“And then if you say that it’s actually fine because overall this US-led world order is pretty good they’ll ask what the fuck you’re talking about, it’s horrible!”
I am not very confident about this US international order thing, but there is a difference between knowing that things are bad compared to some ideal world and having an idea how to get there.
Not sure what “pretty good” even means—there is always an implicit “compared to what” in there. It’s horrible compared to some imaginary worlds, and much less-horrible than some actual, historical worlds.
Well, maybe. It’s hard to compare multidimensional changes with different populations. There are more people living in misery than ever before. There are also more people living pretty well, very well, and incredibly well than ever before.
Additionally, the world is less horrible compare to some plausible counterfactual worlds. Trying to change the world to the better can end up like the plan to bring democracy to Iraq or Afghanistan (assuming that was the plan in these cases).
“And then if you say that it’s actually fine because overall this US-led world order is pretty good they’ll ask what the fuck you’re talking about, it’s horrible!”
I am not very confident about this US international order thing, but there is a difference between knowing that things are bad compared to some ideal world and having an idea how to get there.
Not sure what “pretty good” even means—there is always an implicit “compared to what” in there. It’s horrible compared to some imaginary worlds, and much less-horrible than some actual, historical worlds.
Well, maybe. It’s hard to compare multidimensional changes with different populations. There are more people living in misery than ever before. There are also more people living pretty well, very well, and incredibly well than ever before.
Additionally, the world is less horrible compare to some plausible counterfactual worlds. Trying to change the world to the better can end up like the plan to bring democracy to Iraq or Afghanistan (assuming that was the plan in these cases).
On the current developments in China, also see
https://www.economist.com/china/2018/11/24/the-west-begins-to-stir-over-chinas-massive-abuse-of-muslims
(Though I think the comment on Guantánamo there is not convincing.)