I pay very little attention to them or any other nation (except ours because I live here) but assign no real judgment over things as nothing is permanent or under my orders.

@rainmanjr Well now, I so hate to tell you this BUT your beloved United States of Absurdity is NOT exactly behind the rest of the pack when it comes to spreading propaganda, in actual fact, it runs in equal place with Red China, Russia and Nth. Korea.

I do not know why you would want, or not want, to become anything. You be yourself, dear. I am merely sharing a POV about ZenTaoism as it pertains to Chinese dominance of us. Obviously a bit more will go into it before that happens but that is also beyond my control. If you know anything of Zen Taoism then you know that I don't think in terms of "God" at all. Tao is unnamable so we call it Tao. That is a belief so I can't claim to be atheistic. I happen to not agree that belief of something makes it a religion. Taoism is much more of a personal garden for amusement and wisdom, in my opinion.

@rainmanjr So you are scared of saying your an atheist? Either you believe in a god or you don't.

@rainmanjr Is Taoism a belief such that one who subscribes to it cannot be said to be atheist? While the term atheist may be defined as one who is without belief, it seems that the belief referenced is belief in a deity specifically, rather than belief in natural patterns. How is Taoism different from a belief in science? I would lean in favor of a Taoist being able to also claim to be atheist. If certain sayings are problematic, are they so critical to Taoism as to deny that label?

@racocn8
Thank you. A way of life including Taoism and Buddhism do I not mention any god of any kind.

That is one reason and I applaud them for it. That's what govt is for. But they played taking a significant chair in world dominance very well and continue to do that. They raked in boatloads of money from gambling, which they used to prepare their current advantages, and are now shutting that down to cure problems from addictions. That's cynical but brilliant and, I'd bet, very intentional.

@rainmanjr Maybe if you were Chinese and all those restrictions were put upon you, you would think differently. You know China is now deleting famous people from their Weibo which is the eqivalent to Facebook and also deleting their movies and music from social media too. They are afraid that if someone is to popular people will listen to them and revolt.

@Jolanta They are afraid of their opposition? Gee, how novel. I am preparing for the life that I have known to one of accepting those restrictions with as much joy and freedom as allowed. My attitude toward the fall of our empire, from bad decisions which I actively disagreed with but was overruled by American people, is one of personal insight and conviction but also prudence. I merely suggest it as a panacea to the fear you all will feel if China wins.

@rainmanjr China has already won but most people do not realise it.

Every word is very accurate. I think that's why Xi feels a need to branch out and take over his newly acquired servant states (like Hong Kong). More are coming so that population can spread out.

@rainmanjr It is not a matter of the population spreading out but of world dominance by China, or the people in the party.