tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post8684831642339781457..comments2023-03-28T08:18:07.711-07:00Comments on ChinaBizGov: On Democracy, Authoritarianism and School ViolenceG. E. Anderson ---http://www.blogger.com/profile/11194863913108812712noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post-86578221794085601752010-05-03T14:09:18.347-07:002010-05-03T14:09:18.347-07:00Thanks, everyone for your comments.
Todd, I agree...Thanks, everyone for your comments.<br /><br />Todd, I agree with your point that California's system of ballot propositions is easily manipulated by the side with the most money. However, I think this also goes to my point that not all of California's citizens are capable of making informed decisions on what are some very complex legislative matters that can have budgetary implications decades into the future. The money spent on these propositions allows misleading messages to sway the opinions of voters, and I must admit that I often simply abstain from propositions because I cannot fully understand all of the possible implications. <br /><br />In 1978, who wouldn't have been swayed by the argument that "your property taxes will be frozen at current levels forever"? Now, more than three decades later, it is easy to see that prop 13 was the beginning of California's current budget issues. Of course, it has been made worse since, in some cases by other propositions, and in other cases by partisan politics in Sacramento.<br /><br />My whole point in this is not to say that democracy is wrong or bad, but to point out that, with examples such as California's, surely this gives China yet another reason to avoid democratization.<br /><br />And frankly, I can offer no answers at this point as to what China *should* do. My hope with this post was to just throw some ideas out there and add to the dialogue.<br /><br />Thanks again, everyone, for contributing! I continue to welcome all comments, criticism and suggestions.G. E. Anderson ---https://www.blogger.com/profile/11194863913108812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post-82987108307857715412010-05-02T18:42:46.981-07:002010-05-02T18:42:46.981-07:00Very good analysis on the root cause of the recent...Very good analysis on the root cause of the recent incidents in China.<br /><br />Yes, Chinese govt. need to address the issues or else more violence towards weak/powerless group will be done to draw more attention. It is, however, not an easy task.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457137280886785601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post-38085488465558290172010-05-02T10:03:01.971-07:002010-05-02T10:03:01.971-07:00Right on on China's social problems. Do agree ...Right on on China's social problems. Do agree that the increasing out-of-sync of the two China legs, economical and political, is creating every more tensions across the society. And sad that the Chinese government is more interested in holding down the lid instead of venting out enough anger so that the pot doesn't explode. Seems they won't be listening to democratization arguments, as long as the conservative wing of the Party has enough (which like in Calif's case, doesn't have to have more than half) sway to scare down the liberal wing. Guess the conservative will never die out, at least not in our generation.<br /><br />Sadly, anything chaotic will victimize the powerless, in recent cases the children, be it the kindergartens or earthquakes. <br /><br />Yes, the root cause of all the mess is the poor, and their being trodden down. I also think there's a cultural cancer in this whole issue, which is face. China has never evolved out of its face nation character.Michael Zhaohttp://michaelzhao.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post-58512337619282394202010-05-02T08:46:43.491-07:002010-05-02T08:46:43.491-07:00Yes, this is a very thought provoking blog. I agre...Yes, this is a very thought provoking blog. I agree with your proposition: "But what if our systems, instead of offering the rich a stake in the existence of the poor, offered them a stake in the success of the poor? What would that look like?" Sustainability indeed does give the wealthy a stake, the question is how to get the rich to realize it. <br /><br />I do have a criticism of the blog: I would not characterize California's problem as too much democracy. There are two fundamental weaknesses hurting California's political processes right now, the 2/3 vote on budget requirement of the state legislature and the proposition system. <br /><br />The first gives the minority party too much control/ veto power over the budget. Given that the majority was democratically voted into office, I would argue that this is undemocratic. <br /><br />The proposition system has the appearance of democracy, but in fact can be controlled by money paying for advertisements confusing the situation. In several cases, those interests with more money have out advertised the opposition by more than 10:1, and successfully invoked propositions that were not in the interest of the majority. The influence of money in politics is very undemocratic. <br /><br />A greater stake for the majority must be found in both countries. Yes, the wealthy elites will have to give up their current lifestyles, but sustainability demands it.Todd Finlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09366554908008766934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755700415043205247.post-53788689680679387402010-04-30T18:32:57.529-07:002010-04-30T18:32:57.529-07:00A very thought provoking blog. In abstract, your w...A very thought provoking blog. In abstract, your writing makes a great deal of sense; nevertheless, the 900 pound gorilla--China/India's population--has been left out of the equation entirely. <br /><br />USA citizens created a bubble economy based on the notion that a few shall live well at the expense of many. Inexplicably, China bought into the USA trickle-down economic model. Consequently, if the poor cease to be essential slaves of the few rich, neither China nor even our planet is large enough to sustain the dreams of many having what the few in the USA and China now take for granted. Consequently, there cannot be widespread democracy as long as the ruling elite wants to maintain their new lifestyles.Mao Ruiqihttp://www.iqidu.comnoreply@blogger.com