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China is ~20% of the world's population (1.36 billion of 7 billion). If everyone in China left China, and assuming the rest of the world is living as a family

China is ~20% of the world's population (1.36 billion of 7 billion). If everyone in China left China, and assuming the rest of the world is living as a family of four (play along), then every home in the world outside of China would have to take in one Chinese refugee. "Leave" is not a viable strategy at scale.

ctdonath 11y ago
You don't need everyone to leave, just a relentlessly growing percentage. At some point the system starts to crack, and either they relent or it breaks. In the USA, there is the fundamental notion of "consent of the governed" - if enough people won't submit, the government cannot function.
- dreamfactory2 11y ago
  That's true anywhere, and it's what governments of all stripes worry about and steer. Western ones do it with a bit more finesse, but there's little fundamental difference. It's why Chomsky talks about 'manufacturing consent', and why marketing is an important field for Western governments, as covered in some detail by Adam Curtis. The UK government even have a unit dedicated to 'nudge theory'.
  - wyager 11y ago
    The US government makes it very hard to leave, no finesse involved. To renounce your U.S. citizenship, you have to pay a fee of over $2000, pay huge "exit taxes", and provide six years of tax compliance proof to the IRS. http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/10/pf/taxes/expat-passport-citizenship-renounce/ http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/10/pf/taxes/expat-passport-citi...
- tankenmate 11y ago
  When it comes to capital China is actively preventing people with money from leaving; and even putting pressure on family members of people who have left in order bring them and, more importantly, their money back.
  - gbog 11y ago
    Well, in the cases I have heard of the money was stolen from the Chinese people so it seems understandable that they want it back. Also, Chinese are not prevented from leaving the country, que the opposite. Enormous efforts have been spent in sending a lot of student abroad and bringing foreign teachers in (I have been one of them). The thing is for most people here not being able to Facebook is of minor importance compared to access to cheap and good food, secure cities and an environment where they don't feel people look down on them. So, many Chinese students come back to China after abroad studies, despite all the problems in China, and amongst them GFW is the last important.

ctdonath 11y ago

You don't need everyone to leave, just a relentlessly growing percentage. At some point the system starts to crack, and either they relent or it breaks. In the USA, there is the fundamental notion of "consent of the governed" - if enough people won't submit, the government cannot function.

dreamfactory2 11y ago
That's true anywhere, and it's what governments of all stripes worry about and steer. Western ones do it with a bit more finesse, but there's little fundamental difference. It's why Chomsky talks about 'manufacturing consent', and why marketing is an important field for Western governments, as covered in some detail by Adam Curtis. The UK government even have a unit dedicated to 'nudge theory'.
- wyager 11y ago
  The US government makes it very hard to leave, no finesse involved. To renounce your U.S. citizenship, you have to pay a fee of over $2000, pay huge "exit taxes", and provide six years of tax compliance proof to the IRS. http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/10/pf/taxes/expat-passport-citizenship-renounce/ http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/10/pf/taxes/expat-passport-citi...
tankenmate 11y ago
When it comes to capital China is actively preventing people with money from leaving; and even putting pressure on family members of people who have left in order bring them and, more importantly, their money back.
- gbog 11y ago
  Well, in the cases I have heard of the money was stolen from the Chinese people so it seems understandable that they want it back. Also, Chinese are not prevented from leaving the country, que the opposite. Enormous efforts have been spent in sending a lot of student abroad and bringing foreign teachers in (I have been one of them). The thing is for most people here not being able to Facebook is of minor importance compared to access to cheap and good food, secure cities and an environment where they don't feel people look down on them. So, many Chinese students come back to China after abroad studies, despite all the problems in China, and amongst them GFW is the last important.