Editor's note: Ravi Agrawal is the Senior Producer of "Fareed Zakaria GPS." You can follow him on Twitter @RaviAgrawalCNN and check out past posts.
By Ravi Agrawal, CNN
Just as some despair that democracy’s sun is setting in the West, a new study suggests it is rising anew in the East – in authoritarian China.
Three months ago, the world’s media reported with amazement a successful election in Wukan, a fishing village in the country’s southeast. 6,000 villagers were allowed to vote in a Western-style free and fair election – secret ballots and all.
But Beijing’s experiments in rural democracy are not new; they go almost three decades further back.
How has it worked out? For the first time, we have some data.
The National Bureau of Economic Research sponsored an investigation into democracy in rural China. Researchers studied elections in 217 villages from 1982 through 2005. They found that villagers who elected their leaders got more of what they wanted. They benefited from 27% more investment in public goods like schools and canals than their counterparts in non-democratic villages.
Villagers with suffrage were also more likely to live in equal societies, the study found. Elections caused the poorest households to increase their income by 29%; the richest households saw their incomes decrease by 28%.
So consider the irony: could it be that people power, the very ideal that Beijing looks down upon with scorn, is creating the “harmonious society” the Communist Party holds as its guiding goal?
The study raises a number of interesting questions. Will more villages clamor for democracy? Will that yearning for people power spread to the cities? Will the Communist Party ever cede power to the many?
I turned to the Chinese political scientist Minxin Pei for answers. He says to treat any analysis of rural democracy in China with caution.
“Village elections have largely been a failure,” he says. “Most so-called democratic villages have no autonomy or control over their finances.”
It’s instructive to consider the power structure in China. At the very top of the pyramid lies the 25-member Politburo and its all-powerful nine-man Standing Committee. Together they control the Provinces; these in turn control the Prefectures and Counties; then you have Townships. Villages are the very bottom of the pyramid – they’re not an official part of government, says Pei. Instead it is more apt to call them a civic association.
“Democracy is a rather charitable description of what the villages have been allowed,” says Pei.
Here’s a harsh but effective analogy: Imagine an apartment complex building in a big city. The tenants want to form a civic community; they hold elections. The elected leaders make minor decisions for the building’s residents – what color to paint it, how many guards to hire. But do they really have any say in government?
Gordon Chang, the author of "The Coming Collapse of China," says even the apartment complex analogy is too charitable. “Village democracy is worse,” he says. “Communist Party leaders have a history of controlling or even nullifying them to suit their purposes.”
So why do the powerful Provinces – with the Politburo’s blessing – allow people power to grow roots at all?
An article last week in the South China Morning Post may shed some light on the question. Two competing ideologies about governance are being debated at the highest levels – and some of that debate is leaking into the public domain. The South China Morning Post reports how an editorial in the state-run Global Times says the public should show more understanding towards government corruption. Why? Because the country wasn’t ready to deal with the problem, it says. But the China Youth Daily, an organ of the Communist Youth League, disagreed, saying that urgent reforms and democracy were the only ways to cleanse the system.
The debate is not new. Ultimately, corruption is the reason why village democracy was first seen as an attractive proposal. Many village leaders were corrupt landowners. Empowering the people to elect their leaders is an effective way for the Communist Party to keep the system honest – and to absolve itself of blame. Badly performing leaders can be voted out. But the glitch in the system is that the people’s powers end there; reportedly only 10% of village elections in China are competitive.
The disconnect between the bottom-up system of the village and the top-down system of the Politburo allows Beijing to at once practice democracy and maintain control.
So will people power ever flourish in China?
As it recently did with Wukan province, the Provinces are more likely to pick and choose when to use an iron fist or a velvet glove.
“Village elections are a minor concession to placate people but it ignores larger structural reforms,” says Chang. “China is the most dynamic, fast-moving country in the world – and the Communist Party isn’t keeping up.”
Village democracy may be of the people in that it provides a degree of choice and small benefits to its participants. But it really isn’t by the people or for the people – it’s by and for the 80 million strong Communist Party of China.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I am not sure about China; I am sure it is not US, definitely.
Unlike you, I am sure and certain that America is a demo-of-crazy, just look at the fact that a fool was able to steal the presidency once, started two wars that killed so many people, tripled the national deficit, and still got reelected for a second term, where can you find this kind of foolishness? You definitely will not find this kind of stupidity in China.
you're right,stupidity is in your mirror.
Yes, authoritarian rule that represses all free speech and runs people over with tanks is a far better and more intelligent government. Please.
Well said Maersk, well said. I fully agree.
If you're referring to George W. Bush you don't know what you're talking about. The national debt did double during his EIGHT years, from $5 trillion to $10 trillion, a total of $5 trillion [since you're clearly too dumb to do the math].
In just 3 1/2 years Obama has increased that debt SIX TRILLION dollars.
You're the fool, plain and simple.
to What Are You Smoking Anyway: First, you neglect to include the effect of inflation on your figures, which would either increase Bush's contribution to the debt (if you use 2012 dollars) or decrease Obama's (if you use 2000 dollars). Second, you ignore the fact that the increase in the first year of Obama's term is due to a budget passed under Bush. Third, and maybe most important, you don't calculate the interest on Bush's $10 million debt and subtract it from what you blame on Obama.
China's leadership focuses on Peoples' betterment and welfare. The leadership won trust of people by delivering unlike Sham-Democracies.
At least SOME people realize that, Maersk. The sheep, however...
Their is stupidity everywhere, just watch the news.
Still better than China.
dont blame me. i voted for gore in 2000 and kerry in 2004.
It's a pity that the central government chooses not to learn from history. Mencius, the second most revered philosopher after Confucius in China underscored 2.300 years ago the importance of the common citizens in the state. He maintained it was acceptable for the subjects to overthrow or even kill a ruler who ignored the people's needs and ruled harshly. This was because a ruler who didn't justly was no longer a true ruler and had lost the mandate from heaven. Of course the central government is made up of the Politburo and the Standing Committe. That Bo Xilai was removed from office showed that there is a higher power in China that judges members of the ruling party.
The repubs and the dems could learn something from Mencius, but I doubt they would understand.
i believe you are referring to the belief named "the mandate of heaven". and you are right it was Mencius. but good communist should not read such "drivel". aaahhh political censorship, thou art a hateful b!
Most of people comment and argue here maybe not see each other's country, but most of the Chinese believe that US is a better place for human living, rich, powerful, civilization, etc. most of the Chinese know US from Hollywood films and news, but little know the truth. through the news that US is a very fantastic country, you guys should thank your media like CNN, make Chinese fell the foreigners' fart is good smelling.
Nothing is perfect. No social system is perfect. China has been a monarchy for thousands of years, has been a republic for just over 100 years. Chinese people are not ready for full elections, which would result in chaos and corruption. For now, China is best led by a single unified political party.
China has always been a dictatorship.
true. China has always been a dictatorship
They must dictate what kind of kwoks you can zuck. For examples: it is OK to zuck Chinese kwoks but it is not OK to zuck you uncle's limply kwok.
It would be interesting to hear what the people's opinion of that is.
dictatorship, that's a dirty word, but look at the growth in China and the impending disaster in the US. Democracy in the US at least, is not working ...that's obvious
It would be interesting to here the people's opion of that. Oh wait, they are not allowed to say anything! LOL too bad.
Silent opinions means no opinions at all.
Tom, that's because people have it in their heads that the US is a democracy. It isn't, it's a republic. If people elect fools and thieves as representatives, this is the result.
TOM: You are a bit myopic.
1 – China's "growth" is artificial because of their pegging their currency to the dollar.
2 – Any meteoric economic growth in any sector cannot be sustained as markets will adjust. We are actually starting to see a little of this with China and the US economies. The US is not only the largest economy and has been for over 120years because of the diversity and creativity in GNP.
Yes, yes, yes.
Why didn't the ancient Greeks practice democracy rather than monarchy? Because it works on paper, doesn't work in practice. The US is also not a true democracy. The rich elite top 1% have and exercise their iron fist with police and the military.
We in the US fail to recognize that democracy forced from top never survives. On the other hand democracy that rises from the bottom endures all obstacles. People participtation in government in China will happen when the middle class becomes strong and have stake in their nation.
Just observe what is happening in our Congress. A kind of oligarchy is taking over as the middle class is vanishing. With the help of the Super PAC, made legal by our Supreme Court, the next election is being bought and sold.
Correct. The US is not a democracy, but a democratic republic.
Democracy works as seen in all developed nations. China's people will teach the government this lesson of history ... they will learn. How many countries are now dictatorships? There is an Arab Spring. Just wait for the China's spring ... the world will rejoice.
kwok head, never mind there is a China's Spring or not. What you should worry is that you might have to zuck Chinese kwoks for a living, the same way your uncle is doing now.
Ancient Athens did practice democracy in its purest form. Citizens of all walks of lives will have a chance to be call for public service at least once in their lifetime where they will sit together with 6000 other individuals to decide the fate their city state. Granted, at its height there are only about less than 100,000 qualified citizens and women cannot vote, it is still an extremely egalitarian systems with regards to male suffrage. Ancient Athenians were politically self aware and mature and citizens from outlying Attica will travel to Athens itself to participate in civil service while bunking at a relative or friend's place, sometimes for months! China's economical rise, while remarkable is not really that great. Just look at Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Economical growth for developing countries is not difficult, all you have to do is not screwing up with crap like civil war and instability. Foster a growth environment and it will grow. Now maintaining a first world status, that a totally different ball game and is infinitely much more complex situation. Just like what Coolio said, I see you when you get there. Punk!
oh, and the Chinese Communist Party is not 80 million strong which would be about 1 in every 14 Chinese people
I stand corrected, the Chinese Communist Party is indeed over 80 million strong. Of course, given just about every Chinese people is related to every other Chinese person by blood or marriage, that is one hella big family.
Well put, Yang Xi Gua.
Well said. CCP having a much bigger support in China, comparing to the two parties in US. However here in CNN, they need to make up stories everyday to make CCP looks worse and losing power.
LOL They are losing ... everyday the people are not free. let's all thank the 50cent party for their amusing post. It's ice to have a good laugh.
"LOL They are losing ... everyday the people are not free. let's all thank the 50cent party for their amusing post. It's ice to have a good laugh."
I suppose your uncle has paid you a dollar for fingering your azz and your kwok zucking service? I bet he gave you an IOU instead.
America is a place for the whole World Nation, but China is not.
However, I belong to Ethiopian Community. The American Government/the Obama administration never pay attention on Ethiopians in America. More than 90% of US are unemployed or some of US we are driving Taxis and attending Parking lot while we hold University Degrees. If China wants to buy my American Passport, I will sell it to them. Because, the American Government and Jews Monsters denied me jobs.
America, you got a problem.
90% of US are unemployed?
So you think the American government or anyone else owes you a job? I meet plenty of Ethiopians working here, and doing well. Tell me another place where Ethiopians and Eritreans work side by side. Try Starbucks...they seem to have a fair number of Ethiopians working for them (maybe it's the mutual coffee thing).
It's illegal, of course, to sell an American passport...but if you want to there are tens of thousands of individuals who would give their life savings to have one, and you know it. Meanwhile you can hop back to Addis where life is wonderful and the job opportunities are plentiful.
As for you fifty-centers here, you don't seem to be drawing much attention.
Alan, get back to your Foxhole, where you belong to. Who gives you freedom to have your saying @ this blog?
I make the Rules and I choose which one I obey and I don't obey.
But, for you, all the negative Rules will applied to you. Do you agree or not?
Star Buck * Head!
You should take that Coffee with LSD D-Type. That might boost your engine (Celebram). But, I don't want you to get sick. I want you to become strong and kick Mohammadians-Fascist butt ass.
What are you doing in America move to china, and learn the hard way.
Yes...welcome to the land of the immigrants buddy....
Your "university degrees" equate to a third-grade education here, bad as that may be.
Hey, bone head!
More than 40% of East-European descendants of American CAN NOT READ and WRITE!
Go to Northern Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama,...They live either in fenced ghetto or/and hunting for living.
These non-Kultur Gypsies, are equivalent to no-one in the Modern World. They could be find only in American Ghetto Society, for Tourist attractions. Even, the Canadian-Newfies, started how to write and read.
Get back to your Foxhole!
The writer realizes that in most cases, the 'elected' village leaders are nothing but gang bosses or thugs.
Those gang bosses and thugs must have forced you to bend over and made you zuck their kwok.
Today, democracy appears to be dead in the West and especially in the U.S. where the powerful M.I.C. seems to have taken over both Congress and the White House. Even Barack Obama did everyhting they wanted since assuming the White House while the rubber-stamp leaders of Europe faithfully carry out each and every order coming out of Washington D.C. This, Pres. Dwight D.Eisenhower warned us about back in Feb. 1959 but very few listened. On the other hand, China seems to be evolving into a true Democracy these days, however slowly.
in what way or form in your world is China a democracy? It amazes me the ignorance of people who post on this site and ridiculously attempt to compare the two nations freedoms. Try living under a government that represses like I have, then you will learn the difference.
Chinese people are happier than American people.
Would you mind explaining what repressive government you were living in? Were you not allowed to zuck kwoks? Even if you were not allowed to bend over or kwok zucking, you can not compare China with the repressive government you were living in because kwok zucking is allowed and promoted provided you are not zucking your uncle's limply kwok.
Go back "down under", Quig. You're clueless if you really think that Beijing will ever give up control.
Democracy is not dead: it can not be because it has never lived! It is an animated dummy we are talking about! You simply can see the strings now, that's all! So your perception has changed – no biggie!
Let's all thank "Yang Xi Gua" for the jokes. Americans are not as happy as Chinese? !! LOL ... Good one. How would one even put a number of happiness? Okay let say the US is not happy with things as they are ... we go out and innovate, create and change. The Chinese copy and steal. Maybe they are happy about that.
Yes I can, the Chinese are so happy that they have a errecttion every day. Not just a limply errecttion like the one you and your uncle have, they are fully erected every day. Your uncle on the other hand, because he could not get it fully erected, he thought by invading Iraq he could get an iraqtion. He didn't even know errecttion and iraqtion are not the same. What a silly baboon he was.
You got that right who ever you are.
Democracy is just a one way of governing. It may or may not be a good choice depending on the specific situation. It needs to evolve in content and formality with the changing world. A well functioning society needs so many other things, such as good education, independent judicial system, managed freedom of press, to name a few. Putting too much emphasis on democracy is narrow-minded and naive.
"Managed freedom of press"??? Has theis guy never heard of the First Amendment. And, by the way, please don't ever teach American government. We already have enough problems in this country.
True, pete. Amazing how peeps keep trying to push democrazy and ram it down peoples throats. Although looking around the world, do we see any domocracies who are not going under?
The USA has more people in prison then China or any other country in the world .
Freedom I dont think so more laws more fines more people in prison high crime rate ,
Money buys justice in the USA .
The rich are in charge and all others are sheep. Practice baaa baa baaa
You have no clue.
One possible reason is that China executes it's convicts far more often for far more reasons then the state in the US. Get a clue.
May I ask how often they execute their convicts? Were you one of the convicts whose limply kwok was harvested and fed to pigs? If you were, how do you feel without a kwok. Do you feel like you have to zuck your uncle's kwok and swallow his kum for a living now? I am just curious.
While we coddle mass murderers and child rapists killers. We clothe and feed them for the rest of their lives. No worries.
Big clue, for more of them and so easy to nail.
So, given that this Chinese democracy is an illusion, the purpose in writing this article would be . . .?
and who says American men are not capable of having an informed curent affairs conversation ...this article has definitely rattled some cages...good on ya fellow citizens!....
首先非常抱歉,我才疏学浅,无法用英文表达我想说的话,我只是很想表达身在中国–我的心声.你们认为美国已经存在很多问题,失业率很高.可是我可以深切的告诉你们:在中国.只有当权者才能利用权利搜刮到更多的财富.在中国,每个人都希望自己能拥有权利.在中国，也许人人都有工作,可是有工作的人领着的却是低微仅够生活的一点薪水.我想这是国内3/4在中低岗位工作人民最真实的反映!杨曦卦.看你的名字应该是中国人,如果你在中国过得很快乐，那么我告诉你,我们很不快乐.恭喜你,要么你是个公务员,要么你是商人.中国官商勾结已是臭名昭著.负税比在世界最高,欧美的消费.而收入却是非洲水平.在全世界仅仅只有5个社会主义国家.而且中国的朋友是朝鲜,叙利亚等一些流氓独裁国家.我们的当权者只会压迫,已经听不到普通老百姓的心声,中国每年对外援助很多钱,换来的是老百姓的痛苦.如果是一个完美的制度试问为何全世界都否认它.而且他们所谓的世界观已经脱离了世界的轨道.在中国,当权者可以随便侵犯人权,可以随意占有人家的土地,可以强行拆掉别人的房屋.希望大家真正的认识中国!谢谢
See? No matter who's elected to local rural bureaucracy Beijing still pulls all of the strings.
我们知道,无论谁当选,北京仍会拉动当地农村官僚机构的所有字符串。 有希望。 我们知道,你们的苦难。
亲爱的肯·乔，是的，我理解你的感情就在Mianland中国中央政府......中国有一个非常非常古老的文化......一个最高和最低的...意识的变化，采取很多季节体现......中国是一个非常大的国家共产主义的社会主义，马克思主义是很理想化的民主是作为一个美国人，我可以说，真正的民主共和国在这里不存在......我们也在学习如何以人民的声音治理我国fromn，...我的心声传达给你对这个问题的治理时间既不是实物或其他残忍，人类是这个花园星球上只有几千个...有一天，我们作为一个物种已经意识到我们的能力，是我们生活在花园里的管家......我知道，爱是在我们所有人的生活的底部，这是高于一切的力量......以及...... ..钢
好帖子。谢谢你
您的痛苦我能够明白。
不过几百年来，流离漂泊海外成千上万华侨的祖先比您们更为痛苦。他们不离开就
会饿死；“权利”就更加是空谈。
今天您们年青人能够追求“人权”说明了共产党统治下的中国进步了，人民生活好
了改善了。今天您们出国是旅行是升学是投资，不再是好像您们的祖宗必需流离失
所海外乞丐洋人讨生活。
慢慢来，给中国多一点时间，给自己多一点时间把中国建设更加好。
千万不要好像我们一样；在海外寄人篱下的日子不好过唉！
Pls, stop this wire fence or barber kind letters.
@Americagna
You should have listening to your parent >>>>>> LEARN CHINESE, fungulo!!!
Use English, nit wit.
@George
You are so left so far behind.
Take some lesson from your own ancestor, borrowed a language from the English.
放你的屁吧，英文都不懂，你怎么知道西方比中国情况好的？你这样的loser见多了，看人家吃肉就眼红，自己又什么不能干。你不是普通老百姓，你只是最底层的人渣。别代表普通老百姓说话。
“你只是最底层的人渣” 这句话不对。
我们中国人的素质普遍的在提升。我们应该常常互相提醒，却万万不能够用这样的话去贬值自己人，以免离开了您爱国爱人民的本意。
年轻人,你的无知和野蛮只会侮辱到你的父母,践踏你的人格,让别人看不起你.也许你认为你很了不起,事实也许证明你才是社会上最上层的人渣.社会的败类.不得不承认你也许是富二代或是官二代,但只要你失去了这个护身符你就连狗都不如.也许到时是你在向别人摇尾乞怜了!至少我能靠自己创业能有一家小公司,但是除了正常税收外还需要经常给当地官员送礼,否则你的公司无法生存.这样的潜规则在中国比比皆是.我很爱我的国家,很爱我的民族,但是我绝不象你这样的五毛狗,对自己的主子如此忠心,但在我看来是愚蠢的做法.我的政府已经不爱人民,我想我也不需要去爱这样的政府了.去看看89,64吧,孩子
generaj,如果你父母真的那么失败管教不了你那么我不介意管教下你这个人渣.你这个没素质的蠢货丢人丢到国外去了，你明白吗?
年轻人,你的无知和野蛮只会侮辱到你的父母,践踏你的人格,让别人看不起你.也许你认为你很了不起,事实也许证明你才是社会上最上层的人渣.社会的败类.不得不承认你也许是富二代或是官二代,但只要你失去了这个护身符你就连狗都不如.也许到时是你在向别人摇尾乞怜了!至少我能靠自己创业能有一家小公司,但是除了正常税收外还需要经常给当地官员送礼,否则你的公司无法生存.这样的潜规则在中国比比皆是.我很爱我的国家,很爱我的民族,但是我绝不象你这样的五毛狗,对自己的主子如此忠心,但在我看来是愚蠢的做法.我的政府已经不爱人民,我想我也不需要去爱这样的政府了.去看看89,64吧,孩子
generaj,如果你父母真的那么失败管教不了你那么我不介意管教下你这个人渣.你这个没素质的蠢货丢人丢到国外去了，你明白吗?
Amato
Amato 抱歉,我是说上面只会犬的那位–generaj,因为网络问题重复发了!不好意思
i cant read this
我一点点的看到：任何制度都有利有弊，制度内的国民素质好国家则和皆兴旺。
美国曾经是和皆兴旺的乐土，可惜近年来美国人民素质普遍的滑落，离开了他们祖先建国的精神。今天的美国正在慢慢的衰退；从强变弱，本来是世界卫道士却变成失去理智和安全感的世界侵略者。
反看咱中国人：今天的中国人正经验着从古未有过的与世界大接触，让我们看到自己国家的制度一样有利也有弊。我们知道只要坚持努力，继续以谦卑修正自己的素质，修正自己国家的制度(白猫黑猫三色猫)，我们的明天必定会更加好。
l am pretty sure that Chinese government blocks the foreign media. How can you post it though? Well, every country has its own shortage and advantage anyway. Some problem we must go through.
They post while traveling outside of the country.
I am an American living in China, I have no problem reading any news media in the world nor posting comments to any site.
It makes no difference who's in charge. Beijing's still pulling all the strings, make no mistake about it.
乔肯我使用谷歌翻译与您沟通......请原谅波涛汹涌的翻译......我想明确指出，美国也是一个国家，说民主共和国......但老实说，不实行民主......我们是真正的不是一个共和国...我们作为一个国家也正在开发我们的声音......人民的声音
Hindi ko maintindihan ang salita ninyo , kaya eto ako, pero wala naman akong Masabi Dahl l ang mga sinasabi ninyo ay wa Epek sa akin ? Get mo ?
Western democracy is hinduism, illegality based on hindu Judaism, filthy self center ism, secular ism, a tool to deny humanity their equality based on truth absolute, hindu Judaism, denial of truth is the way of hindu's, criminal, hindu Judaism, filthy pig ism in in hinduism, deception. Way of Magi hindus, criminal tricksters to fool humanity.
Election on government official is not really that important - a functional independent judicial system is more important. HK has a good judicial system and still don't have universal suffrage to this date and the government seems to function quite well.
Americans are obsessed with their democracy thing: because they are brainwashed and can not see the reality behind the idea. And the reality is that their democracy is not better or worse than enything else: it simply lacks any substance. It is just a lot of liberal crap, all the words covering up the emptiness.
So I did not read this article: because it is useless pice of propaganda – that is clear from its header. I hope that all the disasters of their communist past have made Chinese people immune to that liberal deceit and manipulation. They will not join the dark side! China is indeed an unlikely home for your beloved democracy: so do not stop, keep on looking!
If you believe China is striving for Democracy I have some water front property in Arizona I would like to show you. When China stops being big brother to North Korea and Cuba and all the other Communist regimes in the world, Then maybe, just maybe, I will change my way of thinking. China is an enigma and no one in history has ever understood how they think other than the folks that call themselves leaders of that God-forsaken country. They would surely like it if we fell for that line.
God-forsaken country????????????????????????????????
Don't be dumb.
Sooner or later, they'll get the real reason democracy is a good idea. Which is, of course, that if you don't let people vote with the ballot, they tend to inevitably vote with bullets.
yes...and then we have the guillotine...a wonderful device created to behead the upperclass wipes who had forgotten about anger and starvation and murder and enslavement...its' quite perfect....they weren't really imprisoned, they were simply beheaded....Shudder shudder....
There is wide spread of economical mismanagement under so-called democracy. Who are to be blamed for this?
If it is government, then this democracy must be kind of system that routinely put idiots in government, what is so great about it?
bullet,
The way Chinese think is very simple : following facts, not pape or eloquent language.
If American people are asked what kind of system they have, a system of the people, by the people, for the people, OR a system of the rich, by the rich and for the rich, which one would you pick ?
Chinese have long realized that taking power away from government is NOT equivalent to power to the people.
Here are some candies for you :
n reality, “power to the people” is more like :
Power to the rich;
power to the media and journalists.
power to the greedy and parasites.
power to the criminals
and finally, power to the hard-working people.
Freedom to the people is in reality,
Freedom to the rich;
Freedom to the media and journalists.
Freedom to the greedy and parasites.
Freedom to the criminals
and finally, Freedom to the hard-working people.
It bothers me why the rich in a demoncratic village is 28% less rich. Does it mean the top rich moved to an undemocratic village and hire people there instead?
Let me ask you a question :
How does government help people under this democracy ? create job opportunities ?
But how ? how will government make companies hire unemployed ?
Answer : government must give the rich attractive incentives.
In other word, to help people, government must take care of the rich, make them happy.
Now you people should know what different opinions are.
Great article! Glad to see CNN has at least one good writer working the world news.
Democracy > Communist oligarchy
The Chinese rural elections might not be much, but at least its a start.
The meaning of Democracy has been mis-interpreted.
Democracy doesn't mean election only. But, it could fit if everyone has been treated fairly and equally.
Do the 1% Wealthy Americans treated fairly and equally the 99% Americans???!!! If they did, we shouldn't be out there to protest against the 1% Wealthy Americans.
Let US put it this way, their is no such thing called, Democracy in this Planet.
And also, from the way we are behaving and the total setting, it will never lead US to Democracy and will never be seen until the end of the World, which is 500 more years.
China is still generations and decades away from democracy. If you want Asian-style democracy, go visit Taiwan and South Korea. They moved from dictatorship to democracy in less than 20 years but without violence, revolutions or coups.
What an inane comment that democracy is setting in the West. This is the problem with untrained people attempting to analyze complex issues. Attention CNN readers: please do not listen to the myopic, self-aggrandizing blather of fools.
China is not led by a single unified party but rather by a mafia style government that rules by fear and intimidation and passes power to princelings. They pretend the smog is fog, killing to maintain control is order and all critism is met with all nations have problems. All attempts to present them as a budding democracy are just appologize for doing business with the mst prolific murderer of our time.
lol-the prolific murderer of our time???you are a funny guy-or just simply don't pay attention.How many wars has China started in their history?How many wars has the US started in history?How many countries has China attacked or overthrown in their history?and the US?in fact,China has disputed WITH tAIWAN FOR A LONG TIME OVER ITS SOVEREIGNTY,AND HAVE THEY EVEN SO MUCH AS ATTACKED tAIWAN?nOPE.Texas wanted to be sovereign from the USA,and the US gov't squashed that pretty quick.If you want to know the most prolific killers of our time,ggoogle earth the white house in Washington DC,and you will find the blood of many.
Patel and Rao are discussing Wong and chang's problem @ John Smith's country!
Don't hold your breath.
china is pretty smart-they give their people enough freedoms and glimpses of democracy to make the majority of people content-they are almost as good at propaganda as our gov't(USA-propaganda masters)
thats because china executes everyone, highest in world
they execute,while we bomb and destroy.......pick your poison.They justify their bs,so do we.At the end of the day,it's people dead.they kill,we kill.it's the way of the world we live in.kill to get what you want accomplished......USA,China-no different,except WE KILL MORE
the difference is,chinese have never had the freedoms and they make them think they have more than they do......we americans have had the freedoms,they're being taken away,and now they want us to compare our freedoms with other countries and just be happy for the freedoms we have left........as they continue to take more away
Democracy? Hu, hi...
The World is under siege. Thunderstorms from the Sky and Weapons from the Ground. I bet, you must be lucky, if you get a good nap on your bed.
Even 2000 Years ago, we were been found Sinners/not clean and Almighty God sent his beloved Son, Jesus Christ to carry our Sins. Since then, we become more Sinners than ever.
Sadly, the creation of Nuclear Bomb by Devil, rather than creating Medicine for everlasting life, made our life miserable and Satanic.
Thousands of years ago, we already lost the goodwill and truth path. Now, it's impossible to find it. We are living with a twisted Mind-sets.
hinduism, absurdity of a hindu, pagan labeled as Christian, No one is responsible for any one else s hinduism, criminality, neither son of blessed Mary promised not he took responsibility for any ones sins, but promised he will approach the bench as a advocate for his followers, if they obeyed the La, the truth absolute by the book of contradictions called bible, rest of it is hinduism, absurdity of hindu, pagan Paul.
Communism = The Future
WE need it more than capitalism...
Another harsh but affective analogy would be to so-called self-governance in the western academia or corporate worlds.
We have instructed China so many times that their government must become more like ours. I don't believe they have been all that eager to follow our instructions but maybe if we keep 'educating' them we will eventually set them straight?
WHAT MAKES US FEEL EVERYONE HAS TO LISTEN TO US?why don't we just start another war and MAKE DARN SURE everyone listens to us?it's only a matter of time before the warmongers in the white house attack china as well,I'm sure.....
China doesn't get it. We run things on this planet not them! Eventually we may have to go to war with them til they get it. Might makes right.
Sir you are sadly misinformed. We here in Canada are getting a crash course in Chinese culture and I can tell you that we have already lost the war through immigration. It was quiet, and uneventfull at least in the eyes of our Government here. On the street and workplace you will never meet a more ruthless and determined people ever. They are simply conquering by numbers, its very simple and hence intimidating. Canadians are terrified of them but say nothing for fear of retatliation from our own authorities and ofcourse the Chinese population itself. They get to you one way or the other, usually by taking your photo in broad daylight in public and posting your photo amongst the Chinese community in every city in Canada. Its the new darkside folks (new order). If you go to blows with these people be prepared to go all in.
@George
I am sorry that you felt this way. However I have some encouraging words for you: go and visit Hawaii, you will see the future of Canada. The future of Canada may not be dominant whites but I am sure they will be dominant 100% Canadian if the local Canadian can adhere to their Canadian value which we immigrants so admired and impressed with.
George, my advice to you is learn Chinese or have a Chinese friend, then you will have a clearer picture of us instead of preparing “go all the way in".
A home for democracy is a hole 6 feet in the ground.
I wish I could have been born in a democracy country. I am a communist party member. like most Chinese party members, we gain a status to get some advantages, it doesn't mean we are agree with the ideas and CPC propagandizes
Villagers are given a choice of two pre approved communist party members to choose from.
After voting they must meet their children for the end of their 10 hour shift at the factory and give them a ride to their indoctrination classes.
Communist China murders any citizen who speaks for freedom. Now march out to Walmart and support those murdering communists with your American money. And cry all the way home because you don't have a job.
"Communist China murders any citizen who speaks for freedom. Now march out to Walmart and support those murdering communists with your American money. And cry all the way home because you don't have a job."
I suppose they leave the kwok zucking kwok zuckers alone and that is exactly why you are still around and kwok zucking as usually.
True, Chinese are employed but not free. We are free but not employed. We won!
Westren democracy is hinduism, absurdity, based not on truth absolute but hindu Judaism, filthy self center ism, secular or be called pig ism, only hindu's criminals can love it, not a person of truth absolute.
people gripe about freedom in america, yet here i am saying what i think as long as i remain civil. i own a gun legally and can shoot any body who tries to take it unlawfully. is america perfect? no. is it currently the best option for freedom in the world? all the other people in the world seem to think so because they are in a crazy rush to live here instead of trying to fix their own countries.
American people have no idea the price they pay for their freedom.
Allow me to repeat :
Freedom to the people is in reality,
Freedom to the rich;
Freedom to the media and journalists.
Freedom to the greedy and parasites.
Freedom to the criminals
and finally, Freedom to the hard-working people.
the advantage of a one party system is they can get things done. the disadvantage is if people dont agree with the things they are doing they have no other choice.
Hey you blokes,
your funny conversations don't get bloked here in China. Can read every single line.
Btw the US dollar and the Chinese yuan will be history soon.
Hooorooo
China is ruled by a communist party. US is ruled by a capitalist party, since both rep. and dem. are capitalist parties. The result of American election is always that capitalists win.
I stopped reading this with "Elections caused the poorest households to increase their income by 29%; the richest households saw their incomes decrease by 28%." Please tell me cnn, how did you prove that elections caused this?
We are free to ram our democracy down everyones throats. if they have a problem with that, we'll send in the marines! They will get democracy even if we have to destroy them in order to free them.
Experimental democracy is DOA (Dead On Arrival) in India. It is has never worked in large populated countries. Particularly those with mostly illiterate populace such as India. Too big to manage, minorities such as muslims, sikhs, christians get disenfranchised etc. India will need to go back to its socialist/communist roots. Maybe splitting it up into smaller pieces (circa USSR) is an alternate scenario.
The US has 2 parties that have a stranglehold on power excluding anyone not a member. We put a huge number of our people in jail for non violent offenses with many of them minorities. We have check points where our government stands with guns demanding ID and papers. My state of GA averages 10,000 rolling check points annually "for our protection". We have states where we send citizens to jail for offenses that would not be crimes in neighboring states. Yes China has issues but has been in existence for thousands of years. The US should be more concerned with upholding our own "equal protection and equality" for it's citizens rather than trying to police the world. IMHO. Peace....
I will believe what I see on this one. In Canada we see that the old ways die hard. We hear much yadda yadda but see nothing but contradictions. So America, understand that what you think you see as a tendency towards democracy is indeed the Chinese version. More money, more freedom and rights less money zero rights.
Look, I've seen a range of comments in here, many border on the outright insane. Some suggest that the recent weakening of the Western Democracy's economies is a sign that Democracy itself is weak. I'm sorry that you have that viewpoint but if you had any logic you would know that's absolutely false. Democracy has allowed the West to flourish for Hundreds of years. China has only recently emerged as an economic powerhouse and before that it went through decades of suffering of the likes we have never seen in the West. China is not a standard Communist country either, they only began to flourish when they opened their economy up to a more democratic free trade style, before that it was hardly an example of a good economy. Without reforms that mirror democratic societies, China would still be a 3rd world country, and parts of it still are. Democracy is not threatened by a recession, Democracy withstood the Great Depression, 2 world wars and is continuing to flourish. People are simply short-sighted. They see bad news and decide the whole system is bad. The System is fine. You just have to adapt to a changing world in order to continue to flourish. The concept of Democracy is still the best system the world has ever seen, and it allowed the growth of the most powerful nation the world has ever known, America. It will be the cornerstone of future society. Democracy keeps bad leaders from remaining in power and being too destructive to the Nation, it also allows new ideas, it allows for creative, unrestrictive problem solving unlike Communism... Which is why in many Communist nations, the populations face starvation and mistreatment at the hands of the Government, you don't see that in the West... So please, if you're going to speak on these matters, do a little research, use logic not some warped feelings drawn from recent events to form opinions... and post something that at least makes some sense.
“The concept of Democracy is still the best system the world has ever seen, and it allowed the growth of the most powerful nation the world has ever known, America. It will be the cornerstone of future society.”
Unfortunately the voter turnout rate shows many Americans disagree with you. Americans values have been diluted and people are losing the common values that pull the nation together.
As for China, Communism basic values are high and noble, it served the Chinese, pull them from starvation and poverty, rebuilt their nations with strength and dignity. Economically, the Chinese realized the weakness of communism, so they look into Singapore and change. Again today they humble look into the USA, not so much into the present diluted democracy system but much more into the original American value that made USA great once.
Well said Observer.