The Chinese Are Coming

[shbop]

Originally Posted by Dottore

You have every personal freedom in China today, with the possible exception of the freedom to stand on a soapbox and say that those in power are corrupt arseholes. Not sure how important that freedom is. I'm sure I felt differently about this years ago.

Remember that China has absolutely no democratic traditions. Most of the Chinese I know don't give a toss about democracy. But they do care deeply about a regime that is stable and provides economic opportunities.

I think there are all kinds of issues facing China today—but somehow I don't think that more democracy is high on that list in any meaningful way.

Having democratic traditions has little to do with the story in today's world. Little to none. We can communicate with most of the world from our living rooms today. The Chinese are traveling more often. My state caters to them and their money. They enjoy their time away from home. Those that I interact with see opportunity, and feel a sense of freedom. They remind me of the Japanese I did business with back the 70's. Only time will tell the tale. I enjoy my freedom, and I wouldn't trade places with any of the business folk I've met from China. Not for a second. I don't believe they would tell you the same tale about trading places with me, but maybe. As I said before: only time will tell the tale.

[imcarthur]

As above, China has a long history & the democratic urge is not in their mindset. The bad years - Gang of 4, Cultural Revolution - are now just a distant memory & commerce is king. They also accept corruption as normal in day to day business. My ex-daughter-in-law said it was even often basic things - like bribing the doctor to see you faster etc.

Yes, they will have problems but their unstoppable drive will make them the dominant force in the world very soon. Let us hope that they learned the lessons from all of the others that have held that position. The west has had their several centuries but nothing lasts forever.

Ian

[DanielDudley]

If I were the Chinese, I would have already figured out that the Western Devils are all crazy, and need someone else pulling the strings.

Kind of reminds me of the cover to Clash album from many years ago...

[DanielDudley]

Give em enough rope...

Like we couldn't see this coming thirty years ago.

[Rick Lee]

While trying out the newest Sichuan place in Phoenix last night, my wife was explaining to me how well gov't. officials have it in China. Her mom's boss treated us to a huge feast in Nanjing a few weeks ago and I asked about one of the guys at the table who seemed to disappear before dinner was over. He was one of the guys who got into sort of a beer and bai jiu drinking contest with me. Turned out he was my MIL's boss's driver and he got too drunk to drive her home. She told him it was no problem and she could drive. But it was unthinkable for a boss to drive the driver home, so he snuck out and took a taxi. It turns out the folks at her level have accounts a lot of nice restaurants and put on these kinds of feasts all the time, paying with some sort of office credit card. My MIL is the person who audits and pays these bills weeks later. That explained a lot once I understood that. So the lady who's the boss of the province's gov't. dept. of quality assurance has a free car, driver and can treat friends and family to lavish dinners on the state dime. She also has several houses and is considered pretty well off. Not bad for a gov't. job.

Oh, and I've read China has almost 20% more men than women, so that's amost 300 million men who will never find wives. Wow. Add to that the number of Chinese women who marry foreign husbands and that's a demographic nightmare.

[SeanPizzle]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Oh, and I've read China has almost 20% more men than women, so that's amost 300 million men who will never find wives. Wow. Add to that the number of Chinese women who marry foreign husbands and that's a demographic nightmare.

For decades, Western men found mail-order brides from underdeveloped eastern countries. It will come full circle with all the hot blonde cheerleaders in Bumfawk, USA with no economic prospects being "sold" to wealthy chinese.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

...my wife was explaining to me how well gov't. officials have it in China.

Yes. When we sold our large house a couple of years ago, it was purchased by some minor functionary in the Wuhan city government. For cash of course.

We later calculated that it would have taken him about 30 lifetimes to save that amount at his current salary.