hello crabbe, regarding wsj, now is as good a time to start as any, and once comfortable, can then enroll here brightoncollege.net to graduate to the next level
chugs, j
online.wsj.com
Capitalism, Comrade!
January 18, 2006
Though Mao Tse-tung's portrait still hangs in Tiananmen Square, a recent poll shows that the Chinese are crazier about capitalism than the Americans. In fact, they top the worldwide rankings in their zeal for free markets. No wonder Mr. Mao isn't smiling.
In a poll conducted for the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes between June and August last year, fully 74% of Chinese citizens said they agreed with the statement "the free enterprise system and free market economy is the best system on which to base the future of the world." The Philippines, at 73%, and the U.S., at 71%, were second and third. The poll, which surveyed 20,791 people in 20 countries, seems like a pretty good snapshot of current sentiment, as such things go.
Remarkable, isn't it, that residents of the Middle Kingdom have maintained their appreciation of the benefits of free enterprise through six decades of oppression and economic backwardness imposed by their Communist cadres? Then again, for a culture where common New Year's greetings include "I wish you happiness and many riches" and "may you make great profits," should we be surprised? (Most Hong Kong residents spend New Year's politely distributing packets of crisp new cash to their friends and family, ramming the message home.)
Less encouraging were the responses of European citizens, who arguably could do with a much bigger dollop of capitalist religion, given the moribund state of their economies. Fully half of the French disagreed that capitalism is the best way forward, for instance. (We'd be curious to hear their proposed alternative, given how their socialist experiment has produced double-digit unemployment and low growth.) Italians and Spaniards were more supportive of Adam Smith's ideals, with 59% and 63%, respectively, voting for free markets.
The survey contained lots of other telling nuggets, such as Russia and Brazil's irrational distrust of large companies. Perhaps big corporations remind them too much of their countries' bureaucratic workings. Strong support for government regulation of the environment shows, too, that there's a lot of education still to be done in explaining to citizens why market solutions are more efficient, and less costly and less coercive.
Mr. Mao would probably turn over in his tomb if he realized that the Chinese haven't been turned on by his communist teachings. But the harsh consequences they've experienced have been a cure like no other. Capitalism, comrade! It's the way forward. |
