xkepler

Uncle's hard to read, isn't he?

but aren't you freezing? it makes me shiver just watching. the wind chill must be brutal when you're on the bike.

unemployment is rising, but even people with jobs are seeing their incomes drop, so consumer spending is cooling down fast.

that sounds really bad, but in China, policy flip-flops are even more drastic and unchallengeable. everyone is anxious about the uncertainty. Investment strategies are getting really conservative.

so, it looks like tariffs are just pointless?

I've heard about that. If it's true, that's just terrible.

Did you get that 'rude' label because of her?

I don't think an invasion of Taiwan is likely anytime soon. China's domestic issues is just too severe right now, wouldn't risk a rash attack unless absolutely sure could win.

that's not always the case. Some conflicts are simply unavoidable or even necessary. The reality is that diplomacy often fails, and force becomes the only option. A blanket condemnation of war is too idealistic and reductionist.

Aside from domestic sources, the US can source raw materials from Canada, Latin America, Australia, and Africa, right? After all, China itself imports most of its raw materials from abroad.

the mechanism that makes the 'rude' tag permanent is honestly awful.

that’s America's backyard, literally. China reaching that far is crossing a line. Why is the absurdity of it making me want to laugh?

Is that 'rude' label really stuck there forever? that’s brutal. Is there no way to get it removed? If that’s the case, this system is completely unreasonable.

maybe in the long run, the plan is to bring part of the supply chain back as well?

that actually makes sense. but right now, are there more people against it or for it? I really can't tell.

Why is every single one of your messages getting flagged as 'rude' on Bluesky? That's actually kinda funny.

I think the issue is that Venezuela's oil is currently outside their control, and they need to bring it under control. maybe?

It certainly looks tough. things never seem to go according to plan.

The main issue is that there is just such a massive population of low-income workers.

living in big Chinese cities on a low income is a brutal trade-off. You either spend a huge chunk of your salary on rent(even more than 50%), or you suffer through terrible living conditions—like cramming over ten people into a 20-square-meter room.

X (Twitter) kinda rubs me the wrong way now. I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it's just too commercialized and feels like a tool for manipulating public opinion?

this doesn't feel real.

no, there have been no reports on this.

and since housing prices are high relative to income, many people end up with poor living conditions, especially in big cities.

It's true that most properties don't require property tax. But the catch is, you don't actually own the land. You only have land-use rights for a fixed period, so it's basically like a long-term lease.

is that why they control the media? I also can't stand that patronizing narrative, as if everything is a gift from above.

Because the narrative is tightly controlled and ordinary voices are silenced, a lot of people are falling into depression. many people have had the police show up at their door, or have even been thrown in jail, just for saying the 'wrong' thing.

Chinese people are enduring severe economic hardship; it’s nowhere near as good as it looks on the surface. The media is full of propaganda that is completely out of touch with reality.

I understand. excessive income inequality distorts consumption because the general population lacks purchasing power.

maybe if the price is high enough to leave room for a good profit, it works out?