The Chinese model is both rigid, highly flawed and depends on globalisation for its success!? Just to avoid retreating backward. Moreover, supports intended Chinese global domination?

If we would avoid becoming a southern possession? We must focus on national independence and democracy! To do both we need a vision for the future, plus energy and tax reform!

Something neither the completely gormless coalition has or are willing to embrace, but rather the firesale of our (not nailed down) national assets and energy market in daylight robbery deals that makes Ned Kelly look like the patron saint of Australia?

A vastly more visionless Labor even more so!

Why?

Because the answer includes vastly smaller government and genuine energy and tax reform, plus a bigger more internationally powerful and self-reliant nuclear powered Australia!

If not?

Just get on with selling us down the river and teaching Mandarin in all our schools! The ruling class/quislings will be fine and live in mansions, on 8 figure consultancies for the term of their natural?
Alan B.

The author assumes readers may care about an overly academic, theory befuddled view of China.

I'm not.

Who would be silly enough to aspire to a democracy, when just a quick look at ours shows they hold the seed of their own destruction.

Once they develop a culture of entitlement, & the welfare state, they have only a short time to extinction. Add in this "Equality" , which really means the non productive being somehow entitled to a share of the product of others labour, & you have a system heading for failure.

Remember the communist communes, which starved so many. People given no personal reward for extra effort, refused to do more than the next.

Remember charity. People with a lot gave some to those less successful. Today we have enforced government robbery, to pay for welfare. & many try very hard not to be robbed. When those living on welfare believe they are entitled to the same standard of living & services as those paying for them, failure is close.

People used to tell me I was lucky to own a Brabham, or a yacht, but as the old cliché says, the harder I worked, & the less I wasted, the luckier I got.

China would be mad to go down the Western path, as although democracy is really great in it's early days, as we see in the west, they are not sustainable, & have a short use by date.

China is growing its national basis steadily away from the era of massive economic and educational inequality, to one of a more equitable lifestyle for its citizens.

This is aided by a rigid one-party authoritarianism which gives its leadership the ability to enforce changes, not merely suggest them.

The nation is set to become the Middle Kingdom once more, rather than be subservient to its Western conquerors of a century ago.

This is not to suggest that it is powering towards democracy, but rather that it is fast creating a political style aimed at enriching its population economically, educationally and culturally.

China's leadership is also highly aware of the massive potential risk of alienating the populace to the point of a massive rebellion resulting from unsound governance , during which time the armed forces would have a disastrously poor chance of subdueing their fellow citizens as a result of the close cultural ties stemming from intrinsic Confucian foundations.

China is growing its own, new political system rather than adopting or amending an external one.

International Socialism (communism) was a style of socialist totalitarianism which was an economic flop. It was based upon the state owning and controlling the means of production and distribution. Hitler's National Socialism was another socialist totalitarian style which was a much better economic model. This took a more pragmatic view that the state should simply have strict control of the free market economy. Whether this style can survive economically in the long run, we are about to find out in China.

Because National Socialism is the economic model that China has chosen. China is now a Nazi country, although few people seem to recognise that. Like Nazi Germany, China is extremely racist, to the point of refusing to concede that the Chinese people evolved originally in Africa. The Chinese government insists that they evolved separately from every other race, within China. Apparently, accepting that all humans evolved from apes is one thing, but the Chinese will never accept that Chinese evolved from black Africans.

The problem with National Socialism is that it stresses nationalism to the point of extremes. Nothing matters except whatever benefits your own people. Thus we now have a China who is acting the aggressor in the North and South China seas. The UN Law of the Sea stipulates that oceans do not belong to anybody. China has ripped up this universally accepted doctrine because it is in it's interests to do so.

The legitimacy of Communist Party rule rests solely now on the Party making China more prosperous, and being the leaders who hold the interests of Chinese people above all others. Their treasuries and armouries are full, and like previous intensely nationalist rising totalitarian military powers before them, they don't see any thing wrong with using force to get what they want.

China does have problems though caused by the stupidities of their top down government. An aging population and a female imbalance. Their lack of Christian values predispose their societies to corruption on a scale which even the Muslims would consider excessive. Lastly, an arrogant government drunk with power who will underestimate their rivals.

After years of waiting for someone to explain why a Flat Tax would not solve most of our economic woes I'll ask it again.
Would a Flat tax be the answer to our economic woes ? Would a Flat tax not be the most level playing field ? If your one goal is to make money then even a Flat tax won't stop anyone from becoming rich plus the stragglers will have a better living standard also.
A Consumption Tax would also be great economic alternative. We have reached a stage where we can no longer afford any Tax loopholes. Everyone must pay the same rate no if's or but's !
Introduce an old age Pension fund & make Superannuation a voluntary contribution as a retirement nest egg for those who have self discipline. Do away with that insidious negative gearing & introduce a National Service !