3 ms·

Is it not working well in China, or even Iran?

candiodari 10y ago
If you ask some Chinese, they're unlikely to be happy with the results. Just look at just how horrible smog is in Beijing. How they're destroying the savings of the Chinese people. The total and completely endemic corruption ...
- pen2l 10y ago
  > Just look at just how horrible smog is in Beijing. Huh? Have you looked at it recently? Beijing has made incredible strides in solving air pollution problems. They turned around the situation quickly to pretty decent results -- give them some more time and I'm sure they'll do even better. China is not doing that bad. And I think one of the reasons why is in fact that high amount of STEM-educated folks in the politburo.
  - Eridrus 10y ago
    They did let it get pretty bad though, I was only there once in 2008 after the games and it was already pretty crazy back then.
    - pen2l 10y ago
      It was pretty bad around 2008. Now, 2017, it's not perfect but it's much, much better. They're on the right track. Separately, I want to say: judging per capita they're not doing bad.
- mistermann 10y ago
  As was most any country going through their industrialization phase. And China has gone from a third world country to second biggest economy in 20 or so years.
woofyman 10y ago
Iran is a Theocracy and Authoritarian and China is Authoritarian. So I'd say, not so good.
- syshum 10y ago
  >>Iran is a Theocracy and Authoritarian Thanks to the CIA >>China is Authoritarian. Yes but I would argue they are making large strides in freedom, clearly they have a LONG way to go but you have to see the changes in both the government and the culture. Is this improvement a result of STEM leaders? Is America's decline in this area also a result of a regression in our Leaders? America used to have Inventors, Businessmen, even scientists as leaders.
  - mistermann 10y ago
    Just this comment light grey because of downvotes? Why would that be?
- mastazi 10y ago
  I think the parent comment was sarcastic.
- chrischen 10y ago
  If by authoritarian you mean that the government has all authority, the same holds for any stable government, including the US's. There are democratic procedures in China, even if it doesn't extend to every person. As an American you've most likely been indoctrinated to the American flavor of democracy, but even here our votes aren't all equal, as evidenced by the election of Trump despite having fewer popular votes (effectively disenfranchising some American voters). American democracy is only as perfect or democratic as can be given the constraints in its ability to amend itself (American government was designed specifically to move slowly and prevent concentration of power). It would be fallacious to think that America has the perfect representative governing system. The end goal is to serve the people, and while the government of China may be different, given that the American model isn't perfect, it means there's room for alternative systems to potentially serve the interest of its people in a better way. If you look at the efficacy of China's government, it's done pretty well objectively in lifting its population out of poverty. As much as US criticizes other governments, you have to realize the US openly admits its own citizens come first, which means you can't really take its criticisms seriously as in the best interest of its target.

If you ask some Chinese, they're unlikely to be happy with the results. Just look at just how horrible smog is in Beijing. How they're destroying the savings of the Chinese people. The total and completely endemic corruption ...

pen2l 10y ago
> Just look at just how horrible smog is in Beijing. Huh? Have you looked at it recently? Beijing has made incredible strides in solving air pollution problems. They turned around the situation quickly to pretty decent results -- give them some more time and I'm sure they'll do even better. China is not doing that bad. And I think one of the reasons why is in fact that high amount of STEM-educated folks in the politburo.
- Eridrus 10y ago
  They did let it get pretty bad though, I was only there once in 2008 after the games and it was already pretty crazy back then.
  - pen2l 10y ago
    It was pretty bad around 2008. Now, 2017, it's not perfect but it's much, much better. They're on the right track. Separately, I want to say: judging per capita they're not doing bad.
mistermann 10y ago
As was most any country going through their industrialization phase. And China has gone from a third world country to second biggest economy in 20 or so years.

woofyman 10y ago

Iran is a Theocracy and Authoritarian and China is Authoritarian. So I'd say, not so good.

syshum 10y ago
>>Iran is a Theocracy and Authoritarian Thanks to the CIA >>China is Authoritarian. Yes but I would argue they are making large strides in freedom, clearly they have a LONG way to go but you have to see the changes in both the government and the culture. Is this improvement a result of STEM leaders? Is America's decline in this area also a result of a regression in our Leaders? America used to have Inventors, Businessmen, even scientists as leaders.
- mistermann 10y ago
  Just this comment light grey because of downvotes? Why would that be?
mastazi 10y ago
I think the parent comment was sarcastic.
chrischen 10y ago
If by authoritarian you mean that the government has all authority, the same holds for any stable government, including the US's. There are democratic procedures in China, even if it doesn't extend to every person. As an American you've most likely been indoctrinated to the American flavor of democracy, but even here our votes aren't all equal, as evidenced by the election of Trump despite having fewer popular votes (effectively disenfranchising some American voters). American democracy is only as perfect or democratic as can be given the constraints in its ability to amend itself (American government was designed specifically to move slowly and prevent concentration of power). It would be fallacious to think that America has the perfect representative governing system. The end goal is to serve the people, and while the government of China may be different, given that the American model isn't perfect, it means there's room for alternative systems to potentially serve the interest of its people in a better way. If you look at the efficacy of China's government, it's done pretty well objectively in lifting its population out of poverty. As much as US criticizes other governments, you have to realize the US openly admits its own citizens come first, which means you can't really take its criticisms seriously as in the best interest of its target.