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America vs. China

310 snips
Oct 31, 2025
Dan Wang, author and research fellow at the Hoover Institution, shares insights from his life in China and the contrasts with America. He reveals common misconceptions Americans have about China and discusses the country's rapid engineering prowess. Wang explains how China's governance relies on large-scale projects for legitimacy, while highlighting the U.S.'s legalistic approach that often hinders infrastructure. He advocates for a blended approach, suggesting the U.S. could benefit from more engineering focus while adopting stronger legal protections.
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INSIGHT

Communist Rhetoric, Conservative Policy

  • China projects communist imagery but practices low taxes, limited welfare, and repression of labor organizing.
  • Dan calls it a right-wing regime masquerading as left-wing through symbolic Marxism.
INSIGHT

Engineering State Drives Rapid Building

  • Dan argues China is an "engineering state" governed by engineers who treat problems as engineering exercises.
  • That mindset produces rapid infrastructure and economic projects focused on building and planning.
ANECDOTE

Cycling Through Guizhou's Surprising Infrastructure

  • Dan recounts cycling 600 km through Guizhou and finding unexpectedly excellent infrastructure like highways and airports.
  • He contrasts Guizhou's infrastructure with much richer U.S. states lacking similar projects.
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