Thread

1. shoobiedoo · 1789687401 · focus · HN ↗

   This article calls it a "quiet emergency" but even as a foreigner living in Japan there are alarm bells everywhere. And the government buying 150 F35's is just a slap in the face when there's a massive chunk of the population that is, very quickly, going to need extra care.

   I looked into becoming a care aid myself as I'm tired of office culture in Japan and have some experience in that field. I was shocked to see that they start at less than 10USD, and working your way up takes years, decades even.

   Continuing to kick this can down the road is going to be an absolute disaster.

   1. stickfigure · 1789690944 · focus · HN ↗

      > buying 150 F35's

      Your immediate neighbor is going on an imperialist streak right now, and Xi says he wants the fireworks to start in his lifetime. I don't know if F35s are the right answer for Japan, but Xi isn't that young. Get ready however you can.

      1. mars-or_wars · 1789692885 · focus · HN ↗

         [dead]

         1. mars-or_wars · 1789693005 · focus · HN ↗

            [dead]

            1. strictnein · 1789693592 · focus · HN ↗

               Not sure what history books you're reading, but the history of China is one of imperialism. China didn't just form with its current borders. It expanded and contracted and expanded some more for millennia.

               1. Insanity · 1789694249 · focus · HN ↗

                  The borders were continuously shifting, but they did stay somewhat near a focal point for centuries.

                  The US meanwhile has an overseas empire for honestly no good reason.

                  Highly recommend the book “How to hide an empire” which talks about the American version of colonialism.

                  1. lovich · 1789696564 · focus · HN ↗

                     The reason for our overseas empire was to maintain our economic dominance.

                     If everyone voluntarily refused to touch boats and only trade oil for dollars we may have invested differently.

                     1. Insanity · 1789700954 · focus · HN ↗

                        "Maintain economic dominance" is a bit of a distorted view of late 19th century US colonialism. It was not a dominant economic power compared to colonial Europe. It was to boost the local economy for sure, with the guano islands. But colonizing the Philippines after the "war" with Spain was mostly to prevent European colonial powers from dominating that part of the world.

                        The US didn't become economically dominant until after the first World War, when it already had an overseas empire for half a century.

                        1. lovich · 1789702660 · focus · HN ↗

                           I assumed the comment I was replying to was in reference to our constellation of military bases and the economic machinations post ww2.

                           If it was referencing history prior to that then I would reply with the as you mentioned guano mines, fruit production, and keeping European powers out of our regional backyard after several scuffles with Spain and Britain at minimum.

                           I’d also mention the boat touching still.

                           The Marine’s Hymn doesn’t mention the Halls of Montezuma and the Shores of Tripoli for no reason.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.