Yes, the Chinese planners and government take a long term view, and are patient. There is a long term plan, whereas I feel that in the US, we just “wing it”. One of my friends believes that China will keep us dependent on them until they have the one thing they are lacking today: technology patents. Once they get our manufacturing for software, hardware, and other high tech products over there, they can more easily copy and manufacture those items. In the meantime they are buying up natural resources globally and striking deals with other countries to get access to resources like oil, uranium, gold, lumber. By the time of the Olympics, they will be ready to show off their economy. Afterward, I expect they will dump us, if they are ready by then. One interesting thing is when the Chinese President came to the US recently, his first stop was Seattle and dinner w/ Bill Gates. His LAST stop was Pres. Bush, and he spent only 30 minutes! Isn’t that a strong signal that China has the upper hand?