Well said Pericles.
We are far more an oligarchy than a true democracy. Ambit politics and lobbying are *very* destructive to good policy in changing times.
As someone once said: "Dictatorship is the best leadership system so long as you can shoot the really bad ones. Mediocre ones you can put up with as they are still superior to political parties."
I used to think that was irony.
A fragmented China could get very nasty. They must move slowly, and do it their way. The West has not shown much moral leadership during China's history (opium anyone?), and I wouldn't want them to follow the US's lead in international politics. We cannot afford another "super power" bullying it's way around the world!

I believe Jin's opinion represents the gut feelings of millions and millions of Chinese who still don't have the freedom of expression that we take for granted in the free world. We must also remember that the economic boost in China mostly goes straight into the pocket a very few who belongs to the CCP while the rest of the country is still living in poverty. In long terms what the Chinese Communist regime is doing poses a serious threat to the well being of the mass of Chinese people but also to the peace and stability in the regional South East Asia and to the world in general.

Bodgyalo,
I find your post a little confusing. In fact “millions and millions” of Chinese DO have freedom of expression as I noted in one of my posts. They grumble, arrange strikes, protest, bitch, get angry and abuse Government officials just like people anywhere. They are human, you know.

It is the elite few who run into the problems you mention though, even there, with the advent of the Net, things are changing. I think if more people logged on to Chinese fora such as Chinasmack they would be amazed at the diversity of opinion expressed there.

Because of this imbalance the “average” Chinese – who, as I also continuously point out – is a-political, doesn’t actually feel any more restricted than their counterparts in the so-called Free World. As Pericles also points out, what they see of Western systems of Government, the much-vaunted Democratic System, doesn’t show much advantage. Corruption, propaganda, enforced detention…where, to their eyes, is the difference?

As to the economic boost mostly going “straight into the pocket a very few who belongs to the CCP”? I respectfully argue that this is totally incorrect. It has gone – and continues to do so – into the pockets of the emerging Middle Class who regard and refer to themselves as Capitalists. As such, they are, in the main, not associated with the Communist Party at all.

It is true that millions remain living in poverty. But this I suggest, is comparable to the widening gap between the very poor and the very rich in other countries. It’s the huge numbers which give rise to false perceptions.
Its undeniable millions live in poverty. But its also undeniable that there are millions more Chinese than Australians living the good life.

Finally, it is not clear what you mean by this: .” In long terms what the Chinese Communist regime is doing poses a serious threat to the well being of the mass of Chinese people.” Could you elaborate? Do you mean fiscally, socially, in terms of pollution, financial schemes to bridge the economic downturn?