“But that would take us through the city.”

Her face fell. “Oh. So… what’s the way around?”

I reached a hand across the space between our sleeping bags to find her hand. “Going around will be three times as far. And we’ll have to find new places to camp on our own each night since I don’t know any other refugees past this point.”

She squeezed my hand and sighed. “Okay.”

“But we’re so close.” I wanted to cheer her up. We’d been on the road for so long, having to hide and run and hide again. “Once we’re on the other side of the city, it’s the last alien stronghold until you hit Colorado. We’ll be able to settle down somewhere and relax.”

“Yeah.” But she didn’t sound convinced.

The next morning, we ate our meager breakfast of stale granola bars and washed it down with instant coffee that tasted more like dirt than anything else. But we were running low on supplies. Another reason we needed to move camp.

Our contact here had only been able to secure the place to stay while we were here. They were already living on scraps and couldn’t afford to share with us.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” June seemed a little more determined in the light of day, but the weight of this journey still dragged down her shoulders and her smile.

“We wait for the morning call. All the troops will return to the city center and we’ll have exactly thirty minutes to get out and on the other side of the wall.” I unfolded the map again and traced along our path with my finger. “Then we get to the woods. And we’ll be able to travel without worrying about being spotted from overhead.”

June nodded and followed my hand, but I noticed her eyes dart in the other direction, towards the city.

“What if we… go through the city? How dangerous could it be?”

I sighed. “June… we’ve been through this. The aliens have completely taken it over. They kill humans on sight in there. It’s too dangerous.”

She nodded. “But what if… what if they don’t see us?”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “How do you think we’d manage that?”

“Sewers? We could travel under the city.”

She said it so fast; I knew she’d been considering it for a long time. And I had to admit, it wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever heard.

She took my silence as at least the beginnings of agreement and pointed towards another path on the map. “There’s an entrance over here. It empties out into the river. I think there’s a metal grate over the entrance, but I have those bolt cutters, so it shouldn’t give us too much of a problem.”

“How long have you been making this plan?” I couldn’t help the smile spreading over my face.

She shrugged, but grinned back. “A couple days, I guess. I heard Sam and Lilly talking about the sewer systems and it gave me the idea. They told me about the entrance. I was just waiting for the right time to tell you.”

I nodded. “Well… I think we should try it.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. She flung her arms around me and squeezed me tight.

“I think it’s a good plan. And one day trooping through the sewers sounds a whole lot better than three days of woods and questionable camping locations.”

We finished our packing and crawled out from under the house. In the shadowy cover of the porch, we waited for the morning call. It would ring and all the aliens in the area would teleport back to the city. Every morning, we were clear to do as we pleased for thirty minutes before the next round of troops showed up. Anyone who lived here took that time to gather more supplies or change locations. It happened again before sundown and since the takeover, they’d become the only time people could come out in the open if they were near an alien stronghold.

The human race wasn’t sure what we’d done to offend the aliens so badly. According to them, they’d been living among us for years and years. But one day, they shed their human suits and changed everything. Humans went into hiding. Because if we didn’t hide, the aliens made us slaves. Or killed us. Or ate us. Depended solely on their mood.

The chime filled the air, and my skin tingled in anticipation. Once the last bell rang, we’d be off. There was plenty of time to get outside the wall and to the sewer tunnels, but we would run the entire way just to be safe. Outside the wall, the aliens were less likely to bother with us. But there was always a chance.

Silence fell and June kicked the lattice frame away so we could crawl the rest of the way out. I was careful to put it back the way we’d found it, and then we took off.

The others knew we’d be leaving today, and a few waved as we passed them, but they had their own business to attend to in the free window so no one tried to stop us for a chat or a long goodbye.

Up ahead, someone already had the door in the wall open. There was a small hold-up as a crowd bottlenecked at the single door, but then we were through and in an open field.

“Which way?” I asked, not wanting to take the map back out to look again.

June glanced back and forth and then pointed to the left. “Over here.”

We sprinted again until we were under the cover of trees. The woods came right up to the town’s limit. Once we were out of sight of the skies, we slowed to a walk.

June opened her water bottle and took a small sip. I copied her. Even though we were running painfully low on water, no way was I going into a sewer thirsty.

I saw the grate before June did, and then we rushed forward.

“How much longer do we have?” She asked as she dug out her bolt cutters.

I checked my watch. “Fifteen minutes.”

“Plenty of time.”

The bolt cutters snapped right through the metal rods and she opened a space large enough for us to crawl through. Once we were inside the tunnel, the light dimmed and we had to turn on our flashlights after only a few feet.

My watch beeped once to let me know our grace period was up, and I pressed a finger to my lips.

“We’re not going to be able to talk once we’re under the city,” I said.

June nodded. She took a deep breath, and we were off.

I lost track of time in the sewer tunnel. June had her flashlight pointed down at the water and small ledge we’d been following to dry our shoes out a little. We knew we were under the heart of the city now. I heard cars rumble overhead and there was strange music and talking in their language. At least we didn’t have to worry about them hearing us walk through the water over all that racket.

I chanced a light to see the time and was surprised to see we’d been walking for half the time already. And it was still daylight above us, the small shafts of light stabbing through the holes in sewer grates every few feet.

June slowed to a stop and sank down into a crouch. I saw we’d reached the end of our ledge and we’d be back in the water with our next few steps.

“Break?” She mouthed the word at me and I nodded.

I sat next to her and found my nearly empty water bottle.

We had to get out of here before nightfall. I wasn’t going to sleep in the sewer. But my feet were aching and stiff since they’d gone back and forth, being drenched and then dry. And I was worried our progress wouldn’t be smooth the whole way through. It would be too easy.

June opened her bag and looked for her pack of gum. She offered it to me, but I shook my head. The idea of eating something, even gum, while down in the sewers turned my stomach. I was barely handling the stench as it was.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes. We’d have to get back to walking soon if we wanted to get out of here in time. But it had been a few weeks since we’d travelled so much in one day. My feet throbbed and June was massaging her calves.

But then she froze, and I saw her gaze lock on to something across the tunnel. I grabbed my flashlight, but she stopped my hand with both of hers.

She leaned closer and whispered in a voice shaking with terror, “We’re not alone.”

She’d spoken out loud, and I knew that was a mistake. But it was too late now.

A second passed, and then another, and then the entire tunnel filled with a green light as the alien watching us opened its palm. We were able to see the twisted expression of glee and hunger for a solid second before it flung its body across the tunnel and was on us.

The Han Dynasty’s ability to defeat the Xiongnu was not only due to strategic, economic, and diplomatic advantages but also relied heavily on technological advancements. Below are several key aspects of the technological superiority that the Han Dynasty achieved:

1. Advancements in Military Technology

Popularization of Iron Weapons:

During the Han Dynasty, iron smelting technology significantly advanced, and iron weapons (such as swords, spears, and halberds) and armor gradually replaced bronze weapons. Iron weapons were sharper and more durable, greatly enhancing the combat effectiveness of the Han army.

Widespread Use of Crossbows:

The Han army was extensively equipped with crossbows, particularly powerful ones. Crossbows had long range, high lethality, and were easy to operate, making them suitable for large-scale military use. Crossbowmen played a crucial role in countering Xiongnu cavalry, effectively inflicting damage from a distance.

Improvements in Stirrups:

Although stirrups were not fully developed during the Han Dynasty, early versions of stirrups or saddle improvements were already in use. This made cavalry more stable on horseback, allowing them to fight more effectively.

2. Development of Cavalry Tactics

Formation of Cavalry Units:

Through prolonged conflicts with the Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty gradually recognized the importance of cavalry. During Emperor Wu’s reign, the Han Dynasty vigorously developed cavalry forces, recruiting and training a large number of elite cavalry. Under the command of generals like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, these cavalry units were able to penetrate deep into Xiongnu territory and conduct mobile warfare.

Flexible Use of Tactics:

The Han army gradually mastered tactics to counter nomadic cavalry. For example, they adopted the strategy of “using cavalry to fight cavalry,” leveraging the mobility of their own cavalry to engage the Xiongnu directly. At the same time, they combined the strengths of infantry and crossbowmen to form a multi-unit coordinated combat system.

3. Improvements in Logistics and Engineering Technology

Enhancements in Supply Transport:

During expeditions against the Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty established a robust logistical support system. By constructing roads, setting up relay stations, and improving transportation tools (such as carts and pack animals), the Han army was able to deliver provisions and supplies to the front lines, sustaining prolonged military campaigns.

Perfection of the Great Wall Defense System:

Building on the Qin Dynasty’s Great Wall, the Han Dynasty further expanded and reinforced it, establishing beacon towers, fortresses, and garrisons along its length. This defensive system not only effectively blocked Xiongnu incursions but also provided bases for Han military offensives.

4. Advancements in Intelligence and Communication Technology

Beacon Fire Communication System:

The Han Dynasty established a comprehensive beacon fire communication system along the northern border, enabling the rapid transmission of military intelligence and timely responses to Xiongnu invasions.

Use of Envoys and Spies:

The Han Dynasty sent envoys like Zhang Qian to the Western Regions, not only opening the Silk Road but also gathering significant intelligence about the Xiongnu and their allies. This intelligence provided critical support for the Han Dynasty’s military decision-making.

5. Support from Agriculture and Economy

Advancements in Agricultural Technology:

The Han Dynasty promoted the use of iron farming tools and ox-drawn plows, significantly increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring ample food and supplies for warfare.

State Monopoly on Salt and Iron:

During Emperor Wu’s reign, the state monopoly on salt and iron increased national revenue, providing economic support for large-scale military operations.

6. Relative Technological Backwardness of the Xiongnu

As a nomadic people, the Xiongnu, despite their strong cavalry mobility, lagged behind in weapon manufacturing, siege technology, and logistical support. They lacked large-scale metallurgical technology and siege equipment, making it difficult to threaten the Han Dynasty’s fortified defenses.

————

The wars against the Xiongnu began even before the Han Dynasty, during the era of its predecessor states, the various feudal kingdoms. At that time, the steppe was also inhabited by the ancestors of the Xiongnu. These feudal kingdoms successfully resisted invasions from the steppe tribes and tenaciously survived.

Following this, during the Qin Dynasty, after unifying China, the Qin Empire sent an army of 300,000 troops to the north and successfully defeated the Xiongnu in 215 BCE, gaining control of the Hetao region, which is part of modern-day Inner Mongolia.

However, the process of the Han Dynasty defeating the Xiongnu was more prolonged, yet it ultimately led to the complete disappearance of the Xiongnu from history. The Han Dynasty left a nightmarish shadow of terror over the steppe peoples. Even after the Western Han Dynasty collapsed and descended into internal chaos, no steppe tribe dared to attack the fragmented warlords of the Western Han. Later, when the Eastern Han Dynasty reunified China, and even after its fall, no steppe tribe dared to venture south. At that time, any divided faction of the Han Dynasty could suppress the steppe tribes.

Finally, the connection between the Xiongnu and the ancestors of modern Turkic peoples is minimal. This is largely a result of modern pan-Turkism’s transnational nationalism, which distorts history to serve its purposes. Among Turkic states, many countries seek to trace and attach their ancestry to Chinese historical records, aiming to make their ancestors appear more ancient and powerful. This serves to provide a sense of national pride and maintain their ethnic self-identity.

Pan-Turkism – Wikipedia

Political movement advocating the unity of Turkic peoples Flag of the Organization of Turkic States Flag misattributed to the Turkic Khaganate [ a ] Pan-Turkism ( Turkish : Pan-Türkizm ) or Turkism (Turkish: Türkçülük or Türkizm ) is a political movement that emerged during the 1880s among Turkic intellectuals who lived in the Russian region of Kazan ( Tatarstan ), South Caucasus (modern-day Azerbaijan ) and the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey ), with its aim being the cultural and political unification of all Turkic peoples . [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] Turanism is a closely related movement but it is a more general term, because Turkism only applies to Turkic peoples. However, researchers and politicians who are steeped in the pan-Turkic ideology have used these terms interchangeably in many sources and works of literature. [ 10 ] Although many of the Turkic peoples share historical, cultural and linguistic roots, the rise of a pan-Turkic political movement is a phenomenon of the 19th and 20th centuries. [ 11 ] Ottoman poet Ziya Gökalp defined pan-Turkism as a cultural, academic, and philosophical [ 12 ] and political [ 13 ] concept advocating the unity of Turkic peoples. Ideologically, it was premised on social Darwinism . [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] Pan-Turkism has been characterized by pseudoscientific theories known as Pseudo-Turkology . In research literature, "pan-Turkism" is used to describe the political, cultural and ethnic unity of all Turkic people . "Turkism" began to be used with the prefix "pan-" (from the Greek πᾶν, pan = all). [ 17 ] Proponents use the latter as a point of comparison, since "Turkic" is a linguistic, ethnic and cultural distinction rather than a citizenship description. This differentiates it from "Turkish", which is the term which is officially used in reference to citizens of Turkey. Pan-Turkic ideas and reunification movements have become popular since the collapse of the Soviet Union in Central Asian and other Turkic countries. Pan-Turkic rally in Istanbul , March 2009 Development and spread [ edit ] In 1804, the Tatar theologian Ghabdennasir Qursawi wrote a treatise calling for the modernization of Islam. Qursawi was a Jadid (from the Arabic word jadid , "new"). The Jadids encouraged critical thinking, supported education and advocated the equality of the sexes, advocated tolerance of other faiths, advocated Turkic cultural unity, and advocated openness to Europe’s cultural legacy. [ 18 ] The Jadid movement was founded in 1843 in Kazan . Its aim was the implementation of a semi-secular modernization program and the implementation of an educational reform program, both programs would emphasize the national (rather than the religious) identity of the Turks. Before they founded their movement in 1843, the Jadids considered themselves Muslim subjects of the Russian Empire , a belief which they held until the Jadid movement disbanded. [ 19 ] After they joined the Wäisi movement , the Jadids advocated national libera

She prayed that he wouldn’t think to check the van, desperately clinging to irrational hope. She tried to convince herself that he was just looking for deer and saw one behind the van. Or that even if he’d seen the van, its grimy windows would offer no visibility to the decorated interior, and he might move on without opening the doors. She pushed the sliding door’s lock, just in case.

The squirrels’ chittering moved down the branch, from the tip to the base where the van sat immobile. She listened, following their voices to track his location. He was definitely walking towards her; she could no longer hold out hope that he’d ignore the van. Hope was draining with each passing second; she was down to the inane notion that he might not try the van door – even though her footprints led directly to it. She began to hear the squelch of his steps, slow and measured, as he neared her, the sounds shattered her last vestiges of false hope. The initial burst of a sob escaped past her hand before she muffled it and whined quietly. The layer of sweat covering her face now mixed with free-flowing tears.

She was well aware of what bandits would do to a young woman alone in the woods. Even if she’d previously had any doubts, the other bandits who found her six months prior taught her better. Luckily they’d let her live, just leaving behind a parting gift that she’d only discovered recently.

She’d spent considerable time during scavenging runs to Valdosta look for additional protection, something more than her dull knife or the baseball bat her scrawny arms could hardly swing. She’d found it in the basement of a one-story rambler, a rusted revolver with a box of rounds next to it. She’d shoved both into her backpack and taken them back to the van, but she’d never fired a gun before. She wasn’t even sure it would fire. More so than that, she couldn’t bring herself to kill; she never understood how men could do it so easily, as if it were nothing more than an afternoon stroll.

She reached under the driver’s seat and grabbed the the black grip of the revolver. She’d always known that she couldn’t fire the gun; like the baseball bat that she couldn’t swing with enough force to do anything, the gun was never meant as a weapon – only a deterrent. The bat may not have worked last time, but she hoped the threat of being shot combined with her insistence that she had nothing of value would be enough to prevent what she knew he’d want. She knew it had little chance of working, but she tried to lie to herself – in vain. The icy terror continued to creep outward from her chest, eventually reaching the pit of her stomach. The baby seemed to sense her despair and responded by kicking the left side of her bulging belly.

“We’re not alone,” she whispered with a wavering voice, her hand instinctively covered her belly. The barrel of the revolver shook wildly as she lifted it to face the direction of the approaching footsteps. If she could just bring herself to fire, if the gun would actually shoot, she could end this now. She could fire the six rounds she’d long had loaded into the chamber. The danger would pass. She knew she should, but she knew she wouldn’t. There wasn’t a single violent bone in her body.

The sound of the sliding door’s handle caused her to jump; she’d heard the steps approaching, but she expected him to say something first. Knock possibly. The handle jiggled for a moment then stopped as the lock showed that it still worked. She couldn’t hold back her sobs any longer as fear overwhelmed her. She tried to muffle them. His voice told her she didn’t silence them enough.

“Oh sweetie, there’s no need to be scared.” His voice, raspy and deep, had a strong, Southern twang to it. “Why don’t you come on out and let ol’ Uncle Walter get a good look at you?” His laugh was slow with a devious edge as he moved to the passenger door. Her heart sunk as the handle rattled, the sudden realization hitting her that she didn’t know if that door was locked. The handle creaked as he lifted it, silence lasting an eternity before the handle creaked again as he lowered it. Three more times, he lifted and dropped the handle before giving up. Locked.

She let out a deep sigh as she realized none of the doors would open for the bandit. The driver’s side door had never opened since she’d moved in: it was rusted shut. Same with the rear cargo door. Perhaps he’ll give up, she told herself. But he knew she was in there, and like a predator digging into a tunnel with trapped prey, he’d find a way in eventually.

“Come on sweetheart, let’s stop playing these silly games. Let me in so we can enjoy this fine afternoon weather together.” His voice trailed as it moved around the front of the van. He tried the driver’s door, finding it unmoving as well. “You’re really sealed up tight in there, huh?” He turned back, stopping outside the sliding door once again.

She held the revolver in front of her face, the iron sights jumping around as she struggled to keep her aim steady. She could see his silhouette through the grime on the window but knew he couldn’t see her. Just shoot, she implored herself. Why couldn’t she do it?

A loud thud sent her scuffling back, pressing her back against the opposite wall. Another followed, then another, before the final blow ended with the sound of glass shattering. She recoiled, throwing her hands in front of her face. After the last of the shards clinked on the floor, she looked up to see Walter’s leathery face, stretched thin with a big smile that displayed only half the number of teeth it should have.

“Nice to finally meet you. You gon’ invite me in or not?” His face disappeared, replaced a moment later by his hand reaching through the newly opened window. He felt around for the lock, pressing the lever. Without the lock to prevent it, the door slid open when he pulled the handle this time. His smile was laced with anticipation and confidence.

“Aww honey, don’t be scared.” He spun the rifle on its strap until it was resting on his back. “I ain’t gon’ hurt you. Well, not as long as you play nice.”

Annie raised the revolver, her hand still shaking wildly. She wanted to speak, tell him that there was nothing there for him to take and that she’d shoot if he tried anything. She could hardly breathe, though. The words never formed.

“Oh! What you got there, missy? An ol’ snubnose? That’s cute. You ever even fired one of them things before?” His tone was playful, yet sinister. She’d heard the other bandits use that same tone. There wasn’t an ounce of fear anywhere in it.

The gun dropped as the fight left her body. She knew what was coming; she could only hope he would show the same mercy as the others did. She openly sobbed, deep sobs that started in her chest and convulsed over her entire body.

As she sobbed, she felt the van shift as it took on Walter’s weight.

She heard the sound of the rifle dropping to the ground as he began removing what he had on.

She felt the sensation of helplessness.

She smelled the sickening stench of sweat and filth as he drew closer.

She tasted iron as she bit her lip.

Then, she felt another kick.

She felt the weight of responsibility, her child relying on her.

She saw the situation for what it was.

She felt cool resolution wash her fear away and steady her hand.

She saw a smile cross his face when she raised the gun again.

She heard the blast echo in the van’s interior.

Which country in Southeast Asia has a stronger Chinese influence: Thailand or Vietnam?

Responding to China Daily in Beijing on February 6, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she has “Chinese blood flowing in her veins.”

King of Thailand and ….. a lot of Chinese influence

How bad? That question already starts with a negative assumption.

I was born in the UK. I was born with UK citizenship only. I did not have Chinese citizenship at birth. I had to jump through all sorts of fiery hoops to get it to work.

What’s my take on China compared to other countries? This will sound weird to brainwashed westerners but, China is the greatest true results based democracy in the world.

I’ll tell you a story. I first went to Mainland China in the 1990s with my parents. I did not see much except the inside of hotels and buses. I don’t remember much other than lots of bicycles. I went by MYSELF a few years later, my parents warned me about it.

One of the places I visited was this.

That’s the Beijing military museum the main hall at the bottom. On other floors they had chariots and small arms. As a 20 year old it was confusing, it was confusing because the dual language signs said Democracy. Remember I was born in the UK and associated elections = democracy. It didn’t make sense in that they didn’t have elections like we did in the UK (or so I thought).

At this time the one child policy thing was debunked by me simply seeing people in China with brothers and sisters. It made me started questioning things what I’d been TOLD by the BBC and that’s where years later of confusion as above I realised

China is the greatest true results based democracy in the world.

What are the results?

• 18 eggs are $2.05USD
• Beer is 35cents (US) per 500ml can for Nanjiang beer in convenience stores you can buy even cheaper.
• General food costs are stable/falling
• Energy costs are stable/falling
• Healthcare is affordable and accessible
• University is affordable at $1000USD per year.
• There’s low crime, and crimes that happen are solved.
• Living standards increase incrementally
• Stuff gets done, stuff gets built, stuff gets repaired when it is broken.

All those things in my list above? Those things affect me directly and are mostly a part of my life (University – indirectly I don’t have some gigantic trust fund for university for my children).

Politically? The woman goes to regular CPC meetings and they are FIERY. Local people stand up shout and scream at local CPC reps. There’s no ejections…

In the UK in Bexley in the USA you go off the agreed script? You get ejected, Bexley is Bonkers when an activist revealed the open corruption for instance.

Right now westerners are saying but China isn’t a democracy and talk about elections. Apparently putting a cross in a box every 4 years then being ignored for the next 3.5 years means everything is perfect.

Democracy is:

• Of the people.
• For the people.

I break it down here:

Why is England not a democracy?

I saw this answer, you can find it as it’s one of the other answers on this thread. What the fuck do I think that was? It was an electoral process, which he mistakes for democracy. Yes, every 4 years go tick a box and you have a perfect democracy. Nah. 

Democracy is far more complex than this. Democracy means: * For the people * Of the people * A bonus third definition is majority rule. While the UK has elections, which are largely meaningless because there’s no real choice. 

The UK fails on all three of the above. 

There’s overlap of all of the above. Let’s address no real choice first So they have elections, ok then but the vast majority of the population cannot afford to run for office or even participate in selecting the candidates who can afford to stand, excluding them from participation other than to vote for a local ‘representative’ who is from a relatively wealthy layer of the population. 

So not everybody can stand meaning there’s no real choice AND it’s not OF the people when it excludes such a large proportion of the population. Of the people The vast majority of the population in the UK are excluded from policy-making, which is decided by their ‘representatives’ in parliament, remember the last paragraph? These representatives are not the common man or woman. They’re a relatively wealthy slice of society. 

These representatives once they are in power, are people who earn at least four times the average wage; they also work additionally for private companies, or accept bribes from corporate lobbyists, putting them at odds with the needs of the average worker. 

So it’s not for the people either For the people Gordon Brown”Election promises and pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation.” Ruling class Members of Parliament, often trained at Eton, are usually parachuted into the most important and influential ministerial positions – only one in six prime ministers has been state-educated. 

Anybody who doesn’t toe the regime line? There’s literally a whip whose job is bullying MPs into toeing the line. The odd public referendum (like on membership to the European Union) is only granted when the ruling class is irreconcilably divided. 

What else? 

Party donors and media barons have a massive influence on which party wins an election. And those same donors have significant influence on policy. So labour is given £4 million as a ‘donation’ before the election and you’re going to tell me with a straight face that £4 million has no influence whatsoever? 

For the people 2 Politics and policy-making is pretty much influenced by the needs of capital accumulation. 

When profit rates are falling or low, attacks on wages and living standards etc intensify in order to rewiden profit margins. This starts not with governments but with privately-owned companies, whose owners have near and increasingly dictatorial power over their workforces. 

Remember how Starmer promised to end ZHC, so did his predecessors? Pepperidge farm remembers. For the people 3 Capital tends to flow upwards and is centralised into fewer hands, as such workers, particularly young workers, are increasingly compelled to move to large towns and cities. 

I literally grew up in pretty much an industrial wasteland. There were three options. Go on the dole, for girls it was to get knocked up and get government subsidy until the baby grew up. 

I literally admit I very likely have some bastards in the UK. They’re likely around 20–23 these days. Join the army or to leave to go to one of the big cities. What does this do? 

It leaves the votes of business people in deindustrialised and depopulated constituencies with an outsized impact on the overall vote. With the first-past-the-post system, such places along with affluent constituencies with small populations can win many more seats than they would in a popular vote. For the people 4 

This wouldn’t be a thing if it were for the people. Majority Labour got 9.7 million votes. 

Basic maths means 1 in 6 of the population or 1 in 4 of the voting population. So they can’t even get this. So what about you? Living in totally non democracy Hong Kong/China. 

Lets use the same metrics. * For the people * Of the people * A bonus third definition is majority rule. For the people. In Hong Kong in 1997 50–60% of people lived in Shanty towns. 

Talk to anybody from Generation X and those born in the 1980s and many lived in Shanty towns. By 2010 many of these people lived in government rent controlled housing £200 a month rents. 

In PRC China? 

Living standards have increased enormously. I write about the woman and her experience accessing healthcare. It was bad, today it’s cheap and affordable. 

My father chose cancer treatment in China instead of the UK. My mother had cancer in the 1990s, treatment was fairly fast and effective. By 2023 the situation had reversed when my father got cancer. 

This doesn’t mean China is perfect as there’s still many many gaps. Of the people. 140 million CPC members 1 in 10, how many members are there of the Labour party? 300,000 in 64 million?

Western countries as broken down in the above post are none of those things. They can’t even get simple majorities. You can even read the comments how you break it down You can even see in the comments how they insist western nations are democracies even though they satisfy none of the criteria for democracy. It’s almost like a cargo cult where if they go through the motions then good things have to happen.

Yet here we are 2025, UK economy has been in the toilet for 17 years now. USA economy not much better. Japanese economy in the toilet for 40 years.

China? It’s not perfect and there’s plenty of flaws

What devastated you at the time, but you now attribute to your current success?

My parents let me know just as I was graduating from high school they weren’t going to pay for my university. I had applied to a number of schools and got into all but one. I was at a loss though as I certainly didn’t have the money sitting in my account to pay for tuition and living expenses. Living at home whilst going to school was not an option either. What to do?

I took a year off after high school and moved to the mountains where I worked full time, lived cheaply and socked away 50% of my earnings. I applied for about 100 scholarships and bursaries and was awarded five of them. This was enough money to pay my tuition and my living expenses.

I was 19 years old, I got a bunch of my ya-yas out before starting school, where I could socialize, go to parties and not have to worry about maintaining a course load. I was able to figure out the basics of living on my own without doing school at the same time.

I was highly motivated to go to school and do well because I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life working a low paying job, like I had been. I also chose a practical degree, versus an Arts degree because I wanted something which made me immediately employable when I graduated.

My parents didn’t want to pay for my uni because they were convinced I would blow it and waste their money. Maybe they were right, maybe not. What I did know is that when I was awarded my degree four years later I did take a good deal of comfort in the knowledge that I had done it on my own and I was ready for the world of work and general adulting…mostly.

What would life be like for Americans today if the US government had invested in manufacturing and infrastructure the way the Chinese government has for China?

There is 1 Chinese idiom: no family can stay wealthy after the 3rd generation (富不过三代)

Why? Grandpa works hard to become successful & accumulate wealth. Brought up by a hardworking father, Dad continues to work hard but lacks Grandpa’s wisdom to achieve success. Born with a silver spoon, Grandson never needs to work. Grandson only spends all the wealth earned by Grandpa & Dad. … at the end, the family went broke. The 4th gen starts from bottom.

The USA before independence was Grandpa. Before WW2, USA was Dad working hard to eliminate the then superpowers UK & France. Shortly after WW2 after UK & France were practically “gone”, USA is Grandson who inherits the mentality of colonisers UK & France to live comfortably simply by robbing others. It is neo-colonisation by controlling other’s gov, economy & natural resources without occupying other’s land.

That is why Grandson USA never thought of manufacturing & infrastructure etc. Grandson USA lacks this vision for the future. And it is too much of hard work & sweat also. Running a financial country thru monetary & financial hegemony is more comfortable in an air-conditioned office.

Some like late US pres Jimmy Carter had vision for clean energy eg solar panel. But the oligarch in the deep state saw it as a threat to their already established business empire. At the end, USA’s clean energy cannot move forward & now is behind China.

So, there is no such thing as “what if USA …” because there is always a Grandson gen.

Chinese Animation Made My Kid Cry：Oscar Committee Members Want to Give Ne Zha 2 the Award Right Now！