Did Trump and his billionaire friends misread the Chinese people?

[kentuck]

Did they believe that China would put capitalism and wealth above all else?

Did they think China would be impressed with the "richest man in the world".

Did they believe that the Chinese people would not see through their charade?

Did they believe that the Chinese leaders were just like them?

Was this their method of attempted bribery?

In my opinion, this trip was a disaster from top to bottom.

[alwaysinasnit]

1. The level of hubris demonstrated by this administration is absolutely stunning.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. He needs to watch a few Asian dramas.

The rich classes are never the good guys, and the lesson is always treat everyone with respect or suffer the consequences.

[LakeVermilion]

3. Krasnov too lazy to prepare remarks...

He tries to "wing it" instead. How can such an undisciplined lug expect to get the respect of other leaders.

Of course, he never reflects so he believes that nothing is wrong; that everything was "perfect."

[GoodRaisin]

15. He is too stupid to be in that setting with intelligent people. Being ignorant about just

about everything, when it’s his turn to speak all he can think of is that horseshit praise that starts falling out of his mouth. Carnival barking is his specialty. I’m sure Xi loved all the compliments though.

[Johonny]

4. Most of the business leaders understand the Chinese

But also want access to the Chinese market and are very, very willing to use the moronic lump of mass known as Trump to allow them an air of authority to try to negotiate for better access to that market.

Trump is an idiot that praises Xi and calls him a friend. He doesn't understand much beyond how to fill his diaper.

[dalton99a]

5. "In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed,

wealth is something to be ashamed of."
- Confucius

[ananda]

8. To clarify.. poverty is something for the country and its rulers to be ashamed of.

Not for its poor people, that is.

[Ilikepurple]

11. I'm pretty sure the original meaning was living in poverty is shameful in a well governed country

Whereas living in wealth is shameful in a poorly governed country. I’m not agreeing with Confucius, but think it makes more sense given his teachings and the structure of the aphorism.

[ananda]

14. This is exactly what Confucius said.

I was just making sure that everyone understands that
it's the government that is either to blame or take
credit... not the people.

[Ilikepurple]

16. But Book 8.13 the Analects contains advice to his students rather than an analysis of proper government

At least that is how I understood it. I hesitate to be overconfident when speaking about Eastern Philosophy as I’m not close to being an expert.
Confucius has much to say about governance, but here it seems he’s more interested in giving advice about how to interact with good or bad states. I believe he’s advising his students that there’s virtue in engaging with and climbing the ranks of a just state, but to do so to enrich themselves in an unjust state is vice. That is, the shame referred to her resides in the student, not the government. Translating The Analects will always contain a degree of interpretation because of differences in syntax, culture, and available vocabulary.

The following are a few different translations of the relevant passage, but they all seem to be directed at guiding students along the way of the good.

When the Way prevails in the world, he appears; when the Way is lacking, he retires. When the state follows the Way, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the state is without the Way, being rich and eminent is a cause for shame.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

When the dao prevails in the world,
appear; when it does not, hide.
When the dao prevails in a state, to
be poor and of low rank is shameful; when
the dao does not prevail in a state, to be
wealthy and of high rank is shameful.

Robert Eno

The Master said, “Have unshakable trust in [the moral path you pursue]. Love learning. Hold on to the way of the good until you die. Do not enter a state threatened with danger. Do not reside in a state embroiled in conflict. Show yourself when the moral way is evident. Seek reclusion when it is not. When the moral way prevails in a state, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the moral way does not prevail in the world, having wealth and position is a cause for shame.
Annping Chin

[mwmisses4289]

6. Yes, of course they did.

The idiotic bobbing blocks have convinced themselves that they are the smartest people on the planet (in spite of all the evidence to the contrary) and that everyone in the world should bow down to them.

[randr]

7. Most important is how the Chinese read Trump

They know how to get every thing they want.

[BaronChocula]

9. "In my opinion, this trip was a disaster from top to bottom."

Signature maga. They take a ham fist to everything which is fine when you want to destroy everything. But it doesn't work so well when you want to build something.

[LymphocyteLover]

10. OF COURSE THEY DID!!! They are all totally clueless self-obsessed psychopaths.

[live love laugh]

12. I don't think they really care. They are devoid of decency or dignity.

[vapor2]

13. Guessing that GREED prompted the sycophant CEOs to go to China

Hope they get zero deals and shame on Tim Cook