It ocured to me the Chinese intentionally clipped the plane within range of an emergency landing at a Chinese airport. If that were a plan, they didn't plan on losing a plane due to brushing wings... (assuming the jet made its pass from behind). And its possible if that's the case, there's a strategy behind this, timed to force the Taiwan vote to not upgrade, while putting the Chinese military in the cat bird seat of an economy that they feel is going Western too fast .
It works either way. If a hostage situation aids a no vote for Taiwan, that's good.. if it provokes a sale thats good for their military because it demands the military get a greater budget to deal with it.
Odd the jets were playing wing tip games so close, odd it happened with enough time for Taiwan vote attention, odd it happened in an airspace with an island nearby that an injured but flyable plane would have to land at..
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As to your OT on democracy vs republics, its rather oblique to the discussion of QCOM and/or the hostages. However, its provocative of a few thoughts.
States rights were an important consideration in framing the workings of the constitution. It was recognized at the time that the then small but populous states in time would probably be politically overpowered by larger states as populations grew. In part, the electoral system attempts to level this worry as the college, which includes two votes for each state's two senators, increases the relative weight of the small states.
However, to assert the "Electoral College, exists because the nation is the united States of america--not the united People of america," puts the cart illogically before the horse.
There was, at the time of the constitution a consensus of Americanism that outstripped local States borders and alligences.
The notion of belonging to a particular State were devolving from their origins of land grants, countries, and trading associations. Americans were preferring themselves as nationalists; not being of Massachusetts, New York, or Pennsylvania... they won the war with England as nationalists.
Constitutional States rights within this national spirit was instituted because of the suspicion that a Federal government could grab power or give way to monarchy or dictatorship... thus the balancing act. It wasn't a suspicion of democracy.. it was a suspicion of good King George and his goons reappearing in sheeps clothing at the nations capital.
In reality the Electoral College was created to defend against the dangers of a central government by preserving local power. There are many who argue that modern technology obviates this structural artifact.. I'm not so sure, but for other reasons |
