This is the country with which the US has signed broad trade agreements and to which it has transferred US capital, technologies and jobs, with no political, financial, labor, health and environmental conditions attached....
Wow! I hope someone in the Fed, Treasury or State is paying attention to the comments i read here. Certainly the Chinese people are aware of the warts in their political system. If they decide or are convinced there is no peaceful recourse, we could see chaos in what is arguably the world's first or second economy. The ripple would be felt around the world and all we can do is watch as Donald does his best to make it worse. It won't matter what our china economic policy if they descend into civil war.
"The further a society drifts from the truth the more it will hate those who speak it" - George Orwell
There is nothing inherently wrong with authoritarian rulers. In China Deng did quite a good job. And while he surely isn't perfect Putin has done some things quite well in Russia.
However, when it comes to Xi I find it hard to see something I like. There is his confrontational foreign policy that seems designed to appeal to the nationalistic public while it completely ignores both international law and international stability. There is his economic policy that seems designed to achieve continuous economic growth at any cost. Again stability is sacrificed for short term effects. His anti-corruption efforts may seem attractive, but they alone won't save an economy of which the fundamentals are getting increasingly out of balance. And I doubt his sincerity: the drive may well be aimed at weakening his enemies and scoring some points in the public opinion.
So my general impression is a man with an enormous power hunger but rather weak competences. If he succeeds in monopolizing power I would expect a gradual stagnation in China's development.
However, when it comes to Xi I find it hard to see something I like. There is his confrontational foreign policy that seems designed to appeal to the nationalistic public while it completely ignores both international law and international stability. There is his economic policy that seems designed to achieve continuous economic growth at any cost. Again stability is sacrificed for short term effects. His anti-corruption efforts may seem attractive, but they alone won't save an economy of which the fundamentals are getting increasingly out of balance. And I doubt his sincerity: the drive may well be aimed at weakening his enemies and scoring some points in the public opinion.
So my general impression is a man with an enormous power hunger but rather weak competences. If he succeeds in monopolizing power I would expect a gradual stagnation in China's development.
2
Funny he doesn't look like Trump but the Trump message has generated good positive energy threw out the World from leaders who aren't part of the downward establishment . Good for U Sir , be a Leader , the World needs to be shaken up with intelligence not with bombs and suppression
After all the build up by the Times a few years ago about this man living in Iowa and such, we see that he is a repressive thug like something from the China of the '70's. Is the US so dependent upon our banker and provider of "junk" that the Times can't call out what is going on in that country? It's surely not moving forward for either the Chinese or world. And any business who has gone there has learned that the Chinese will try to steal anything of value that a foreign company has developed and owns. This emperor clearly has no clothes it is plain to see.
Once a totalitarian dictatorship, always a totalitarian dictatorship. The "Great Wall of China" goes on and on into the horizon. Except now it contains thousands of big and not-so-big "Donald Trumps", who've had a taste of the good life, what money can buy, owning "stuff", and they're not so easily led by the nose anymore. My money's on more crackdown, because things are not what they seem in Beijing. Watch for "Cultural Revolution II" coming to a theater near you.
Do we really think that capitalism, a staple of democracy, can really mesh with a communist, one-party state trying to manage a quasi-free economy? I don't think so......this whole peculiar Chinese "experiment" can only end badly. It'll ultimately end in civil war or a dictatorial crackdown. China has no historical precedent of a peaceful transition (in modern times at least) for radical system changes of power. The only question is - when will the Party crack down, how much can they tolerate?
1
Capitalism a staple of democracy? LOL. (this does not mean "lots of love.") It certainly thrived in Nazi Germany, and in Mussolini's Italy as well. In fact, let me give you a quote from Mussolini:
“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”.
That said, the Party has a firm grip on political power, and I agree they are not going to let go of it. As well, the Chinese army is deeply entrenched financially as well. Civil war? No, not likely.
“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”.
That said, the Party has a firm grip on political power, and I agree they are not going to let go of it. As well, the Chinese army is deeply entrenched financially as well. Civil war? No, not likely.
Prior to that revolution in China I think Hong Kong will experience a similar challenge to the Chinese leadership. The majority of Hong Kong citizens are chafing under the leadership imposed on them by the mainland leadership.
What is terribly wrong is that ordinary Chinese have no hope of speaking out as this well-connected red prince has. At some point a beginning must be made. Do people say foolish destructive things? Of course. Is Chinese culture immune from foolishness causing harm? No, certainly the United States is not; witness Donald Trump. But at some point mass culture must begin to develop expertise in dealing with foolishness. That is only developed over decades of public dialogue.
Off beat prediction. Xi JinPing's "mandate of heaven" will look tattered by the end of this year, because of economic difficulties and Xi's desire, for lack of a better word, to "Maoize" his image and free himself of the checks and balances that have characterized party leadership. post- Deng.
If opposition to Xi grows, the major question for us, Japan, the ROK and Southeast Asia: Will XI manufacture foreign crises to restore unquestioned deference to his leadership? Maybe not; in such circumstances he could go for a less aggressive foreign policy but it doesn't seem in character. Could be a dangerous year in East Asia.
If opposition to Xi grows, the major question for us, Japan, the ROK and Southeast Asia: Will XI manufacture foreign crises to restore unquestioned deference to his leadership? Maybe not; in such circumstances he could go for a less aggressive foreign policy but it doesn't seem in character. Could be a dangerous year in East Asia.
2
Keep or dreaming. New York Times is the master at manufacturing crises through their dreams, but their predictions about China always fall flat on it's face.
1
I always enjoy watching the preconceived notions of the commentators override the reporting in the articles, particularly of Buckley’s who is a careful journalist in balancing his reporting on this continuing story of current day China.
He reports that Xi Jinping has been criticized by a heavy and that the propaganda agencies have responded as expected, but that so have a number of leading lights coming to the defense of Mr. Ren’s argument that putting the Party, and in this case Xi himself beyond criticism is unsustainable.
It could reflect a power struggle and some would see that as desirable, but is it? And it could reflect the fact that Xi tightening up is undesirable and the question would be who is being offended and why? No easy answers have emerged but the new direction of Xi-Li’s goals of reform are certainly rattling some very big cages.
Xi and associates need to hold the system together unless one of the commentators has a ‘viable alternative’. These are hard times for China and the CCP is the lead actor, like it or not.
He reports that Xi Jinping has been criticized by a heavy and that the propaganda agencies have responded as expected, but that so have a number of leading lights coming to the defense of Mr. Ren’s argument that putting the Party, and in this case Xi himself beyond criticism is unsustainable.
It could reflect a power struggle and some would see that as desirable, but is it? And it could reflect the fact that Xi tightening up is undesirable and the question would be who is being offended and why? No easy answers have emerged but the new direction of Xi-Li’s goals of reform are certainly rattling some very big cages.
Xi and associates need to hold the system together unless one of the commentators has a ‘viable alternative’. These are hard times for China and the CCP is the lead actor, like it or not.
3
Foolish insecure leaders. They should work to make the government the people's as legitimate.
1
Mr. Ren has to watch his back.
1
Sounds like Mr. Ren will soon be living on West 57th Street.
5
Seriously this Mr Ren is not a powerless regular Joe. He actually has backing in the higher up. So this is only a power struggle in China. Do not read too much into it.
1
As a lifelong student and analyst of China I have continued mixed feelings in the twilight of my life... How can one not love the culture, creativeness, and diligence of these fascinating people. Someday... unshackled, they will move the world forward but, as long as they remain in a political mental prison their feet will always be dragging them down
13
Striving to eclipse the US as the world's dominant power, the monolithic Chinese communist regime cannot any longer accommodate its own independent-minded tycoons, an economic class critical to propel economic growth. The country needs these entrepreneurs far more then it needs the current rigid political structure which is a throwback to the 1950's. Sooner rather then later, China's doctrinaire communist leadership will be forced to disband the thought police.
10
Available in China now, the latest in political smartphone apps, iBangRen. Designed for those who have fallen out of favor, it tells you when you'll be arrested, what charges you'll confess to on TV after being tortured, and the provinces in which your relatives will find scattered pieces of your body.
4
China plays a dangerous game in suppressing even the tiniest of dissent. When enough people feel their grievances are being ignored, and the government removes even small avenues to express their frustration - that is when the foundation for larger actions of dissent are laid. In a democracy, voting is the release value, removing the need for a dissatisfied populace to resort to rebellion in order to change leaders. Authoritarian rule does not permit meaningful voting, of course, which is why the Chinese government should be diligent in maintaining (not extinguishing) some channels of expression open to the people - for their own sake.
7
My bother in law has taught dozens of Chinese high school students over the years. A majority of them think that their government is a nasty joke, and, Henry, posting below me, is correct. A colleague of mine who teaches at an Ivy league University in New England says that dozens of Chinese graduate students have absolutely no problems with lying, cheating, and stealing their way through school. "That's the way the world works," said one incredulous example as he was getting word that he was being thrown out.
4
Considering that this comment threat is associated with an article about challenging censorship and authoritarianism, I find it supremely ironic that my comments are being censored.
3
Actually most of the comments are quite ignorant of Mr. Ren. His comments are not really that far out of line. He like Xi suffered during Cultural Revolution, upon returning to the city was forced to a marriage by his parents against his wish, and later divorced. He is a member of communist party, the criticism is according to party doctrine, the people and the party are one, his blog implies they are separate. I think it is Xi who is protecting him against more severe criticism, rather than any inner party struggle.
The Chinese have sayings about past events that are often used to obliquely apply to current events. Here are a few, not so oblique; Xi Jinping, the mandate of heaven has passed for the Communist Party. The authority of the Party, which grew out of the barrel of a gun, is that of a usurper of the right to govern , whose legitimacy has been invalidated. Attempting to remain in power and correct it's past incompetence, the party enabled an unrestrained capitalism that wrecks the environment, sickens millions and created a misguided generation of Chinese who will cheat, poison and steal in order to become rich. The world and China, would be better without the Party. Chinese people, are you tired of being treated as straw dogs?
9
We must not gloat over the intricate problems of China. We should intend to criticize constructively with intellectual humility. China under the CCP has great accomplishments. And horrid mistakes.
Lovers of humanity can only love China. It is perhaps 1/5 of our human race. We proud Americans are about 1/20. We can best help China by living up to our own ideals whose roots lie in the Western Enlightenment which produced our imperfect experiment in democracy, our belief in the dignity of the individual, and the ideal of government of, by, and for the People.
We Americans are not always worthy of the sacrifices of the American Revolution and our Civil War. The Chinese are not always worthy of the sacrifices of the Long March and the children of Tiananmen.
Xi Jinping is not a devil. He is a misguided child of China's history with a very compelling personal story and a beautiful talented wife. China craves above all unity and stability. People now are cynical and feel cheated by their own government. This is dangerous. Xi Jinping's simplistic vision of authoritarianism does more harm than good. His models of government of China are poorly chosen, but sincerely chosen. We must hope that this can be worked out. And we must not appear to threaten. We must not insult China and use it irresponsibly in our politics.
If we live up to human ideals and China lives up to human ideals the success of the entire human race can be enhanced. -Rudy
Lovers of humanity can only love China. It is perhaps 1/5 of our human race. We proud Americans are about 1/20. We can best help China by living up to our own ideals whose roots lie in the Western Enlightenment which produced our imperfect experiment in democracy, our belief in the dignity of the individual, and the ideal of government of, by, and for the People.
We Americans are not always worthy of the sacrifices of the American Revolution and our Civil War. The Chinese are not always worthy of the sacrifices of the Long March and the children of Tiananmen.
Xi Jinping is not a devil. He is a misguided child of China's history with a very compelling personal story and a beautiful talented wife. China craves above all unity and stability. People now are cynical and feel cheated by their own government. This is dangerous. Xi Jinping's simplistic vision of authoritarianism does more harm than good. His models of government of China are poorly chosen, but sincerely chosen. We must hope that this can be worked out. And we must not appear to threaten. We must not insult China and use it irresponsibly in our politics.
If we live up to human ideals and China lives up to human ideals the success of the entire human race can be enhanced. -Rudy
23
This is one of the few comments related to anything going on in China where I can sense the author actually understands the issues. Anyone that's spent real time in China outside of the Dream Coast cities understands it's so much more complex than silly articles in newspapers can describe.
Oh, great, China has one, too.
2
Freedom of speech, thought and action can never be fully suppressed.
4
We are about to find out whether or not an authoritarian government controlled economy can manage an economy during a downturn.
6
Ever heard of FDR's WPA, OOC, CWA, PWA?
1
the (significant) difference being that FDR was popularly elected multiple times.
1
Semi-controlled economy. "Capitalism With Chinese Characteristics."
Some things are universal though all cultures. Clearly billionaire elites in China as well as Europe and the US view the world through their own very narrow interest in their personal wealth and power and could care less about the well being of society.
It is hardly new, it has been true for thousands of years. The richer one gets the more separated from society and the people suffering for the singular pleasures of elites.
China's billionaires will bribe themselves into power and control
It is hardly new, it has been true for thousands of years. The richer one gets the more separated from society and the people suffering for the singular pleasures of elites.
China's billionaires will bribe themselves into power and control
6
He'll be ringing in the next Lunar New Year with Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang.
If things are quiet now, it's not because Xi's security apparatus doesn't know what to do. It's because they're busy doing it.
If things are quiet now, it's not because Xi's security apparatus doesn't know what to do. It's because they're busy doing it.
26
I am impressed by his viewpoints in recent years about China. Thanks to his high and influential position, his critical comments had not incurred any trouble for him until this time.
In spite of this, the social status and position can be a good protection of being a dissident in China, but it is also unfair for most dissidents, because they don't have the status as the protection.
In spite of this, the social status and position can be a good protection of being a dissident in China, but it is also unfair for most dissidents, because they don't have the status as the protection.
5
Western democracies and the Chinese One Party Ruling System both have the end objective of maintaining structure in society, reasonableness as the end game, and a little good-naturedness and ability to effective listen come with responsible leadership and society also. It's fluid. We are still figuring this out, and so are the Chinese, after centuries. Among humans, it's the only way to make things work. And in the end things have to work or they have to be fixed.
5
Citizens of China, take back your country from the corrupt and terrified CCP.
26
Easy for us to say, a lot more difficult to do when you're personal freedoms and liberty are at stake.
2
A brave man. People like him are needed. It is hoped that he is not imprisoned.
11
Putting a lid on dissent is like capping a volcano, if the pressure gets strong enough...
11
Ruling with an iron fist, and by fear, Socialists since Mao who slaughtered tens of millions of countrymen, have long believed they were doing the right thing for their country. Oh, the arrogance that humans can display, believing on their view is the right one.
9
Once showed my young daughter a yuan note with mao's pic on it and told her that even a mass murderer can fool lots of people.
2
Mssrs. Ren & Trump might mirror each other, except that Ren elicits support from China's intelligentsia, and Trump is the Fox News darling of increasing ad revenues.
13
If the CPC listens only to itself, how will it understand the needs of the people? The issue in China is always how much unanimity to show to the outside world and where to draw the line on the inside during debate. It appears that XI has drawn so tight a line that the unanimity that the CPC shows outside is the same as it can show on the inside - always a dangerous path.
9
Are those who disdain Tiananmen destined to repeat it?
We have one thing in common with Communist China. The people have been tossed into a forgotten corner.
We have one thing in common with Communist China. The people have been tossed into a forgotten corner.
35
Or at least the ones who vote the same way as you do. We won't count the millions of people who vote differently than you.
1
This is the danger of a one party government. Those who delight in watching the self destruction of the Republican party should pay particular attention. America benefits from the healthy competition of two robust parties vying for public support and engaged in constant criticism. If one party triumphs we may descend into a tyranny heretofore unknown in the US, but well known to China and Russia. American Exceptionalism is not an innate attribute, but is a function of our dialectic politics.
15
Currently, one of our more serious issues is that the competition has been anything but healthy. Plurality party systems are only effective when able to function, understanding and acting through compromise.
1
The Republican Party as it currently exists, deserves to die. They serve no constructive purpose.
They can come back as something else, and if they're working in good faith for all citizens of the country, would be welcome.
They can come back as something else, and if they're working in good faith for all citizens of the country, would be welcome.
8
Isn't that what happened when the GOP controlled our three branches of government in the early 2000s?
They gleefully ruined our economy and turned a surplus into trillions of dollars of debt.
They gleefully ruined our economy and turned a surplus into trillions of dollars of debt.
7
If the president of China wants to rule an obedient society, he should run a doghouse. He treats his citizens with less respect than we treat our animals.
8
It is just some old racial stereotypes that's Chinese can work under challenging conditions because they are used to ill treatment.
2
I have never understood the equivalence drawn between poor treatment and animals? Who treats animals badly in this society? If you know of anyone, please do report them.
3
That is your opinion and you are entitled to it. So? What we have is 1.3 billion people being abused minus the 87 million in the CCP? Wow must be a nation of sheep, but how can they stay so oppressed generation after generation give the history of a country rising in revolt when the emperor is felt to have lost his mandate of heaven? Must all be questing after the rising standard of living occurring year after year. How sad?
Hopefully this indicates the very beginning of Rights and Freedoms for the Chinese, the beginning of the end of communism.
4
A corrupt, authoritarian regime will never create sustainable economic growth. Becoming even more authoritarian is not the answer.
11
Chairman Mao Zedong, 1957: "Let a hundred flowers blossom".
It was amazing what an old fashioned political "haircut" wreaked upon the Chinese nation way back then. Then soon came the "Off with their heads (i.e., blooms)!" (remember Marie Antoinette et al?) which soon left nothing but headless flowers waving defiantly (and rather naughtily) in the Chinese pollution of the day.
Based on what I read here, I would say this Mr. Ren doesn't sound anything like Mr. Potty Mouth. But maybe that's lost in the translation.
It was amazing what an old fashioned political "haircut" wreaked upon the Chinese nation way back then. Then soon came the "Off with their heads (i.e., blooms)!" (remember Marie Antoinette et al?) which soon left nothing but headless flowers waving defiantly (and rather naughtily) in the Chinese pollution of the day.
Based on what I read here, I would say this Mr. Ren doesn't sound anything like Mr. Potty Mouth. But maybe that's lost in the translation.
5
I was sympathetic with Mr. Ren until I read that he was dubbed the “Chinese Donald Trump" and that designation changed my feelings toward the man. Does any country deserve a Donald Trump, I asked myself. Frankly, I'm not sure they do but then anger appears with many faces.
It is time for China to be reintroduced to the un-glorious realm of political dissent. It is no fun, but you have to govern all the people in your country, not just a few. We are doing that here by kowtowing to the wealthy so the dissenters’ message awakens a lot of anger.
The Rens and Trumps of the world need to be heard but watched very carefully.
It is time for China to be reintroduced to the un-glorious realm of political dissent. It is no fun, but you have to govern all the people in your country, not just a few. We are doing that here by kowtowing to the wealthy so the dissenters’ message awakens a lot of anger.
The Rens and Trumps of the world need to be heard but watched very carefully.
3
JW, I am already listening and I don't care for what I'm hearing,
1
So in your world, as soon as anyone is described as someone you don't like (no matter how accurately or not), that means from thereon in nothing he/she ever says will ever have any truth or merit to it, and you'll refuse to listen to anything that person says???
9
I like Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson's assessment of China, "Nothing has changed in 2000 years of Chinese history. It's still the Mandarin class versus the peasants." Xi's authoritarian neo-Maoism is more of the same and unlikely to change despite some minor turmoil within the Mandarin class.
14
The Chinese language media outside China have many “inside stories” about this case. Although their stories are not always reliable, there is reason to believe the existence of some high-level power struggle. Xi Jinping wanted control to overcome resistance to his policies, which involve an intense anti-corruption campaign and some economic reforms that damage powerful interest groups. The leaders of the propaganda apparatus are mostly conservative, corrupt and fearful of the anti-corruption campaign and want to steer China toward a more stasist path. Even though their tightening of media control seems to be in line with Xi’s desire for control, they have their own objectives and may even try to damage Xi by making him less popular with the reformers in the Chinese society. There is rumor that their actions have already made Xi very uncomfortable and that Xi is ready to do a surgery on the propaganda apparatus.
4
China.s Trump moment.
3
"You don't tug on Superman's cape. You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger. And you don't mess around with 'Jinping' ". from Jim Croce
Unless you are a masochist with suicidal delusions of grandeur. Because the current Chinese Emperor Xi Jinping is as ruthless as the First Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang.
Unless you are a masochist with suicidal delusions of grandeur. Because the current Chinese Emperor Xi Jinping is as ruthless as the First Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang.
2
Mr. Ren has been Trumped.
2
Thanks to Tim Cook who keeps i-phones encrypted in China.
3
Maybe Mr. Xi should help North Korea, by renting its army and the people who run their media. He has never cracked down on North Korea, because that si what he wants fro China. 1 Billion robots honoring him like a god. Another dictator that will fall, but unlike other dictators, China falling could crash the entire world economy. Mr. Xi is the classing "all pigs are equal, but some pigs are more equal than others" - "Animal Farm".
Of course, China let the capitalism/consumerism genie out of the bottle. While disparity exists; it has a quick growing middle class. A crackdown ala North Korea or Mao like will be met with huge resistance. What will result will make the Tiananmen Square crackdown look minor in comparison. Teh Chinese will not give up their gains to worship an ever growing insignificant and corrupt Communist party.
Mr. Xi is playing with fireworks here. He won't be able to do what Putin is doing, or what Kim Jong-Un is doing. Mr. Putin, like Mr. Kim will fall, as things get worse in their countries. Mr. Xi will fall for the same reasons.
Even now, those who can do it is buying up assets outside of China in the event the entire Chinese system crashes.
Capitalism with a Communist face cannot survive. And the Chinese people will not give up capitalism to be loayl to a corrupt bunch of goons.
Of course, China let the capitalism/consumerism genie out of the bottle. While disparity exists; it has a quick growing middle class. A crackdown ala North Korea or Mao like will be met with huge resistance. What will result will make the Tiananmen Square crackdown look minor in comparison. Teh Chinese will not give up their gains to worship an ever growing insignificant and corrupt Communist party.
Mr. Xi is playing with fireworks here. He won't be able to do what Putin is doing, or what Kim Jong-Un is doing. Mr. Putin, like Mr. Kim will fall, as things get worse in their countries. Mr. Xi will fall for the same reasons.
Even now, those who can do it is buying up assets outside of China in the event the entire Chinese system crashes.
Capitalism with a Communist face cannot survive. And the Chinese people will not give up capitalism to be loayl to a corrupt bunch of goons.
6
Xi Jinping probably doesn't remember that many new floral varieties have come to dot the Chinese landscape ever since Mao had desired a hundred flowers bloom under the CPI umbrella.
3
CPI in the above comment be read as the CPC- Communist Party of China.
What Mr. Ren was really saying... "Mr. Xi, my father served with Mao Zedong. My father knew Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong was a friend of my father. Mr. Xi, you are no Mao Zedong."
With thanks and apologies to Lloyd Bentsen, Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006).
With thanks and apologies to Lloyd Bentsen, Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006).
8
The pesky Internet. Can't rule with it, and can't live without it. It keeps oozing under the door and over the transom.
5
Potential kinks in China’s Party have been rumored for a few years—both from within China. and from the outside. President Xi Jinping’s cracking down on corruption was carefully implemented, but only after his own family members had moved their great wealth overseas. Also, Xi is reportedly not well-liked among the other Central Chinese Party Elites.
Perhaps this is but a modern version of various purges of Party Elites, which have happened from time-to-time in the recent past. Although apparently invulnerable, a House of Cards can oftentimes be toppled by only the slightest shifts in the political winds.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Perhaps this is but a modern version of various purges of Party Elites, which have happened from time-to-time in the recent past. Although apparently invulnerable, a House of Cards can oftentimes be toppled by only the slightest shifts in the political winds.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
5
That which continues up must, at some point, reverse course and come down.
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and come down.
This was expounded in the Dao de jing ( Tao de ching) and is the basis of much of ancient Chinese philosophy.
Xi as with Mao will have his end.
The Chinese people are not fools.
The end is in sight and when it comes China will look very different than it now does.
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and come down.
This was expounded in the Dao de jing ( Tao de ching) and is the basis of much of ancient Chinese philosophy.
Xi as with Mao will have his end.
The Chinese people are not fools.
The end is in sight and when it comes China will look very different than it now does.
5
Correction:
I wrote:
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and come up.
Should read:
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and arise.
I wrote:
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and come up.
Should read:
That which continues down must, at some point, reverse course and arise.
1
Glad you fixed that Simon~
1
Any notion that the Chinese Communist Party should not be criticized should evaporate when you see/breath the air in their cities.
24
Xi's slide into Maoist style rule is similar to Putin's recent swing back into old school militarism. Both leaders aren't capable of addressing the normal social issues that arise from a capitalist society, both leaders don't understand that it's ugly and unorderly, and it threatens the power base, but voices of dissent and opinions from outside the echo chamber is how a nation moves forward.
The problem is China has learned its lessons well from the US where it allowed unchecked accumulation of speculative wealth and corruption to create a huge population of people who still live in poverty with no opportunities. But, unlike in the US where protected speech and free elections allow the citizenry a modicum of will to power in order to correct the country's course, China has none of this. This is why went the Chinese leadership cracks down on dissent they are China's own worse enemy, just in Mao's day, and this is why the US has nothing to fear from China.
The problem is China has learned its lessons well from the US where it allowed unchecked accumulation of speculative wealth and corruption to create a huge population of people who still live in poverty with no opportunities. But, unlike in the US where protected speech and free elections allow the citizenry a modicum of will to power in order to correct the country's course, China has none of this. This is why went the Chinese leadership cracks down on dissent they are China's own worse enemy, just in Mao's day, and this is why the US has nothing to fear from China.
21
"But, unlike in the US where protected speech and free elections allow the citizenry a modicum of will to power in order to correct the country's course, China has none of this."
Have you looked at our gerry-mandered, voter-law-restricted states? Our Democratic "super-delegates" comprised of corporate lobbyists matched on the Republican side by outright Koch Brother elites, all deciding on who we can elect?
No, we're not China. But we're not all that, either. We're a far cry from a real democracy.
Have you looked at our gerry-mandered, voter-law-restricted states? Our Democratic "super-delegates" comprised of corporate lobbyists matched on the Republican side by outright Koch Brother elites, all deciding on who we can elect?
No, we're not China. But we're not all that, either. We're a far cry from a real democracy.
23
Well, China could learn just one more lesson from the US:
Let the people talk all they want and then ... just turn the TV/iPhone cameras away and ignore them. The outcome is similar enough - and looks benign.
Let the people talk all they want and then ... just turn the TV/iPhone cameras away and ignore them. The outcome is similar enough - and looks benign.
1
Maybe it's not all that bad. But if there is a fair election Trump will become the republican contender and if hell freezes over he will be our next president. He knows how to deal with China.
There is a word of warning in this article, on the one hand, for those obstructionist who would turn the USA into a one party state and, on the other hand, for those who confuse welfare crony-captalsm as the bell weather of democracy
5
The corrupt capitalist princelings are trying to push back against Xi's reform that's affecting their bottomline. A real estate developer means he confiscate farmland, build property with government subsidy and sell for great personal profit.
5
Lies. Xi Xinping has stolen billions and moved them overseas.
3
@John
What makes what I said and what you said mutually exclusive that you think what I've said are lies?
What makes what I said and what you said mutually exclusive that you think what I've said are lies?
2
The "Donald Trump of China" title is interesting in light of the recent Chinese editorial warning that the actual Trump's candidacy represents the danger of democracy because Ren's experience shows the dangers of authoritarianism. That's especially true considering that Trump's rise and China's tightening the screws of dictatorship are both responses to inadequately acknowledged and poorly addressed economic troubles.
If anything, economic problems are exposing the deep flaws in the political-economic models of two countries known for self-centered exceptionalism - the US belief that its system make it the "greatest nation in the world" and Trump's desire to "make America great again" by bullying minorities at home and other nations abroad; and China's belief that its system is part of some grand, millennia-old tradition and requires it to reclaim its place as the "Middle Kingdom," the center around which the world - especially Asia - orbits.
If anything, economic problems are exposing the deep flaws in the political-economic models of two countries known for self-centered exceptionalism - the US belief that its system make it the "greatest nation in the world" and Trump's desire to "make America great again" by bullying minorities at home and other nations abroad; and China's belief that its system is part of some grand, millennia-old tradition and requires it to reclaim its place as the "Middle Kingdom," the center around which the world - especially Asia - orbits.
17
AD: Not sure why you think Trump is going to bully minorities. Unless you feel sending illegals back to their homeland is bullying. I think bullying is illegals coming to my country and demanding I Feed and Clothe them and change my country's laws to what they want. In between sexually attacking women and cutting people's heads off. If you're okay with that why don't you sponsor a family yourself and keep me out of it. Why do all democrats want to tell everyone else they should pay more taxes etc. but the truly rich, like Soros, has a host of lawyers keeping them from paying taxes. We would be far better off spending the money we already spend and giving these people, who do not want to be here, a better life in their own countries. The USA has been very successful and I for one am not ashamed to say our country it exceptional. Not only have we had great growth we have taken care of most of the people around the world. If you want to be ashamed of that. Have at it.
"A surprise offense is better than a slow defense against a stronger enemy" - Sun Tze. Ren may have caught wind that his relatives and friends, who made billions in his real estate business, are up for investigation for corruption and eventually will sacrifice him.
8
Oh please chin. Xi Xinping is the most corrupt of the lot. Excuse him and replace him with bo Xilai.
2