Joe,

Ah yes, but in order to change things our ideas come from
acquired knowledge and learning passed down from generation to
generation. It all starts with learning and education.

Foxy,

Well, sometimes our most useful ideas come from innovation, from thinking OUTSIDE the square, not yammering away on 'time-honoured' maxims. I think that might have been Marx's point.

In this case, Chinese power and likely aggression, of course we should be actively fostering close trade, social and military ties between Aust/NZ and SE Asia, from India around to Japan and across the Pacific; perhaps with Canada as well.

The US is going to be preoccupied with the coming Covid disaster, and the incredibly all-important task of re-electing Trumpf. After he is thrown out, and assuming Biden is elected, and the after-effects of the virus are controlled, the US might be in a position to contribute.

But all that will take new ideas, not re-hashing old ones.

Joe

I'm just Biden my time.

https://genius.com/George-gershwin-bidin-my-time-lyrics

Foxy, I did read it. It merely reinforced what I said.

Academia, politics, is incapable of making much difference.

Go read the politics journals, they are pathetic. Nearly always completely biased and anti-coalition on important policy issues.

Like I said, all that needs to be said is already been said. What difference do you think academics are going to make?

The only solution with the CCP is a Cold War.

But, if the Morrison govt wants some frank and in depth analysis of the CCP issue, I would love to do it for them, at a much cheaper rate than the overpaid university researchers who will now be begging for handouts by making out that they can save the world.

But I am happy with the various essays written by many, the work of ONA and ASIO, the press, and parliamentary committees, that are telling us all we need to know.

The rest will take care of itself.

I don't even think the books make much difference either, given that most books merely ramble on with the arguments better put in essays.

But then I don't read books at all.

Please forgive me for not reading books. I have too many others things to do.