China Is a Paradox

The US is a Paradox

The United States is both modern and poor. Its vast interstate highways stretch from gleaming coastal metropolises, traversing westward across thousands of miles, cutting through rugged mountains and vast deserts before reaching tired, rural towns. These areas house millions of Americans who still struggle to earn a living wage, often falling below the federal poverty line.

America's power is unprecedented, yet its society remains deeply divided. Despite decades of economic growth and innovation, the traumas of the 20th century, from the Great Depression to the Civil Rights struggles, have left a deep mark on the cultural DNA. Even within the growing professional class in affluent suburbs, many feel insecure and anxious about the future.

America's leadership subscribes to democratic and free-market principles, yet its political polarization, entrenched corporate power, and increasingly tribal online discourse often resemble more populist or even oligarchical modes of organization.

Critics claim the U.S. "can only compete through financialization and corporate subsidies," yet its high-tech sectors continue to thrive. They build on one another atop a deep foundation of specialized labor and innovation, dominating high-tech value chains from software to biotech, aerospace to entertainment, and making impressive gains in AI and advanced manufacturing.

I live in Switzerland and 10-years-ago I spent about a week in Shanghai and a week in Nanjing. The air in Shanghai was as clean as anything here. The cars, delivery trucks, even the mopeds were all electric.

The week in Nanjing was quite different. Every day you could smell and taste coal smoke and by the end of the day when you blew your nose it came out black. So I assume they were producing electricity with coal far away to make electricity for Shanghai.

It's ten yers later now and from reading about all of the green power they're adding and about installing long-distance power lines to the cities hopefully it allows Nanjing to clean up.