Sticking to the principle of freedom of speech can be uncomfortable when commercial gain in China is at stake
If you have problems with the term “late-stage capitalism”, I hope you can get behind the alternative “ironicidal capitalism”. This is the bit where democracies are so evolved and self-assured they sell their freedom of speech to totalitarian regimes. I know! But kind of logical, when you think about it. There was basically nothing left to flog.
For those who’ve missed the saga of the NBA’s travails in China, have no fear. It isn’t going away any time soon, with last weekend’s development being groups of fans wearing masks and “Stand With Hong Kong” T-shirts standing in protest at the Brooklyn Nets pre-season finale at the Barclay Center, in a show of support unlikely to be looked on fondly by the People’s Republic. Tuesday night’s opening NBA games were duly blacked out by China’s state broadcaster.
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