> The corruption happens at lower levels, and is usually a byproduct of too much power granted to someone who doesn't deserve it. On what basis do you make tha

> The corruption happens at lower levels, and is usually a byproduct of too much power granted to someone who doesn't deserve it. On what basis do you make that judgement? Isn't it too difficult to truly learn about the activities of high government officials? > China during the revolution was definitely not full of educated and well-informed people. There has been quite a bit of time since the revolution. Do you think the Chinese people are well-informed enough for democracy (or at least more political liberalization) now? If not, why not? > You're clearly not Chinese, and probably don't many people in China. But I am, and I know people who live in China (middle class, even poor people), and the sentiment is that the government is doing a good job. I know many Chinese people very well. Are you yourself from China or do you similarly just know many people from there? I think the former is likely, but your phrasing is ambiguous. > [Among] people who live in China (middle class, even poor people), [...] the sentiment is that the government is doing a good job. That doesn't contradict anything that I wrote, in fact I said that's probably true. My point, stated more bluntly, is that it doesn't mean much if their opinion is controlled. The necessary environment for informed opinion includes open information and freedom from coercion, neither of which exist in mainland China.