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HONG KONG DEMONSTRATORS: CLUELESS YOUTH MEETS SOCIAL MEDIA

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION AUG. 23-5, 2019) — In 1997, China finally won back Hong Kong from Britain, returning to the great Pacific Rim nation what England had stolen from it in the mid-19th century at the end of the first so-called Opium War. That century and a half saw the city rise from rural rice plantings to become the world’s most important financial center.

If you ever needed a testament of capitalism over communism, THE PLANET directs your gaze at Hong Kong. It would take Beijing all through its disastrous Mao era and then some to build anything so impressive. As the world knows now, however, mainland China is poised to become the 21st century’s dominant power, militarily and economically. It may be that already, depending on what analyses you include.

While premature to make the declaration, it is not too early to wonder if China’s brand of “21st century capitalism” — based upon an evolved ideological base that includes the more successful extracts of laisse faire, fascism, monarchy, communism, socialism, republicanism, and political pragmatism — might not actually be the closest the human race can get to a workable approach to the governance of large populations? We hesitate to use the word “utopia.” What do we call this new approach? How about “capcomism?”

If technological and economic “progress” in a conception of post-post-modern “civilization” can be called a worthy human goal, China’s incredible rise shows what wise, tactical, strong-armed leadership can do, and none is better at it than Xi Jinping. What do you think it would take to induce Xi to run for President in 2020? If one can skip the emotions as dryly as China dumped the reverence of and for Mao, China’s ascent in the 21st century stands as the best advertisement for authoritarian politics since Hegel’s concept of The State and his philosophy of moral right. The Kingdom of Heaven may belong to the meek, but the earth belongs to the strong.

———- ooo ———-

The 1997 release agreement, the first true admission by the West that the future would be Chinese, established Hong Kong as a special administrative district of the People’s Republic. China, showing a perspicacity that made it the world’s first superpower back in the Marco Polo days, agreed to an arrangement that would allow separate economic governance to the city. When you have the golden goose, you to protect the egg laying, especially when your brand of “communism” comes with quotation marks. It allows you to have your angel food and eat it, too.

Separate governance, though, does not exempt the prosperous city from Beijing’s rule, nor should it. This is a reality lost on clueless protestors who have after 12 weeks show no sign of having touchd foot on the ground. It’s also something the West should understand, especially the United States after it essentially suspended habeus corpus and installed its version of a police state using the events of 9-11-01 as the excuse.

Uncle Sam has no problem messing around in other parts of the world, but when rival nations start doing the same in their own backyard, we begin reciting the Hypocritic Oath, feigning to believe as a nation what we do not. How else could President Donald Trump have so badly misplayed his dealings with China, not the least of which is his trade policy? Trump might have risen to Xi’s level, but where the former has an ego driving him, the latter has a vision determining the direction.

———- 000 ———-

The trouble in Hong Kong began in June when Beijing instituted an extradition treaty with the region’s administrators, giving China a governing right possessed by every nation on earth. A country’s legal system collapses if it can’t bring equal justice to bear on all its citizens. In June, a small band of young Hong Kong residents and meddlers took to social media, inflated the meaning of Beijing’s reasonable request, conflated reason, and unleashed hysteria. Megaphones began blaring scary tales of midnight abductions and show trials in the mainland for imagined political offenses. Lies became truth, as it always does on social media, and gullible protestors claimed the swamp that they mistook for the moral high ground.

China showed remarkable restraint dealing with this immaturity, and after a couple weeks, actually withdrew the extradition provision.

Repeat: The extradition measure was never implemented and is not now. There is NOTHING to protest.

That didn’t stop the young, mostly millennial and Gen Z demonstrators, who have been treating the mounting unrest as a series of giant electronic raves, the next “cool thing to do.” The huge gatherings show that Hong Kong’s wealthy youth are bored in their search for meaning and have, like so many of their American counterparts, no understanding of law, politics, or economics. That’s how you turn a protest over a nonexistent law into a so-called “pro-autonomy movement.”

Mass rallies calling themselves “pro-autonomy” have a certain surface appeal, granted. It sounds good, right? Who doesn’t like freedom? The demonstrators, however, do not care about freedom for the good of all as much as disruption for its own sake and their own selfish chance to be “important.” For example, last week, the young busybodies, taking themselves as ever so seriously, stormed Hong Kong’s airport, one of the world’s busiest. The “fanatical mobs,” a phrase used by one wire report to suggest the irrational and unruly nature of the young’ins, barricaded themselves to prevent access and egress by travelers who simply wanted to get on peacefully with their business. The radicals threw bottles and other debris at innocent bystanders and police, shouting obscenities and feeling brave solely because the Hong Kong police have shown the patience of the biblical Job.

If they persist, Beijing will have to restore order to the chaos. The mainstream media will call it a “crackdown,” the protestors will come off as victims (the desired status of snowflakes the globe over), and they will claim a victory as hollow as an iced-tea straw.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

——————————————————————————————————————

Nobody who says, ‘I told you so’ has ever been [and] will never be a hero” — Ursula K. La Guin.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
4 years ago

Like China, Pittsfield politics is a one political party system that answers to Democratic Party bosses in Boston. Pittsfield politics has so-called “elections” where less than 20% of registered voters actually bother to vote. The incumbents, bureaucrats, and political hacks serve for decades, while Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski defer their freedoms to a few power-brokers. The Big 3 unions (Police, Fire, & School) always win, while the hard hit taxpayers always lose. If you dare to speak out against the Good Old Boys (& lovely Ladies), they will take away your job, spread vicious rumors against you, and make false allegations against you. In closing, Pittsfield politics = Chinese politics!!!!

– Jonathan Melle

Agent 86
Agent 86
4 years ago

Mao Tse Tyer has to be voted out.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  Agent 86
4 years ago

Who can explain why Eleanor Road in Pittsfield a residential street has newly painted double yellow lines in the center, and white lines on either side? I drive down East St. for example, and there are no painted lines. In the center of the City. This is absolutely ridiculous. Who can explain this shit to the citizens and taxpayers?

Johnny99
Johnny99
4 years ago

Dan,

China is the largest country on the planet, and practices totalitarian rule, forced abortions, “re-education” camps, essentially forced and unjust imprisonments, violates human rights on a daily basis, ranks their citizens, and uses the rankings against them, and is a dirty regime, in the literal and environmental sense as well, so if that’s “utopia” I’ll pass. So of course they are number one, or will soon be so. The only question is when WWIII will start.

As for Pittsfield, it’s all over but the cryin. You’ve had a succession of failed mayors’ from the 80’s on word, on, in the common sense, as in crime and schools non-sense sense, and in the economic sense. Dat raciss, anti-white, lyin, Trump hatin McCandles should be fired, or at least dressed down by da school committee, a public ass whoopin if you will, for his shameful comments, ya feel what i’m Sayin? I’d like ta know what da honorable Mayor Tyer, who’s a shoe in for re-election by the way, and her opponents, if ya want ta call em dat, think of McCandles white privledge and raciss creed. What’s next – Ebonics in 10th grade????

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Johnny99
4 years ago

McCandles is way out there in far left liberal land. Doesn’t he know he is not supposed to be out there ranting about President Trump and politics? He is involved in education not politics. Does he plan on running for political office? God help us. Doesn’t he know that he is also white?

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Johnny99
4 years ago

I agree with your comments on China. They are tough and strong, but they are also intolerant of their citizens having any freedom. It’s their way or no way at all.

Kermit Frog
Kermit Frog
Reply to  Johnny99
4 years ago

Thanks J99, well said. I was about to wtf but your response was much better.
There was a time when conservatives were pro democracy – this is he second pro fascist government post on this blog so I am wondering if Dan is seeing if we are awake. Yes, we are awake and I’ll stay hell no to China and Russia thank you very much.

Kermit Frog
Kermit Frog
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

I’m not sure China has anything to do with the Democratic machine here. I could be wrong … Don’t call me woke though, just paying attention. The term woke annoys me and people who use the term to describe themselves are not who I want to. E associated with.
Re HK — Apposing extradition is a good thing for Hong Kong and better for stability. China and Russia have more crony capitalism and crony justice than Pittsfield. Have you ever seen a Chinese court room drama, probably not.
Re ThecPitts – The school and municipal unions are bankrupting this city. Barry was right that they can’t sack bad cops, god knows if they can fire the bad teachers. It’s worse in NYS where they have huge property taxes. Leaders here need to be aware that doing more with less or doing less with less is what we need so we can can all keep some money in our pocket. Too many school employees by far, and nothing they are doing is helping the schools. Maybe they should have school for a month or two longer so the kids aren’t loose unsupervised. That will never pass the union though. Did you see the cop Union arrest. I hope Leiling comes to town, man oh man do I wish that would happen.

Johnny99
Johnny99
Reply to  Kermit Frog
4 years ago

You’re welcome Froggie.

Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
Reply to  Johnny99
4 years ago

To quote J’99: “As for Pittsfield,it’s all over but the cryin”. Story in the Eagle regarding the closing and failure of Big Daddy’s Philly Steak House on North St., exemplifies this.
Hate to say it, but Mayor Tyer’s foundation and vision for a “collaborative, dynamic, vibrant, and diversified” Pittsfield is a house of cards.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

Trumps economy is showing signs of recession only 3 years in.He deregulated everything for big business to thrive with amazing tax cuts.

Johnny99
Johnny99
Reply to  Sojourner Truth
4 years ago

Kinda like Rubertos Renaissance, which was a tax payer funded mirage. Why can’t we have a mayor who priorities public safety, as in safe streets in both a literal and figurative sense, and tax relief. To hell with the PEDA nonsense and the Norh Street non sense and the restorative justice bs and another alternative school for losers . North street is a revolving door of one failed business after another. And what is going into the ”build it and they will come” life science building, beside the Kapanskis’ tax dollars?

dusty
dusty
4 years ago

Whatever else you may think about China you better believe they are going to be THEE force to be reckoned with going forward. Go to you tube and do a search for “China Infrastructure”. They are so far ahead of most of the world in transportation, renewable energy and robotics that they make American look third world. And America has neither the money or political will to even get off the ground on such things. America will be a wasteland in twenty years, mostly because its government has tied itself in knots and is devouring itself just to spite itself.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
4 years ago

For right now China relies on coal a lot.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
4 years ago

Yes, but they, unlike America, have come to realize coal is just bad all around. And because they do not have to kiss up to lobbyists they can actually do some positive things for the country as a whole.

Are they strict and demanding of their people? Oh yah. But the country will still be thriving in the next generation where people will be asking, “What’s America? Where is that? What the hell happened to them?”

Shakes
Shakes
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

Too bad China doesn’t have a 2nd amendment

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

MAO rounded up all the guns then killed about 20 million Chinese and then he became LMAO.

X-Lachs Lounge
X-Lachs Lounge
Reply to  dusty
4 years ago

Dusty, China now relies on carbon free unicorn farts for energy.

Katsy Flood
Katsy Flood
4 years ago

Make AmericaThird Again §.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
4 years ago

American POLITICIANS are the ones who have screwed America, with the backing of the big business crooks, or should I say their “puppet masters”.

Worse now are that they control free speech (left winged parrot press), and our education system.

I try to avoid buying things made out of “Chinesium”.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Mad Trapper
4 years ago

Exhibit A

General Electric, EPA, PEDA, Jerry Doyle, Berkshire Bird

Freese
Freese
4 years ago

Trump isn’t going to be re elected. Violence in this a Country will then be at an all time high. That will be when all the hate fruitcakes come out in force. It will Pitt all his hate mungers against any one of color and certain religion?

F. Balm
F. Balm
Reply to  Freese
4 years ago

The hate fruitcakes are trying to get the Democrat nomination for president

CC The Maze Sun
CC The Maze Sun
4 years ago

“Now that I know what I feel must be right
I’m here to show everybody the light

Give the word a chance to say
That the word is just the way
It’s the word I’m thinking of
And the only word is love
It’s so fine, it’s Sunshine
It’s the word, love

Say the word and you’ll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I’m thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It’s so fine, it’s Sunshine
It’s the word, love”

CC The Maze Sun
CC The Maze Sun
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

“Look for the girl with the Sun in her eye and she’s gone”

CC The Maze Sun
CC The Maze Sun
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

“Once there was a way, to get back homeward
Once there was a way, to get back home…..
Smiles await you when you rise”

CC The Maze Sun
CC The Maze Sun
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

“But listen to the colour of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living

So PLAY THE GAME “Existence” to the End…
… Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning“

CC The Maze Sun
CC The Maze Sun
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

“Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on”

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
4 years ago

Pittsfield politics Mayoral Debate at Berkshire Community College on Monday, August 26th at 7 p.m., featuring the lovely Linda Tyer, the lovely Melissa Mazzeo, the lovely Karen Kalinowsky, and businessman Scott Graves. The debate will be broadcast live on Pittsfield Community Television.

How will the lovely Linda respond to the lovely Melissa’s criticism that it is business as usual politics in Pittsfield?

“I’ve been listening for 10 years, and it’s the same stories,” said Melissa Mazzeo.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
4 years ago

Isn’t Scott Graves lovely too?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Gobsig
4 years ago

To answer your sarcastic question, the lovely Linda is very lovely, the lovely Melissa is also very lovely, the lovely Karen is also very lovely, and, of course, Scott Graves is lovely, too. They are all Lovely!

I think the lovely Linda Tyer is the best Mayor of Pittsfield, EVER! I support her for re-election in 2019!

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
4 years ago

Jonathan, you’re a lovely son of a gun as well.

doomiedodger
doomiedodger
Reply to  Gobsig
4 years ago

Jonathon, I don’t think “lovely” has been working for Pittsfield. I am willing to vote for “fat, ugly and brain damaged” if it will release the city from its special interest stranglehold.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Gobsig
4 years ago

Great post Gobsig.
And this is exactly what’s happening in Pittsfield Public Schools under the direction of Dr. McCandless.
Reading, writing & arithmetic are taking a back seat to this crap.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Gobsig
4 years ago

Unbelievable how schools are only interested in politically indoctrinating young minds. So disgusting!!

Shakes
Shakes
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

I wonder if Pat and the Planet can share how their own children were indoctrinated by the public school system? My kids didn’t go to trashy Pittsfield schools, but iMHO they are practical and thoughtful compassionate young people.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Shakes
4 years ago

Until the last few years I don’t know of any kids who were politically indoctrinated by the public school system in this country especially to such an intense degree that these young people are being taught to NOT think for themselves. This happened in countries like Germany in which the youth were indoctrinated by the school system to become followers of Hitler. Russia and China also indoctrinate the young people to be loyal Communists.

X-Lachs Lounge
X-Lachs Lounge
Reply to  Shakes
4 years ago

I’ve figured out that Shakes’ real name is Schlitzie.

Honest Earl's Downtown Dumpster
Honest Earl's Downtown Dumpster
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

YES , Shakes is none other than Schitzlie. Perfect.

Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
Reply to  danvalenti
4 years ago

How positive and successful was JIV and his leadership in his positions prior to his present capacity ? In Lee, possibly. If he was capable there,then what are the dynamics in Pittsfield that thwart his direction and programs ?

Johnny Absurd
Johnny Absurd
Reply to  Sojourner Truth
4 years ago

Gangs in schools. No discipline allowed. Horrible working environment. Schools system has become a slush fund grab bag piñata of bottomless taxpayer funding.

School committee basically a politically controlled annex of city hall with one hand feeding the other and both getting fatter by the day.

Johnny2Shoes
Johnny2Shoes
Reply to  Pat
4 years ago

Search for the Leipzig connection and a wealth of information is available. Rockefeller $ is involved. Look up the author of the Leipzig connection referred to in this article. Control started long ago.

https://sagaciousnewsnetwork.com/

Ted
Ted
4 years ago

Whatever happened to the lovely Joe Nichols?

The school committee
The school committee
4 years ago

Do you remember US started chasing Japan and ed reforms was on.Tech and voc are back again.Top student in foreign countries are the only one coming.

Pat
Pat
4 years ago

When the young people are calling each other “comrades” we know there is a problem in the school system and it involves a socialist/communist influence that they are being taught.

Shakes
Shakes
Reply to  Pat
4 years ago

Pat, you don’t know any young people, you have zero personal experience that supports any of your claims or outlandish statements. Thanks for validating what we’ve all suspected.

Johnny Absurd
Johnny Absurd
4 years ago

Another shooting and stabbing in the emerald city? Everyone wants to move here though. Will it make the paper? Will there be the details that some stories get and others do not? I mean it is election season after all and good things are happening like streets getting swept and lines getting painted.

Holy Cow!

X-Lachs Lounge
X-Lachs Lounge
Reply to  Johnny Absurd
4 years ago

Magic Melle please add to your list

Gigi
Gigi
4 years ago

Poor Uncle Joe….another “senior” moment!

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/08/24/video-gaffe-prone-biden-confuses-new-hampshire-with-vermont/

This guy wants to be Prez??

Trump 2020
Trump 2020
Reply to  Gigi
4 years ago

Biden is a pleasant moron.

Earl Parsnip
Earl Parsnip
4 years ago

Took a ride around the city today and I noticed many more Mazzeo signs then tyer signs. Everyone knows that signs don’t vote but so far not a lot of tyer support.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Earl Parsnip
4 years ago

Did you check the dumpsters Earl?

Auto Phil
Auto Phil
Reply to  Earl Parsnip
4 years ago

I’ve noticed a ton of Mazzeo signs as well and just a few Tyer ones. Interesting.

I don’t know why anyone would want to be mayor of this wretched city anyway.

johnny Absurdo
johnny Absurdo
Reply to  Auto Phil
4 years ago

Some mayors actually have contributed to the wretchedness. But they can come and go anytime they please unlike some of us.

Walter Webster
Walter Webster
4 years ago

In my neighborhood there are more Tyer signs than Mazzeo signs.

Earl Parsnip
Earl Parsnip
Reply to  Walter Webster
4 years ago

You must live near bars and pot shops.

kltpzyxm
kltpzyxm
4 years ago

Well, at least sanitary department not delivering garbage to customer’s door’s in Kong Kong.