Get Big or Get Out must be one of those things that emerges "because you can."
Taiwan has managed to maintain its independence in spite of the desire of the Communists to unify Taiwan with China. Way back when an ardent young communist questioned me in China whether I did business with Taiwan as well as China (the State Department issued USA citizens a second passport to hide this from disapproving officials.) I told the truth, yes, of course. She grew very stern, "How can you trade with Taiwan, that renegade province?" I said "Taiwan is a Chinese province, Taiwan and China are the same country." She stopped, considered this, and said "Your politics are very good." Then both Beijing and Taipei agreed on this point: Taiwan and China are one country.
Now elements in Taiwan are having second thoughts. And this angle is interesting...
So China's goal is to "consolidate opposition against Taiwan independence." Whew... double negative on a roller coaster... what is this restated positively? Advance unification? In the double negative expression, pro-independence is the problem. In the second, unification is the problem. Depending on how you state the case, the argument follows.
The very blandishment offered in the speech is internally contradictory. First off, neighbors are already, worldwide, #1 trade partners. so there is no extra advantage to be obtained. Next, any offer of managed trade (share market opportunities) is inimical to prosperity. So no wonder the offer is questioned by some.
So who are the pro-independence folks? Small and medium business, the self-employed. If Taiwan unifies with China, then China can bring "get big or get out" to Taiwan. So it appears Taiwan still has an entrepreneurial ethic still alive, quite aware of itself, it is quite sober in recognizing an existential threat, it ain't buying the notion that state "help" is help.
The idea that free markets are some Judeo-Christian gift to the world is nonsense, it is one of those universal, natural law things. One thing is clear, capitalism, communism, fascism, all practice "get big or get out" because they cannot stand the freedom, peace and prosperity of the small business sector.
The USA has never been a reliable partner, especially to Taiwan, and Taiwan has to figure out how to deal with the Mother Ship. Hong Kong provides some lessons, and so maybe does Sicily, which we think of as Italy, but not so either Italians or Sicilians, except for some vague hegemony. Just as in the USA, and anywhere else on earth, a nation's freedom depends on its small businesses. In Taiwan we have a clear instance of small business holding the cards, the team to beat when it comes to the unification question. It will be fascinating to watch how they play the cards.
We (USA) need a Hong Kong, Sicily, Andorra, Taiwan option here in USA... a place where the seed corn of freedom can be stored while USA goes headlong into the insanity of debt-fueled war and welfare fascism. (Russia may have this in the Crimea.)
A free market zone, surrounded by a Navy base to keep fleeing Americans out, but open to trade with the world. Right now starting a business is a revolutionary act in the USA. We need a place where that is not so.
Feel free to forward this by email to three of your friends.
Taiwan has managed to maintain its independence in spite of the desire of the Communists to unify Taiwan with China. Way back when an ardent young communist questioned me in China whether I did business with Taiwan as well as China (the State Department issued USA citizens a second passport to hide this from disapproving officials.) I told the truth, yes, of course. She grew very stern, "How can you trade with Taiwan, that renegade province?" I said "Taiwan is a Chinese province, Taiwan and China are the same country." She stopped, considered this, and said "Your politics are very good." Then both Beijing and Taipei agreed on this point: Taiwan and China are one country.
Now elements in Taiwan are having second thoughts. And this angle is interesting...
"I believe as long as we consolidate opposition against 'Taiwan Independence,' adhere to the '1992 consensus' and uphold the one-China framework, cross-Strait relations will move on steadily," Yu added. ...
Zhang Zhijun, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, also said the mainland was willing to share its market opportunities with the Taiwan compatriots before anyone else.
In a speech at the forum, Zhang called for more support for small and medium-sized companies in cross-Strait cooperation and expansion of youth exchange activities.
In the March protest attended mainly by Taiwanese college students, one commonly filed accusation was that the pact was designed to favor large corporate interests but would bring losses to small and medium-sized companies and the self-employed. The agreement aims to open up 80 of the mainland's service sectors to Taiwan and 64 Taiwan sectors to the mainland.
So China's goal is to "consolidate opposition against Taiwan independence." Whew... double negative on a roller coaster... what is this restated positively? Advance unification? In the double negative expression, pro-independence is the problem. In the second, unification is the problem. Depending on how you state the case, the argument follows.
The very blandishment offered in the speech is internally contradictory. First off, neighbors are already, worldwide, #1 trade partners. so there is no extra advantage to be obtained. Next, any offer of managed trade (share market opportunities) is inimical to prosperity. So no wonder the offer is questioned by some.
So who are the pro-independence folks? Small and medium business, the self-employed. If Taiwan unifies with China, then China can bring "get big or get out" to Taiwan. So it appears Taiwan still has an entrepreneurial ethic still alive, quite aware of itself, it is quite sober in recognizing an existential threat, it ain't buying the notion that state "help" is help.
The idea that free markets are some Judeo-Christian gift to the world is nonsense, it is one of those universal, natural law things. One thing is clear, capitalism, communism, fascism, all practice "get big or get out" because they cannot stand the freedom, peace and prosperity of the small business sector.
The USA has never been a reliable partner, especially to Taiwan, and Taiwan has to figure out how to deal with the Mother Ship. Hong Kong provides some lessons, and so maybe does Sicily, which we think of as Italy, but not so either Italians or Sicilians, except for some vague hegemony. Just as in the USA, and anywhere else on earth, a nation's freedom depends on its small businesses. In Taiwan we have a clear instance of small business holding the cards, the team to beat when it comes to the unification question. It will be fascinating to watch how they play the cards.
We (USA) need a Hong Kong, Sicily, Andorra, Taiwan option here in USA... a place where the seed corn of freedom can be stored while USA goes headlong into the insanity of debt-fueled war and welfare fascism. (Russia may have this in the Crimea.)
A free market zone, surrounded by a Navy base to keep fleeing Americans out, but open to trade with the world. Right now starting a business is a revolutionary act in the USA. We need a place where that is not so.
Feel free to forward this by email to three of your friends.
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