MAD

I’ve known a thing or two about bad breakups. And when it comes to world affairs, there ain’t a messier divorce on this green Earth than the one simmering between the United States and China. They used to toast each other with trade deals and cheap electronics — now they glare across the Pacific like two gamblers who just caught each other cheating at the same poker table. One’s holding a trillion dollars in debt, the other’s got the keys to the chip factory, and both are armed to the teeth with missiles and malware. Folks, this ain’t diplomacy — it’s a high-stakes custody battle over the future of the planet. And the kid caught in the middle is us.

So here we are — two giants, both too proud to back down, too tied together to walk away clean. It’s the kind of story where everybody’s right, everybody’s wrong, and if we’re not careful, we’ll all end up sharing a grave labeled “mutual assured destruction.” But maybe — just maybe — if enough regular folks keep asking the right questions, and the big shots stop playing empire with live ammunition, we might just swap this slow-motion train wreck for something better. ‘Til then, keep your head down, your mind sharp, as we get closer to the point of no return. .

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) — the terrifyingly polite way of saying, “If you kill me, I’ll kill you too — so let’s both pretend we’re civilized.”

Originally coined during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, MAD was built on the idea that no one would start a nuclear war if both sides knew they’d end up glowing together. It worked — barely — through Cuban missile crises, spy games, and decades of nuclear poker.

Now, we’re seeing a modern remix of MAD between the U.S. and China — but it’s more economic, technological, and cyber than purely nuclear (though nukes are still on the table, in the back of the drawer, with the keys half turned).

Here’s how Modern MAD looks today:

1. Economic MAD

China holds over $800 billion in U.S. debt. Sell it all at once? Global market meltdown.
U.S. buys hundreds of billions in Chinese exports. Cut that off? Supply chain chaos, inflation, global slowdown.
If either side goes for the jugular, it bleeds out with them.

2. Tech MAD

Semiconductors: The U.S. cuts off China’s chip access. China counters by threatening rare earth minerals and building its own tech stack.
TikTok vs iPhones: Digital Cold War — data surveillance, app bans, 5G wars.
Kill one side’s tech? You cripple your own ecosystem.

3. Cyber MAD

Both sides have elite cyber armies. Shut down each other’s satellites, banks, water systems, or power grids? Nobody wins. But everybody can lose.

4. Military MAD

The nukes haven’t gone anywhere.
Taiwan is the flashpoint. Any misstep could trigger a war neither side actually wants — because they know escalation means annihilation, not victory.

5. Ideological MAD

Democracy vs Authoritarianism.
Each side thinks the other is the villain in a global morality play. The danger? When you believe you’re the good guy, you’re more willing to push the button.

Bottom Line:
It’s no longer just about missiles in silos. It’s markets, chips, apps, ports, and minds. The weapons of Mutual Assured Destruction today are spreadsheets and servers — with nukes as the fine print.

Personal MAD is just like Global MAD

I once knew a couple that seemed happily married.
They smiled at parties, shared vacation photos, and hosted barbecues like love was something you could grill and serve medium-rare. But as with most glossy things, the cracks were just beneath the surface.

Turns out, he was sleeping with the nanny.
She found out, and suddenly the shared life turned into a war zone. They fought over the house, the dog, and the boat. She got the house, kids and the dog. He ended up with the duplex — and clinging to a sailboat she had gifted him years ago. She claimed it was hers. He said it was his. They both lawyered up like it was the trial of the century.

Now, here’s where it gets poetic.

She figured out something no therapist ever told her: chainsaws and fiberglass don’t mix.
She didn’t sink the boat — she shredded its soul. I never saw it with my own eyes, but folks who did said it looked like sadness afloat.

Then the real tragedy: He killed the dog.
I don’t remember all the details — maybe no one really does. All I know is they both got arrested. Rage had turned into recklessness. And the only thing more broken than the marriage was everything they fought to keep.No one won.

They let pride blind them to the only way out: humility.

Going back to China and US, if you squint hard enough, this ain’t just a breakup story.
It’s a preview of the world’s nastiest geopolitical divorce: the United States and China.

You see, there’s something deep in the Chinese psyche called the Century of Humiliation — a wound that still bleeds beneath the skin. It’s not just history; it’s identity. A national trauma they vowed never to repeat. They carry that chip on their shoulder like it was forged from every treaty, invasion, and insult they endured.

And America? Well, Trump came along like a jilted spouse with a megaphone, blaming China for everything from lost jobs to lab leaks. Whether he’s right or wrong misses the point. Neither side is in the mood to give in. They both want to win. And just like that couple — they’re arguing over the house (Taiwan), the dog (global influence), and the damn sailboat (economic dominance).

But pride, unchecked, has a nasty habit of turning partners into enemies.
Let’s just hope the chainsaws stay in the garage.

I don’t want to live in a MADMAX movie.

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