Nope, China ranks better than Mexico and Philippines because it is difficult if not impossible to get even in Mexico and the Philippines, not so in China.
The death penalty so easily handed down, especially during The Big Crackdown Festivals or Campaigns, is a deterrence. The prospect of death focuses the thought process somewhat sharply and clarifies one's think to a great extent, much like an icy cold root beer at 2:00pm on the hot beach.
For example, my negotiations with government types slowed down drastically (all for helping clients to exit) during last autumn because each layer of government bureaucrats were successively called to camps (not the swimming and BBQ type, but not the chain and cane type either, just roles and roles of desks and chairs), starting from the bottom most layer.
Their 1-2 week all accomodation and meal paid for stay had one objective, each layer must report the wrong doings they know of or have participated in. Now, imagine you are the bureaucrat in the middle, as your underling may have already reported that you know something and or you did something wrong, and it is now your turn to write about yourself, your colleagues, your superiors and your underlings. What do you write?
I suggest you should write about everything you know, truthfully, without leaving out any details and without making up any fairy tales.
This activity is probably very novel to the typical Mexican and Filipino connected family used to getting away with murder, including murder.
My conclusion is that the ex-communists in China understand that if the little guys are pissed off too much, they can be aggregated, motivated and focused to make a mess, and then the superiors will have to placate the crowd by offering some sacrifices. Where the line of sacrifice will be is anybody's guess, each and every time different, as the crowds must be pleased. Democracy by mob vote. |
