I just posted some links in my other comments.

Propaganda much?

Most of the countries that take this money are ending up destitute and owing China huge sums and some of the infrastructure has already started crumbling.

Yes, they are. For one thing it is possible to renegotiate the loan if it turns out they can’t pay it. Loans are only given with oversight and implementation of economic and political reforms. the terms are clear before the money is given. Unfortunately, they are often very difficult changes and are effectively impacting sovereignty in that the reforms are toward a western economic model.

The Chinese approach is different, and usually ends up being a debt trap. Also, they are extracting natural resources, and failing to take responsibility for their failures.

Sigh.

No, they are not both communist nations with a similar dislike of America and authoritarian governments. One loves America and hates Communism. /s

I did not imply the U.S.A. was always doing the right thing. Politics is a bitch, and I would not last 10 minutes as a politician.

That’s easy. Bury it or otherwise make it disappear so we can keep making bank on petrochemicals. duh!

Sorry for the cynicism. I can’t help it. I’ve seen too much.

Maybe, but helping a people with similar politics who are suffering miserably is always a good thing for those people. The fact that they are so close to a mutual enemy is icing on the cake.

This is the culture that gave us “the Art of War”, after all. I’d expect no less of them, and normally I’d expect at least as much from us. Unfortunately we’re lead by the (possibly) worst representative of humanity possible right now.

It’s been reported, it’s just not promoted. I also have known about it for years, but from news sources.

Yes. Long term approach to gaining political influence. Used as a weapon, it fosters dependency. Use as a good will approach, it fosters appreciation and the beginning of a bond of trust.

The infrastructure and loan programs China has been used for years in Africa and South America as the weapon.

Just take a gander of the infrastructure failures and unpayable loans. Also, the rare earth mining in central Africa.

We need help to keep us from giving in to the easy excuses. Finding that help is tough, so we might have to “tough it out” on one side to give us reason to quiet the other.

Obviously easier said than done

Unfortunately, they’re both lies. They let us wallow in our misery. I know this, but often cannot put it aside myself.

Ublock origin and adaway to the rescue.

Hallelujah!

Well, I’m somewhat disturbed to find you are basically right. I gather it’s partly due to the insane complexity of the market - even here on our side of the pond. The article I linked described pricing in real-time rather than for the annual auctions your reference described. A quote from the end of the article:

It’s tempting to think electricity prices are simply the product of supply and demand, but the reality is far more choreographed. From fuel markets to regulators, the system is layered and opaque. Consumers think they are paying for power; in reality, they are funding infrastructure projects, policy goals, and investor returns.

On the bright side, it does mean the wind and solar renewable energy producers are probably making bank. This explains why investment continues to accelerate even without subsidies.

Eventually, capacity (in theory) will get so high for renewables that the “last provider in the chain” will not be a ludicrously expensive resource. That’d be nice. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Are you sure that is what is happening? I doubt the utility is paying the solar supplier more than their stated price. That is not how Capitalism works over here.

Yes, I know. Like I said, “can’t” do the math expected of their employees for their work. Theare able to measure the kilowats going into millions of homes, but can’t measure the kilowatts they consume. So they get potentially 90% of the electricity dirt cheep, but charge everybody as if they paid the highest price on the market for all of it.

Funny how these businesses are able to tailor prices to individuals by spying on them, but they can’t figure the math to calculate their costs by source.

Convenient problem, isn’t it?