imposed, it has to be embraced. The sense of community, the respect for man (human), and what is beyond/around man. I have often heard people say "I don't care what I leave for tomorrow, let them deal with this ***." and am like "what?" That don't make sense. But it does, tragically so. There is no pleasure in protecting and appreciating. There is pleasure in consumption and possession.

Unfortunately, the nature of the current economic system yields a situation where there is little value to be found in work and people consequently turn to satisfying there own desires. Dmanit, but where is the balance....I don't know

Sorry, I exhausted myself

Development

It seems like the whole world has forgotten about development. They have forgotten about development of poor countries, from a mainly economic standpoint. And, they have forgotten about how the developed world is developing, in total. It is hard to simplify arguments from around the world, gathered from mass media, but I will try a little.

America-So embroiled in partisan politics and the fight against protecting "me" that is never looks around at the "us" that is the country. (will explain more later)

Asia-A mixed bag of countries, but ultimately concerned with growth at any cost. I say this because of the attention China gets and its impact on the region. Japan is obsessed with growing again, but has many more issues that it is slowly dealing with (maybe will explain later...or tomorrow)

Europe-Well, the only news comes from France, but the people are obsessed what they feel they have a right to, for some reason. Focused on the past basically.

Africa-Does anyone care anymore? Most countries are going down the crapper. There is no good news. They have truly been forgotten, largely because of the Iraq war/insurrection.

South America-Venezuela is crazy and obsessed with its oil. The other countries have been forgotten...what is going on in these countries?

My initial concern with this post is to see how everyone has lost the big picture, as my brother mentioned in an email. Nobody cares where the world is going...unless it relates to oil prices. The oil companies don't deserve to be making record profits, but people shouldn't care that they are somewhat approaching appropriate prices for gas. The one thing that is outrageous is that prices are not driven by any real supply side factors. It is mainly the perception of scarcity where adequate supplies exist. People should be worried about oil use in the present and future. But, only oil companies/oil rich countries are profiting off of this.

Other than stopping McMansions, does anyone in America really care about creating a sustainable future...no. People should truly shut up and get to work. Bush is a horrible President, but ultimately it is the people who control the future.

Sorry about the things not yet covered, I will get to them in the future.

Reborn

I post this because I finally got all my **** together and can start posting again, not that anyone is still reading.

I plan to be much much more consistent as an April resolution. Though, you never what will happen, there will be a definite delay come June-July, but that is well in the future.

I have recently started studying economic topics again and wish to offer comments on them before I lose them in the haze of life.

The main problem is getting overwhelmed with the size of the issue while looking at finer points. The larger issue being, we are screwed.

Later

Oil

Currently I live in Hawaii. We have always had high gas prices relative to most of the US. With Katrina, the tables were briefly turned and people may have realized how living such a drive happy lifestyle is truly expensive. I love driving around the mainland, it is truly a weakness. Luckily, being in Hawaii and owning only a bike, I am unable to live the wasteful life I desire. But, it is fulfilling to almost get killed everyday riding your bike to work while so many people throw money down the drain in big cars/trucks.

America needs to rethink some of its city planning. Why is it like it is and so many people complain because they have to commute to work. People let the city die instead of utilizing its efficiences.

Daft Punk-Human after all...does kick ass...thanks sar.

Long time coming

It has been a long time...and what was that comment about fast-growing hardwood trees? Seriously...
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05244/563329.stm

Why isn't India like China? I wish I had a map of China and India that was shaded according to population density. This map would possibly, not a demographic expert, but I did stay at my house last night, show how China's pop.s were and are concentrated in coastal areas with a strong trading/port/naval history. Look at India. It needs to find the ports, people, and energy if it wants to become a manufacturing son of the devil.

I would like to see how Katrina changes America's energy policy/efficiency....
Rambuncle, what was the guys name who wrote the nature books and Great Flying Pumpkin Seed?

Manhole covers and the Olympics

It all starts with an article describing how thieves were stealing power lines, one end got caught in a truck, 8 or so towers were pulled down, and tens of thousands lost power. It was in China, and apparently it is fairly common. But, the real gold was when the article said "missing manhole covers are a common hazard in Beijing." People can get a couple of bucks for the scrap steal, so they steal manhole covers. They steal the cover to manholes and leave holes in the road or sidewalk, not clear which, or if both, for people to fall into. What a country. Did I mention about the manhole covers?

The main surprise revolves around Beijing hosting the Olympics in 2008, of which you may know I am not a fan of. In Greece they wasted billions, I do mean wasted, on security. I can't imagine the bill in China for security and replacing and guarding the manhole covers. Just think about the risk to athletes and tourists who are not used to such hazards. It could be a tragedy on the scale of the Hindenberg or something. Luckily China is already a police state and they have gotten those crazy Falun Gong practitioners under control.

It is not that I don't believe that poor ass Americans wouldn't steal manhole covers if they had the chance. It is just harder here to find a place to sell the cover where someone down the line won't eventually be like "that is just wrong." Of course, it is sometimes hard to conceive of the sheer scale of the urbanity of Eastern China, where a million people in a city means nothing. The anonmynity that is creeping over the country could lead to even worse lawlessness. The more the central government weakens, the more people can move around and get lost in the system, in which a criminal class would/will thrive. China is too large to modernize fully.

Try to think about people stealing manhole covers in as many countries as possible and try to think where it is a feasible pursuit.

Bicycle days

I wanted to say something about China, but will get to it later, because this morning something happened that I had to tell the world.

I was riding to work around 8:45am on my bike down the sidewalk. In the street cars dislike me and in the sidewalk I don't have the visibility that is desired, but what can I do.? So, I was riding, trying not to killed as usual, and a car pulls out from the 7-11 parking lot. I have a split second to decide if I think they see me and I should go in front of them or they don't see me and I more more fucked than I thought. I decide to hit the brakes, already having been run over a little once when I thought the driver clearly saw me. The driver was oblivious to my presence and I increase the pressure on the brakes. Be it my over use of the front brakes, or their inherent better stopping ability, or my sheer needing to stop before hitting the car; My back tired lifted up and I flipped over my handlebars onto the hood of the now stopped car (If I had swerved in front, there would have been major trouble). I rolled to my right off the hood (it came from my left) and signalled "safe", meaning I was okay, I don't want to deal with this. I rode around the back of the car, there being no damage to me, my bike, or the car. The driver opened her door and insisted on apologizing and making sure everything was okay. The driver and the fact everything was okay made it a fun experience, though possibly ominous.

On 'beholden to nothing' I commented on how older people will not give up their cars and ride the train and shit. I would say I may be one of those people. Lately I have been thinking that I will not ride my bike, in Honolulu, past the age of thirty, I will have too much to lose. Everywhere I go it is fairly stressful, and there are close calls, some averted because I am extra vigilant. But, when I get older it will not be worth it. I won't be as resilant and will have something to lose. Though, I would ride the train/bus. Honolulu is not a bike friendly city...because the drivers are horrible. If the light turns red, DO NOT ENTER THE CROSSWALK because just turning red means one or two more cars will continue going. IT is hard to describe how dangerously some of these drivers drive. Oahu is number one in the probablility of there being a death in a car/pedestrian accident.

out

Africa pt. 2

The last comment (though it may not remain the last) by Av brings up a point that I was hoping to discuss when I got around to writing this post. Yes, most of Africa's conflicts are created by the colonial legacy. Lines were drawn and divisions were created that made, and make, no sense. Also, the West has never allowed the lines to be redrawn. Either because of language, or stubborness on the part of the West, Africa will remain non-functional.

There exists a "country" called the "Republic of Somaliland" in northern Somalia. It is a fully functioning state that is free from the chaos that has plague the more southern areas (Black hawk down and such). I believe it has even petitioned to become an independent state. But, that will never be allowed. I think the only real change in the make-up of countries in Africa has been Eritrea and Ethiopia splitting. If any countries were allowed to split and accepting by the United Nations, there would be a chain reaction of ethnic/rebel movements aiming to form their own countries in Africa. That may lead to more death and misery than the current system. It is interesting to think how the UN is causing a lot of misery in Africa.

An interesting article from the Financial Times (I should really link some of this, will in the future) describes how Africa simply lacks enough synergistic investment in small businesses. Companies can profit if given a chance at fair rates. But, what sub-tropical/non-temperate country has a successful manufacturing base. There are hints of it in Southeast Asia, but Africa, much of it, lacks the infrastructure or cheap labor force to be a manufacturing force. In short, a new dynamic needs to be created that is formed by an African for Africa. Why should African countries try to integrate into the "global" economy if they can stabilize without "us".

I don't know, maybe it could work.

next: the humanitarian failure aspect.

Africa overview

This is the first part of a yet to be determined number of introductory posts on my view of Africa. I am not sure how much I will cover/be willing to write, so I don't yet know the number of posts it will take. This first one has a harsh stance and it not my totally final conclusion on Africa. It is just a starting point/introspection.

What purpose is there in Africa existing? If it was not there, what would the world have lost? Maybe there would be less diamonds and golds, but rap will survive, it is already almost done with gold. Any agricultural goods can be made up by other countries, and possibly even enrich their economies. There is absolutely no industry to speak of that can't be replaced by China. It is a "lost continent". (my quotation) The easiest thing would be simply to never deal with Africa again, simply act like it didn't exist and not let anyone leave.

From an odd efficiency stance, is this not the best course of action? Have any resources ever been effectively/efficiently invested in Africa? It has always been a case of people, yes mainly white, taking/buying resources on the cheap and creating horrible conditions. I am not a student of modern african history, but the majority of countries have not been well led. Some have, but usually they are eventually brought down by conflicts in neighboring countries, or their development is limited because of the unstable nature of the continent.

The divisions within countries in africa is also horrible, be it tribal, religious, political, or racial. People die for all those reasons in areas all over Africa. In America there are deep divisions, but we keep the killing to much lower levels, preferring to slowly poison ourselves with chemicals and over-consumption. How can you save a people when prejudice is so prevalent?

Bono thinks eliminated coountries' debt burden will allow them to rise up and finally development. That is a nice idea....

That was a pretty much rough and tumble overview of the basic problem/idea I would like to put forth. I am aware I ignore the humanitarian aspects involved in abandoning a contintent, that will be discussed in the next post that deals with the failures of the West/how they caused the problems. Right now I would like to stimulate discussion on how I may be wrong about Africa.

Olympic sham

I had to debate whether to talk about the Olympics or energy resources. I had to chose Olympics today.
Beijing will host the Olympics in 2008. On Fark.com, there was an article how people are getting kicked out of their homes in order to beautify Beijing by creating more parks. When people complain, they go to jail and stay there. I have nothing against claiming land for public domain purposes, but China does it to the extreme, and everybody looks the other way. (I like the idea of the Three Gorges Dam, and can't wait to see if it works) I use this example of how the Olympics have outlived their purpose.
Billions were spent on security and building for the Athens Olympics, and it was all a waste. Though I haven't looked into it, the facilities are a big waste of space and resources. If I was a more diligent scholar, I would do more research on Greece's current condition, but I don't have time. The main point is that there was a lot of whining about everybody being scared and worrying, while they should have spent practically nothing and found out who really believed in sport. The purpose of "the Olympics" is better served by individual sports championships, where the real athletes compete.
I will only mention that the corruption scandals that preceded the Olympics and the committee's outdated structure only further the evidence against the Olympics.
Back to China...it was ridiculuous to give Beijing the Olympics. China, despite the trade surplus, a developing disaster. It is growing beyonds its means at a breathneck pace. Beyond the urban centers where new buildings with the best technology are being built, it is backward. The divided nature of the provincial/municipal/national governments makes every person simply look out for him/herself. The governments only saving grace is its ability to destroy people's homes and lives in order to do what it thinks is necessary.
Money for the Olympics could better be spent on important things. environment, sustainable development, improving people's lives. When the Olympics come, everybody will ignore how wasteful they are on a global level.