China bashing: Shame on American politics [-Chinese reaction to US politics]

U.S. President Barrack Obama (R) and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney attend their second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York state, the United States, Oct. 16, 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

October 16, 2012
People's Daily Online

Many scenes of U.S. presidential elections are repeated every four years. China bashing remains a routine for the two candidates in this year’s U.S. presidential race.

The two candidates have blamed China for the weak economy and high unemployment in the United States, and claimed that Chinese investment in the United States endangers the country’s economic independence and national security.

The most popular explanation is that the candidates find fault with China simply to win more votes. There must be something wrong with the country’s political system if such downright lies can be used to lure voters.

The United States’ decline has been a hot topic in recent years while in fact, the country remains powerful, and no other country is expected to overtake the United States in the foreseeable future.

However, the country is entering an era of political decline. Such new terms as “political paralysis” and “financial cliff” have been coined to describe the status quo in Washington politics.

History proves that the more mediocre a political system is, the more it relies on votes. A mediocre political system can only “produce” politicians that are good at finding scapegoats.

Certain people believe that such a competitive system allows voters to find the most suitable person for the position of president.

In fact, “the most suitable person” tends to be a politician who is most afraid of losing voters’ support and thus dare not speak the truth, and most afraid of shouldering responsibilities and thus always scapegoats others.

There is also an old-fashioned view that taking China as an imaginary enemy can enhance crisis awareness. However, today’s Americans lack the spirit of self-reflection rather than crisis awareness.

The United States has not become so powerful because of scapegoating others or creating imaginary enemies. Politicians who always look for scapegoats are either stupid or cowardly. If Barack Obama or Mitt Romney really won more votes by slandering or playing tough on China, it would be a shame for the American politics, and a trouble for the world.