I do very much agree with your observation that advancement in older societies is very difficult, unless one runs off to the US for an education, return, marry wealthy or at least get a name brand degree certificate and join an international company. Advancement in the US is not easy but at least all can participate and try.
China, while old, had undergone a revolution (the blood letting type, as opposed to the flower waving kind). The old establshed crowds end up cleaning toilets or becoming fertilizer (Mao's class struggle against the Three Olds: old ideas, ruling classes, property rights). Mao actually did mention that a revolution is not a tea party and that a human head is not a mellon (does not grow back). He should know.
The KMT supporters ran off with Chiang to Taiwan after losing the civil war. Smart move, as it is better to be rich and alive than poor and dead.
Philippines and Mexico are run by less than 100 wealthy dynastic families each, literally. These families would of course favor quasi-democracy, as they know the alternative is mob democracy. As Mao had said, political power grows out of a barrel of a gun. |
