Absolutely, every time I've tried to "debunk" a lie that someone's bought into it comes off as saying that "China can do no wrong". I don't think anyone is receptive to that message. Mentioning specific good things that they're doing and focusing on what we can learn from communist nations is much more palatable.
I've had this essay bookmarked for a couple weeks now, I should probably actually go read it 😅
I started with some of the conditions included with IMF & World Bank loans. Mentioned that anything that prioritized self-reliance is discouraged, the effects of aid on local agriculture. Specifically called out Sankara & Burkina Faso since I knew that he refused aid and under his leadership living conditions were improving before he was couped. His successor accepted IMF loans and immediately fucked the economy.
They're sovereign nations that keep picking China, if we want to reduce China's soft power the only thing we can do is offer better terms than them.
I also mentioned the quote "Every time the China comes, we get a hospital. Every time Britain comes, we get a lecture."
Then from there talked about how the media reports on these issues. When China builds that hospital it might be reported to enslave the local economy, whereas IMF loans with absurd terms are reported as giving money away for economic development.
That is entirely my relationship with Path of Exile. I have difficulty listening to podcasts / audiobooks without it because I feel like I need something to do with my hands to absorb anything
I never find myself feeling 100% rested after playing video games. When I'm trying to get some reading done hopping on a mindless game and listening to an audio book really helps me absorb the info though.
Yeah, I'm trying to pursue more activities outside of reading theory so I can have more in common with my community. Being a politics nerd is great but your average person won't respect you until you've already built a connection with them.
I tried growing some tomatoes last summer but struggled. I think I didn't fill my containers with enough dirt. Next year I hope to have a tub of kratky veggies + give tomatoes another shot!
I was chatting about this with family over the Holidays. Some of them were saying shit like "China is enslaving the African people". Didn't have all the receipts to dunk but managed to turn the conversation towards western media bias in reporting. Also specifically mentioned that over half of the world's mining companies are headquartered in Canada and discussed how unequal exchange works.
Will be sharing this article with them, thanks! :)
Austin, we won.