Thread: China
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Old 28th December 2020, 10:50 PM   #94
cullennz
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NZ
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Originally Posted by Minoosh View Post
Here's where I think is at the root of Western fear of China. In Europe, the US, Australia etc. people grow up believing that their prosperity is directly tied to Western values such as respect for individual rights. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. China doesn't have any of that but it has industrialized rapidly and raised living standards. So what does that tell the West about its origin myths?

When the CCP wants to build a hydroelectric dam they don't need to worry about the consent of the governed, or do environmental studies or buy property. They just do it. Displaced people will be told where to live next and what sort of job they'll be doing. Historically and at present the emphasis has always been on doing what's said to be good for the collective. Of course China is a huge diverse place and you will find all kinds of interesting people there and some are wise to the ways of the government. But policy is to throttle any democratic reform in the cradle. No, you can't be that religion. No, you can't say that. No, you can't read about that. Mostly people just accept it.

If it's possible to have a high standard of living without having any of the freedoms we've had in the West, you begin to wonder whether freedom has any intrinsic value. If people's needs are met just as well without all the Bill of Rights rigamarole, perhaps honoring individual rights is foolish. Perhaps we should put our faith in a small group of elites who will decide what's best for everybody. That appears to be where the planet is headed these days with the rise of authoritarian governments. Western minds will balk - we respect individual rights because it's the right thing to do and we believe it makes our countries stronger. What if it makes us weaker? We'll be easy pickings for those who wield power more ruthlessly.


Meanwhile they at least in appearance seem to give a **** more about global warming in comparison to the US.
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