Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
"They found the flaw in capitalism, which is greed. [...] And then they realize it, and they're able to take advantage and exploit it, because you know, we want to make clothes. We can make them America. They're going to be way more expensive. We're going to make way less money. So what do we do? We go to fucking China and make them goddamn clothes, because there's nobody else can make it as cheap." — Unnamed Guest
"The most dangerous thing about Western ideals or the most intoxicating part about it is do what makes you happy. That whole idea is so fucking intoxicated." — Unnamed Guest
"The way you get someone by the balls is you control the institutions. Once you control the institutions, you control the information. And it's that fucking easy. And we let them buy in, bro. We let them buy in. And then you become China and they control everything." — Unnamed Guest
The discussion delves into the perceived vulnerability of the United States to Chinese economic influence, primarily driven by American corporate greed. Speakers argue that China strategically exploits this by investing in and acquiring stakes in American companies and real estate, thereby gaining leverage and influencing decision-making. This is contrasted with the Chinese system, where freedom and Western culture are deliberately suppressed, with media being heavily scrutinized by the Communist Party. The conversation highlights the export of American cultural ideals, such as freedom and personal happiness, as a potent force that China actively works to prevent from influencing its populace, fearing its intoxicating effect.
The speakers debate different strategic approaches to managing the relationship with China, ranging from appeasement to direct confrontation. The concept of becoming a "number two" global power, akin to Great Britain's relationship with the United States, is presented as a potential long-term strategy, though some participants dismiss this as weak. A significant concern raised is the potential for Chinese cultural influence to become dominant, infringing on values like freedom, using the example of the Uighurs to illustrate the suppression of distinct cultures.
Furthermore, the conversation examines how Chinese influence extends to the media and entertainment industry, particularly Hollywood. It is suggested that U.S. companies, driven by the desire to access the vast Chinese market, tailor their content to be more palatable to Chinese audiences, even altering films to remove or downplay Chinese adversaries. The ownership of media institutions by wealthy individuals is also cited as a mechanism for controlling narratives and shaping public discourse, with the example of the New York Times and Carlos Slim being discussed.