<In the old days, nobody listened to the old control freaks. The Chinese just went on and did their own thing.>
When was that? I've never heard of such a time. On the contrary.
I have nothing to base this on. I don't think the lack of control in old days in China came out of any kindness on the part of the old rulers. My sense is that they just lacked the rigor and passion for absolute control.
They pretended to be in control and the peasants pretended they were being controlled. Just like in Chinese restaurnats in the US. The waiters do not seem to be under any control by management. They go about doing their business - for better or worse. The owners enjoy being big boss, but do not have the passion or zeal to really control things.
There, my weltanshuang comes from observing operations in Chinese restaurants in the United States.
While the cant says that the USA is the land of the free and home of the brave, and despite the Statue of Liberty calling the world's huddled masses to cross the Atlantic Ocean, [but not the Rio Grande], my experience is that the USA is the world champion control place, where everything is forbidden unless expressly permitted.
I think this is a recent development. Since 911, we are going in the wrong direction. What is ironic, is that it is the right wing in America, the people against big government, that is turning America into a police state. Talk about Nixon going to China!!!!
In many ways, China is more Libertarian than the 'free' NZ and USA.
I don't think that is true. In any case, I do not think it is any philosophic thing. I think they are in a catch up mode. In this regard, I think they will surpass us - become an efficient police state.
In another twist, we are providing them with a
"big Brother model" that they can copy and surpass us. |
