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Thanks, that clarifies my question for the most part. So it's like a V for Vendetta thing, except they all think they're going to live the good life one day.

• potatolicious 17y ago
  I also need to add that the Chinese government is not as oppressive as some in the West may think - or at least does not appear to be. There are some fairly simple unspoken rules (e.g., "don't talk shit about the government") that everyone knows, and if you follow them, nothing will ever happen to you. In other words, the Chinese government's oppression is consistent and systematic - a far cry from the secret police, death squads, random people nabbed off the street sort of perception that many Americans seem to have. This has probably greatly helped the longevity of the current regime. People will rebel if they see no effective, guaranteed way to dodge your oppression, but most will fall in line if you can give them a more or less guaranteed way to stay out of trouble with minimum tangible sacrifice.
  • rms 17y ago
    The rule isn't as as strict as don't talk shit about the government, more like "you can talk some shit about the government as long as you never question the ultimate authority of the Communist Party to rule China."
    • papersmith 17y ago
      I've been thinking, with the bi-factional government coming in 2012, legislative reforms, and all the changes happening while the communist party insisting on its supremacy, perhaps the party will one day be reduced to a figurehead only, along the lines of a constitutional monarchy (constitutional politburo?).