Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , ,

Is There Anything in the World Besides Russia and China?

Sure. Australia. See y’all la… What? You weren’t kidding? Sigh… Okay, let’s lay this out straight. Nations-states can rub their tummies and pat their heads at the same time because nation-states are made up of LOTS of people and have a bunch of those people working in their governments. No one person has to do it all. Individual humans have limitations. We can’t know everything we need to know at any given moment about the whole world. A supercomputer couldn’t … Continue reading “Is There Anything in the World Besides Russia and China?”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , ,

No, China Isn’t Fine Now

Seriously, isn’t it hard to live with an attention span shorter than the lifespan of a mayfly? You didn’t make it all the way through that sentence, did you? Sigh. Okay, so for those who can watch all the way through a sitcom, let’s get on with this. Nation-states, including overhyped authoritarian ones, are resilient as all get out. Nation-states can do all sorts of weird and often unwise things that normal people can’t and shouldn’t. Being able to print … Continue reading “No, China Isn’t Fine Now”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , ,

Lockdowns Make It Worse – See China

I am putting my public health hat back on so this will be less politics and more disease control. Let me first say what disease control is NOT – it is NOT medicine. Public health, when it’s doing it’s job properly, works with doctors, but we aren’t deluded enough to believe that makes us doctors, let alone that we should dictate to doctors. Disease control deals with preventing the spread of infectious disease – it does not deal with making … Continue reading “Lockdowns Make It Worse – See China”

Author Archena Posted on Categories MondayTags , , ,

It’s About the Future

Communism and socialism were both born in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century. I’m aware that the concepts of communal ownership and related practices do predate the Industrial Revolution but as political and economic movements, both are born in the later Industrial Revolution. The distinguishing of property into classes which could or could not be privately owned is a modern invention. You get to own your bed but not the land that the house sits on – modernity is … Continue reading “It’s About the Future”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , ,

It Ain’t About Biden

I know, I know. Monday is foreign relations day. I’m getting there, you’ll see. There are a lot of conservatives that are not happy about the US’ support of Ukraine. This is not because they support Putin or that they wish ill towards the Ukrainian people. In my opinion, it’s largely related to the corruption links between Hunter Biden and Ukraine. Ukraine is not an innocent baby nor is it a little devil. Ukraine has a major problem with corruption, … Continue reading “It Ain’t About Biden”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , , ,

Should the Monroe Doctrine Still Exist?

Yes. Y’all come back… Okay, okay, I’ll explain. It’s in the US’ best interest not to allow its enemies to have significant inroads on the American continent. You need that explained, too? Didn’t they teach you kids anything in college? The reason the US has rarely been invaded is its geography. To get to us you have to either cross an ocean or take over Canada or Mexico first. None of that has ever been easy but in modern times … Continue reading “Should the Monroe Doctrine Still Exist?”

Author Archena Posted on Categories MondayTags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why Foreign Affairs Matter to the US

First, let’s get something straight – the sky ain’t falling. No generation has a crystal ball. They all have to look whatever disaster comes their way square in the eye and decide how to handle it. This current ‘upheaval’ is no different. The one constant in the political world is change – usually messy, quiet change until it becomes a big, nasty problem. My favorite cartoon as a kid was a seriously stupid one season wonder called The Drak Pack. … Continue reading “Why Foreign Affairs Matter to the US”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Failure of Realpolitik

Political Scientists like to think they are real scientists. Sometimes, they even are. Most times, they are analysts. But since the field has science in the name, they try very, very hard to be a sciency as possible. The results can be fairly comical. Scientist or analyst, they still need frameworks to work from. America has 330 million people and 22,000 plus governments. Making sense of that without some kind of framework is impossible. The world has 195 countries, not … Continue reading “The Failure of Realpolitik”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

Protests and Unrest in China

Okay, those of you that think this is a bad sign for the CCP and that China could collapse, you’re not wrong. Those of you who think China probably won’t collapse aren’t wrong either. Nation-states are resilient and this is not China’s first rodeo. But it is their first ride on a bull this big. So, what does it mean? Well, it means the CCP has pulled off something once believed to be nearly impossible – they have found the … Continue reading “Protests and Unrest in China”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , ,

The Post Russo-Sino World, Part II

Okay, when last we left our hypothetical, the world had NOT ended in a fireball. The US was busily trying to corral nuclear proliferation and both Russia and China had fully collapsed. Nation-states can multi-task. They aren’t great at it because humans aren’t, but unlike your Supermom, nation-states really do have many people who can be directed to do different things. This is a good thing because the US is gonna be really distracted, as it was in the Nineties, … Continue reading “The Post Russo-Sino World, Part II”