1.3和5,000

由Ernie · Tadla

美国的人口。 是300百万。
中国的人口是1.3十亿。

一会儿停止并且考虑美国的各自工作和责任。 乔治· W.总统。 布什和中国总统胡锦涛。 统治的原则也许是相似的，但数字摇摆。

治理1.3十亿个人的负担在是快批评的多数西方人比较了到300百万丢失怎么中国领导在世界的历史上治理，是，控制大量，当哺育最热和最大的时经济。

人们在中国经常询问我关于腐败。
我回复以问题， “您是否有腐败在美国？
中国有美国的一切。 在巨额仅。

您做算术。 在腐败比率在300百万人民我们的民主，政治系统然后那中国与1.3十亿个人。 中国有4.3乘人民，您可能那么逻辑上期望4.3次同样多腐败。

一些中国朋友指出民主是防止一个当选政客工作直接地为他的组成部分和国家的最大兴趣的一个adversarial系统。 当政客被选举民主时，看起来他们的优先权秋天这样：

1. 保留他们的工作和得到重选。
2. 证明，对方当事人是100%总错误，无能，单薄和不值得信任的。
3. 满足在力量提供经费给党保留它的特殊兴趣组和游说者。
4. 终于，然后，他们考虑什么也许是好为国家

It is exciting to watch how the U.S. is approaching the rising profile of China. Traditionally, the bi partisan split is left wing vs. right wing. The left wing, democratic, liberal, right brain spectrum would be more supportive to China. The right wing, Republican, conservative, left brain would be hesitant, yea, resistant accommodating the Red Threat. That is exactly how it is currently being played out. This might, however, be changing.

China does have its skeletons:
≺ Tibet
≺ Tiananmen Square
≺ Falun Gong
≺ the Cultural Revolution
≺ human rights practices

Of course, they also have personality differences, varying levels of personal ambitions and the polarity of progressive vs. conservative pressures, but not the open divisiveness of partisanship. Even though it is a one-party state, the government is sensitive to the internal murmurings and rumblings of the people, and there are many. They don’t need another grass roots revolution, which is why they came down so hard on Falun Gong cult. The leadership is also sensitive to how the rest of the world sees China. Our markets and resources are important to them and it wants to showcase the New China at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, WTO, etc.

China is rapidly becoming a world superpower. They’re doing it peacefully by building relationships: forging, trusting, win-win, long-term, mutual benefit relationships with other nations.

The richness of their history, traditions, and values is a wonderful strengthening asset for them and helps them handle the amazing growth they’re experiencing. They enjoy a quiet confidence that a people who have been around a long time and experienced everything — ups, downs, power, occupation by foreign powers, revolution. The pressures of sudden, dramatic change are also affecting every part of their culture: generational, governmental, family, business, educational, etc.

When your culture, your history and background are 5,000 years old you have a completely different perception of yourself, your family, your country, of time, of the rest of the world, than if you lived in a country that is 230 years old.

When I arrived in Shanghai, it seemed as if the whole city was under construction. It already had a massive freeway system that matched or surpassed the one in Los Angeles, and a skyline of space age, futuristic, skyscrapers like something from a Star Wars movie. These were preparing for Oct. 1, 1999, the New China’s 50th anniversary.

In my view, there was no way they would all be completed by Oct. 1.
But they were!

There are many reasons for China’s stupendous economic growth. Certainly one of them is that they are a benevolent dictatorship.

When the government decides it wants to do something, it forges ahead, without the complexities of democracy. It doesn’t have to worry about:
≺ the loyal opposition
≺ special interest groups
≺ lobbyists
≺ activists
≺ advocates
≺ protesters
≺ financial contributors
≺ unions
≺ layers of paper and policy.

They just do it!

The Three Gorges Dam Project

The dam, seventeen years in the making, is one of the technological marvels of the world. Two thousand years ago, the Chinese built The Great Wall. The Three Gorges Dam is the modern equivalent of that achievement.

≺ It’s the world’s largest water conservation and flood-control project
≺ It’s the world’s largest hydro-power plant
≺ It allows ocean-going ships to penetrate the heartland of China, opening up its vast resources and markets. Imagine ocean-going ships being able to sail into Chicago or Atlanta.
≺ 2.5 million people are being resettled
≺ 1,599 industrial enterprises, including power, telecommunications, harbors, plants, roads are being relocated
≺ 250,000 workers have been employed on the project

The 2.5 million people being resettled, who were not living in the finest digs, will get a cash settlement, plus two options.

New cities are being built above the new water line and new, free homes will be given to those who stay. Those who don’t want to stay can resettle in the larger cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. The government will supply cash, transportation and new homes there. Older people are choosing to stay in the new cities and towns while younger people are opting for a new beginning in the larger cities.

Next week: Lesson Three of: Eight Lessons I Learned From the Communists

CONFUCIUS SAYS…..
China: godless, but not heathen!

Ernie Tadla, www.odysseychina.net