In the first photo, taken in 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon made what was then considered a bold move, visiting Mao Zedong in Communist China. Literally, as well as figuratively, Chairman Mao is on the left and Mr. Nixon is on the right.
In the second photo, taken over forty years later, we have U.S. President Barrack Obama making a similar visit to China. This time, again literally as well as figuratively, Mr. Obama is on the left and Chinese President Xi Jinping is on the right.
Over the ensuing four decades, both countries have been changing dramatically. The U.S. has become increasingly socialistic, more focused on Big Government and more of a totalitarian state. In 1972, it was the world’s foremost creditor nation; it is now the world’s foremost debtor nation. By contrast, China, since the death of Chairman Mao, has opened up considerably, with billions of people becoming upwardly mobile, in response to China becoming increasingly capitalistic.
To be sure, both countries retain some of their historical features, but increasingly, the U.S. is acting like a country in decline, whilst China is acting like a country on the rise.
This post was published at International Man
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