















Comments     Threshold


RE: Last paragraph, last article
By Ringold on 12/15/2007 5:01:22 PM , Rating: 2
The author of the article was just pointing out the economic facts. By sheer demographics alone, it's inevitable, unless a lot of them die and a lot of us have babies. The author didn't attach opinion, such as "this is good" or "this is bad", simply pointed out that readers should recognize the fact.

Sorry if projections showing China's GDP surpassing our own bothers you, I don't like it either, but don't find fault in people reporting it. The sooner we adjust to the issue, the better off we'll be. To attach my own opinion to it, we don't necessarily have to fear it; it can be delayed quite a long time through pro-growth leadership, encouragement of fertility, and bad luck on China's part (their one-child policy has them suffering, and their population is grey), and even once we're surpassed, Russia and even Cuba and Venezeula prove that politically adept smaller states can exert influence fay beyond what their size may suggest.

RE: Last paragraph, last article




RE: Last paragraph, last article
By osalcido on 12/16/2007 4:20:01 PM , Rating: 3
Sheer numbers does not increase GDP output significantly.... Take a look at all those African countries predicted to overtake many other western nations in population but still be dirt poor.

Back in the 1950s-1960s, the Soviet Union had GDP growth rates far larger than China today or the USA then. Too large to be sustained, in fact. The economy became mismanaged and the country collapsed.

This could easily happen again in China. I remember reading about how so many Chinese are now in debt to the bank of China because they make 500 dollars a month and took out a 10 thousand dollar loan to buy a car, just cause their neighbor had one.

Also, every couple of months you hear about a certain town rising up and then being sacked by Beijing. The country is in political chaos right now (why do you think they are doing a 180 on environmental issues? the people are sick of it)... there's reason to think that the Chinese will be in the same place as Russia currently is in 30-35 years.

Overspent, overextended, and in poverty

RE: Last paragraph, last article
By luhar49 on 12/17/2007 2:58:48 PM , Rating: 2

You probably also read about ongoing saga about all the Americans who took loans to buy houses because their neighbours owned one and then one day realised they couldnt pay the mortgage.

No idea where you got the 50-60s GDP figures for USSR. At that time you could hardly find any information coming out of there which wasnt thoroughly massaged.

Overspent, overextended, and in poverty

Is this wishful thinking on your part or is it based on any facts ? Russian economy is doing quite well right now, largely due to their mineral/oil wealth. And this time they look to be spending it more wisely than those "image building" communist days.

