Comments on: China not quite the sophisticated, humane country Tom Friedman thinks it is http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/ Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:48:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SADIE http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92586 SADIE Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:34:31 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92586 <em>So…what happens when you get such a system in a Judeo-Christian country?</em>   You start with Earth Day, keep driving home the message over successive generations, that the much needed dam that some state wanted to build would displace 'tweety bird' or 'willie the worm'  continue minimizing the 10 Commandments and follow up with a climate crisis.   VOILA! So…what happens when you get such a system in a Judeo-Christian country?
 
You start with Earth Day, keep driving home the message over successive generations, that the much needed dam that some state wanted to build would displace ‘tweety bird’ or ‘willie the worm’  continue minimizing the 10 Commandments and follow up with a climate crisis.
 
VOILA!

]]> By: suek http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92567 suek Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:40:33 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92567 >>They are chilling in their descriptions of both casual and systemic  brutality perpetrated by the Chinese..>>   Hmmm.  Maybe that's the underlying force behind the willingness of the people to accept socialism/communism?  or at least, the underlying mechanism?  So...what happens when you get such a system in a Judeo-Christian country?  Look at Europe - they can no longer be considered Judeo-Christian, I think.  And England.  Ditto.  It seems to me that religion _is_ a terribly influential factor.  Nature abhors a vacuum etc.  A socialist type system can be successful if the population is just basically a hive of some sort.  "We are the Borg".  But if you have recognition of each _individual_ as a unique citizen within the population, it may not work.  Are US citizens going to be willing to become members of the hive????   Interesting times.   And just because a little humor is necessary - especially in "interesting times"... http://www.4-blockworld.com/2010/03/great-migrations-in-american-history.html >>They are chilling in their descriptions of both casual and systemic  brutality perpetrated by the Chinese..>>
 
Hmmm.  Maybe that’s the underlying force behind the willingness of the people to accept socialism/communism?  or at least, the underlying mechanism?  So…what happens when you get such a system in a Judeo-Christian country?  Look at Europe – they can no longer be considered Judeo-Christian, I think.  And England.  Ditto.  It seems to me that religion _is_ a terribly influential factor.  Nature abhors a vacuum etc.  A socialist type system can be successful if the population is just basically a hive of some sort.  “We are the Borg”.  But if you have recognition of each _individual_ as a unique citizen within the population, it may not work.  Are US citizens going to be willing to become members of the hive????
 
Interesting times.
 
And just because a little humor is necessary – especially in “interesting times”…
http://www.4-blockworld.com/2010/03/great-migrations-in-american-history.html

]]> By: Oldflyer http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92566 Oldflyer Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:06:29 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92566 Think about this.  The generation that is now at the upper end of the ruling age in China is the generation that so enthusiastically formed the membership of the Cultural Revolution.  Their brutal excesses have been well documented. I do not know what the following generation learned from the experience. Although it is wise to  read  historical fiction with a certain level of skepticism, I believe that it can provide broad insights into particular eras.  If the author performed due diligence with research, and tries to present an honest portrayal, understanding  of history is enhanced.  I have recently read a series of novels, set in Tibet, by Elliot Pattison. They are chilling in their descriptions of both casual and systemic  brutality perpetrated by the Chinese.. Think about this.  The generation that is now at the upper end of the ruling age in China is the generation that so enthusiastically formed the membership of the Cultural Revolution.  Their brutal excesses have been well documented. I do not know what the following generation learned from the experience.
Although it is wise to  read  historical fiction with a certain level of skepticism, I believe that it can provide broad insights into particular eras.  If the author performed due diligence with research, and tries to present an honest portrayal, understanding  of history is enhanced.  I have recently read a series of novels, set in Tibet, by Elliot Pattison. They are chilling in their descriptions of both casual and systemic  brutality perpetrated by the Chinese..

]]> By: David Foster http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92565 David Foster Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:25:19 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92565 "It is not possible to refuse an eviction in China, since the government technically owns all the land"....which is one major problem with is socialism, since the same entity has economic power AND political power, a possibility of appeal to a fair referee is eliminated. Also a problem with economic fascism, since although the entities with economic power maybe theoretically separate from government, in practice they will be in bed with it and their actions will almost always be supported by it. “It is not possible to refuse an eviction in China, since the government technically owns all the land”….which is one major problem with is socialism, since the same entity has economic power AND political power, a possibility of appeal to a fair referee is eliminated.

Also a problem with economic fascism, since although the entities with economic power maybe theoretically separate from government, in practice they will be in bed with it and their actions will almost always be supported by it.

]]> By: SADIE http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92552 SADIE Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:23:03 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92552 The Three Gorges Dam is the grand example of Chinese indifference, replete with the destruction of ancient villages and their inhabitants.   To date, the government has ordered some 1.2 million people in two cities and 116 towns clustered on the banks of the Yangtze to be evacuated to other areas before construction, promising them plots of land and small stipends—in some cases as little as 50 yuan, or $7 a month—as compensation. <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=chinas-three-gorges-dam-disaster" rel="nofollow">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=chinas-three-gorges-dam-disaster</a>   The Three Gorges Dam is the grand example of Chinese indifference, replete with the destruction of ancient villages and their inhabitants.
 
To date, the government has ordered some 1.2 million people in two cities and 116 towns clustered on the banks of the Yangtze to be evacuated to other areas before construction, promising them plots of land and small stipends—in some cases as little as 50 yuan, or $7 a month—as compensation.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=chinas-three-gorges-dam-disaster
 

]]> By: rockdalian http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92546 rockdalian Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:53:11 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92546 For the lack of a better spot to post this, here goes. We The People http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2734278:Video:157739&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_video For the lack of a better spot to post this, here goes.
We The People
http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2734278:Video:157739&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_video

]]> By: Gringo http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/03/08/china-not-quite-the-sophisticated-humane-country-tom-friedman-thinks-it-is/comment-page-1/#comment-92541 Gringo Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:24:38 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=11114#comment-92541 I had a grad student roommate from the PRC  some years ago who informed me that if  a typical Chinese saw someone in need, no assistance would be forthcoming unless the person in need could pay. Call it the Good $amaritan policy. I had a grad student roommate from the PRC  some years ago who informed me that if  a typical Chinese saw someone in need, no assistance would be forthcoming unless the person in need could pay. Call it the Good $amaritan policy.

]]>