Is the Chinese system of Govt better than Western Democracy?

[Warren Dew]

I think I overestimate the value American people put in freedom and democracy. Conformity and stability are more important to them, and thanks to an ever expanding economy have been successful in keeping the masses content.

Agreed.

[Cormac]

Fuck that. I won't live in a dictatorship.

I wouldn't call it a dictatorship, at least not in the European or South American model. A corrupt oligarchy backed by a military whose leaders also have their snouts in the trough, perhaps...

Dictatorial oligarchy. On the ground - no difference.

This forum would have us all arrested in China.

[Cormac]

I think we overestimate the value Chinese people put in freedom and democracy. Conformity and stability are more important to them, and thanks to an ever expanding economy have been successful in keeping the masses content.

"The masses content". That says it all.

[Rum]

I think stability is the leadership's watchword. If the ethnic rivalries and tensions ever became as active as they have in other parts of the world the place would be a potential powder keg. The Han Chinese are in control and will want to keep it that way.

[Jason]

Chinese democracy!

[Warren Dew]

I think stability is the leadership's watchword. If the ethnic rivalries and tensions ever became as active as they have in other parts of the world the place would be a potential powder keg. The Han Chinese are in control and will want to keep it that way.

Part of how they stay in control is by giving ethnic minorities special privileges.

Kind of like the US, come to think of it.

[Seth]

One of their main advantages is the ability to plan ten years at a time ahead and not be too bothered about the next round of elections. This is their major Ace in the current global game in my view.

Except that central planning, one year or ten, never works and never can work, as F.A. Hayek pointed out brilliantly in "The Road to Serfdom.

All central planning does is plan how the corruptocrats in power are going to suck the wealth out of the peasantry for the next 10 years.

Idiots.

[Drewish]

In a dictatorship, if things suck it's the leader's fault. In a democracy it's your neighbor's fault.

[Svartalf]

My neighborss suck for voting corrupt morons in, then again the corrupt morons suck at least as much as my neigbours