Local Voices
Bob Malkas
I want to invite the readers of the Journal to participate in a 2023 social experiment that we all could find educational.
No one can deny that the American people are being forced to lives their lives in a divided nation. No one can deny that the blame for this unrest and chaos rests in our elected leaders, those in control of social media, and what I call people behind the curtain. Unfortunately, our only hope to change this untenable reality must come from each of us being asked to live our lives under these conditions.
THEY keep telling us they know how to defend our democracy, but conditions are getting worse not better. So, what do we do? The answer, I believe, is for us to be independent thinkers and, once informed, make our own decisions on how we require leaders to go forward, even though THEY are telling us otherwise.
In the long term, how we as a nation interact with China, Russia, Iran, and other nations that do not share our moral values will have a much deeper effect on our way of life than the domestic issues we are hearing about in media today, and ultimately they will filter down to local communities like Lansing.
Social Media is consumed with, let me try to make a list: inflation, critical race theory, crime, defund the police, gender questions, how to best educate our children, January 6th, COVID, and more investigations than you can count.
Historically, the foreign policy of the United States has revolved around four main objectives: the protection of the United States and its citizens and allies, the assurance of continuing access to international resources and markets, the preservation of a balance of power in the world, and the protection of human rights and democracy.
We Americans living in local communities should evaluate for ourselves if these objectives are still being pursued today. Are those who are administrating our foreign policy on an international level showing us that they are doing the job required to maintain those principles?
China has adopted an international strategy. It is called the Belt and Road Initiative. It is a global infrastructure development plan begun in 2013 to invest in other countries. Records will show that it has been successful in nearly 150 countries. It is the centerpiece of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s foreign policy.
The Belt and Road Initiative is believed by some analysts to be China’s way to extend their economy and political influence throughout the globe. It has been successful because China has already engaged 149 countries and 30 international organizations to be included in it.
In 2009 a book was published by British journalist Martin Jacques. The title will tell you everything you need to know about its contents: When China Rules the World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World.
As of 2022 the Belt and Road Initiative is still pursuing those objectives in Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa, advancing the transcontinental, long-term policy and investment program which aims at infrastructure development projects in those countries.
To protect the American people our leaders who are directing our foreign policy decisions must be able to respond to what China has been achieving, but unfortunately they are not. Adding the need of an immediate foreign policy response, we are now hearing reports that Chinese-backed interests are buying large tracts of farm land in the United States. What could be their reasons, and why have our leaders and social media stayed quiet?
As we move into 2023 let us all commit to follow how our leaders respond to this clear and present danger. And do not be afraid to ask questions, always remembering that “power” rests in the people.
Bob Malkas
Local Voices is our version of “Letters to the Editor.” The opinions posted here are those of the writers, and posting them does not indicate endorsement by The Lansing Journal. We welcome input from fellow residents who have thoughtful things to say about topics that are important to our community. Send your submissions to The Lansing Journal with “Voices” in the subject line.
China has learned over the last 7 decades that control through indebtedness is the most effective means of control. Conquer VIA economics. Most politicians are short-sited and financially ignorant. The British empire prepared a large majority of the world for a future Chinese occupation. This includes America. Occupying a territory, extracting it’s resources and abandoning it once it becomes less profitable to occupy; creates an insatiable thirst for a quick injection of cash. That quick cash has a perpetual hook with an immediate control requirement. For example: China is not investing in an African country when they loan that country money to finance the construction of a port. China is investing in China. They simply build a port off the coast of a financially illiterate country and convince them to pay the bill. China maintains complete control over staffing and operations of the port….while enlarging their coffers with interest payments. The systematic intentional decline in civic pride means Americans are for sale. China is older than America. The younger is always easier to exploit. Racism has nothing on international dominance schemes. China owning social media and providing dumbed down content to American tik tok users, while providing edifying content to its citizens reveals their intentions. This is world war 3. The non-thinker will never see it coming. Our leaders are complicit.