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Comment by qaq | Hacker News Reader

Yet somehow they have built up more infrastructure in a year then we did in decades while running a huge trade surplus. We get back disposable crap that does not create any lasting assets.

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We already have infrastructure, China had next to none and still doesn't really. A lot easier to grow when you're starting from zero.

The Beijing subway system is already better than NY's: more lines, better quality, clean, safe...

That's just one example but I was impressed when I saw it. And they have been adding 1 new LINE per year in Beijing, wheras we don't even add 1 new station per year in most US cities.

Not exactly related, but being in Tokyo, I now see that Toronto's subway system is a joke. I think it hasn't really been updated since I was born. There's like, three lines in total.

They have 12,000 mi of high speed rail system, (more than the rest of the world combined) we have 0.

> "China ... still doesn't really"

Have you been to China recently?

> Yet somehow they have built up more infrastructure in a year then we did in decades

We spend most on military, social security and medicare. China doesn't.

I think our spending on social security and medicare is certainly a problem. Don't know much about military spending though.

US Government spending:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rv5UHrNsvcucvflDwwz_pqEjjH...

Having dominant military is a key component is having USD as world's dominant currency which in turn drives about 30-40% of our GDP, so even aside from security aspect it's a very good investment.

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