China: The Electric City on the Hill
I want to start by saying you don't need to know what is happening in the world to understand that it's happening. One clear indication of this is when Drake rapped about blue text messages. There was a clear understanding that there was a difference between iPhone and Samsung.
Years ago, I had an interview, and the hiring manager asked me what kind of phone I had. I thought it was an odd question, but when I answered, “Apple,” his expression told me everything I needed to know—I wasn’t getting the job. As I left the hospital where the interview was held, a thought swept through my mind: what other phone truly compared to the iPhone? Not Samsung, not Mortola, there wasn’t even one to compare with a phone that held all my music—that was certain.
Over the last year, I’ve been listening to podcasts about China and President Xi Jinping. In my opinion, he carries himself as if he has everything under control—he’s a cool breeze seriously. This reminds me of an incident during the BRICS Summit in 2023. As President Xi Jinping entered the venue, one of his bodyguards was momentarily blocked by security. Xi didn't miss a beat; he continued walking without hesitation. It was a small moment, but it spoke volumes about China's relentless forward march, undeterred by obstacles, no matter how personal or immediate.
There is that quiet cool. But, I wonder is there something beneath the surface. Is China really the powerhouse they purport to be. Cracks are forming—bad construction projects, economic slowdowns, and a growing sense that China’s progress isn’t as seamless as it appears. And yet, the country continues to push forward with a singular vision, one built entirely on electric power and absolute control.
China is constructing an empire where everything runs on electricity. It controls the railways, the cars on the road, the delivery trucks, and even the way people live their lives. There’s something about this shiny, electric city on a hill that seems impressive at first glance. But the more I think about it, the more uneasy I become. A city like that dependent entirely on the grid, feels oppressive. And what happens when that grid is turned off?
There’s something unsettling about a future where everything is controlled by a single switch. No gas-powered cars to escape, no independence from the system, just a world where those in power can dictate what stays on and what goes dark. China’s rise isn’t just about technology—it’s about controlling the global supply chains that make this vision possible. The cobalt mines in Congo fuel this electric dream, but at what cost? Men, women, and children are digging in the dirt, trapped in a cycle of exploitation to power devices they will never own. And while the United States has its own history of resource exploitation, there’s been a growing effort to step back, reassess, and find a better way.
As an American citizen, it’s easy to push these things to the back of our minds. We can ignore the world around us as we scroll, post, and swipe left. But then there’s reality. And sometimes, I wonder if a woman in the Congo feels the same way—her son is in the mines, working like a slave, but at least they get to eat another day.
I know that sounds shallow, but the truth is, until we find another way, Congolese men will still be in the mines. Why can’t these places be managed like any other business? Why is there so much corruption? I don’t have the answer.
But that’s the difference. China seems content to keep relying on the Congolese, keeping them in the dirt while reaping the benefits of the EV revolution. The U.S., for all its flaws, at least acknowledges the issue. While we are still reliant on cobalt from the DRC, there is an effort to step back and look for alternatives—whether through domestic mining, battery recycling, or partnerships that ensure workers in the Congo are treated with dignity.
Maybe stepping back isn’t about losing. Maybe it’s about realizing that not all progress is good progress. There is something liberating about rejecting a world where everything is connected to a single grid. While China is digging deep into the earth, America is reaching for the stars. It was incredible to watch SpaceX catch a rocket in midair, a moment that captured the pioneering spirit America was built on. Meanwhile, China is drilling toward the center of the earth, chasing fire.
For all the challenges we face, I still believe America leads in the areas that matter most—AI, space exploration, and technological innovation. But there is a sense of scrambling. Trump calling for aid, the frantic push to dominate AI, the tension between freedom and government intervention. Sometimes it feels as if we are no longer leading, as if we are playing defense, reacting to China’s moves. I believe we still have the same pioneering spirit, but we are trying to break out of the box in a way that China isn’t.
I am a believer in Jesus Christ, and I see so much vanity in the world. We chase progress but forget the greater promise—the coming of a new heaven and a new earth. But in this life, one truth remains: mankind will always pioneer. We will always find ways to invent and reinvent. And if I have to choose, I would much rather be in the United States.
America has its flaws. We’ve made mistakes, taken missteps, and sometimes the pendulum swings too far in one direction. But at least it swings. At least there is room for change, for pushback, for the possibility of something better. China, by contrast, moves in one direction—forward, but only on its own terms. There is no room to challenge, no room to question, just a carefully controlled march toward a future where everything is connected but nothing is truly free.
China’s vision of progress is built on control—control of resources, control of labor, control of digital spaces. But what happens when the lights go out? What happens when the switch is flipped? That is the bigger question.
Is China’s model the future—a world where everything is connected but every connection is monitored, regulated, and controlled? Or does America’s messy, unpredictable, often frustrating system still hold an edge? Because for all our flaws, we still have the ability to resist, to push back, to fight for something different.
And that, is what separates freedom from control.
America, stop gazing at that shiny city on the hill!!
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Resources:
Europe's difficult path on China's EVs is a lesson for North America
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This content is the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session Ausby and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without my express written permission. For inquiries or permission requests, please contact me at Jmbeausby@aol.com.
