China builds a train station in 9 hours.
California can’t build a bus shelter with 8 departments.
California can’t build a bus shelter with 8 departments.
To get back ahead we need to understand how far behind we are. China is not merely 10% faster, they are in some respects 100X faster.
@elonmusk agrees, by the way.
@elonmusk agrees, by the way.
Individual tech founders are competitive with China and often innovate first.
But China is unmatched at cloning, scaling, deploying. And they can innovate in the digital world too. In the physical world, they are just far ahead.
Why? US regulations block physical innovation.
But China is unmatched at cloning, scaling, deploying. And they can innovate in the digital world too. In the physical world, they are just far ahead.
Why? US regulations block physical innovation.
By the way, that video is from 2018.
Chinese construction has been able to pull off quick-build projects like this since the early 2010s.
There is a technology story here, but the most important thing is policy: namely a state that wants to build.
youtu.be
Chinese construction has been able to pull off quick-build projects like this since the early 2010s.
There is a technology story here, but the most important thing is policy: namely a state that wants to build.
youtu.be
More videos.
This is just cope.
The US was also a democracy back when it was a manufacturing powerhouse.
See patrickcollison.com.
The US was also a democracy back when it was a manufacturing powerhouse.
See patrickcollison.com.
Consider this:
1950 US: can build
2023 US: can’t build
1950 China: can’t build
2023 China: can build
1950 India: can’t build
2023 India: can build
It isn’t as simple as “communists can build” or “democracies can’t build” or even “modern democracies can’t build.”
1950 US: can build
2023 US: can’t build
1950 China: can’t build
2023 China: can build
1950 India: can’t build
2023 India: can build
It isn’t as simple as “communists can build” or “democracies can’t build” or even “modern democracies can’t build.”
India is genuinely accelerating in the physical world in a way I haven’t seen before.
No, this is cope.
California exploits millions of migrants by intentionally keeping them in a legal gray zone.
But cheap labor hasn’t made them great at construction.
You actually want expensive labor, which incentivizes automation.
California exploits millions of migrants by intentionally keeping them in a legal gray zone.
But cheap labor hasn’t made them great at construction.
You actually want expensive labor, which incentivizes automation.
More cope.
China’s infra is obviously modern and functional in the big cities.
Moreover, the regulation in the US doesn’t ensure safety. Huge amounts of SF is built on liquefaction zones. And SF Transit Center in particular was expensive, slow, and unsafe.
China’s infra is obviously modern and functional in the big cities.
Moreover, the regulation in the US doesn’t ensure safety. Huge amounts of SF is built on liquefaction zones. And SF Transit Center in particular was expensive, slow, and unsafe.
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