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Funny because I’m sure some would read that sentence and conclude it’s a good thing.

dragonwriter 6y ago
It might be a good thing, if it was just “Privileged position doesn’t get you out of justice” and not “Privileged position doesn’t map as directly to wealth”. (That also, of course, assumes that being targeted by the government in either case maps well to some concept of justice.)
- leesalminen 6y ago
  Right, yeah, it left out all the context is what I’m getting at. Being able to criticize the government is paramount to western ideals. That’s about the only thing you can’t do in China with enough money.
simlevesque 6y ago
I did. Tell me why the US protecting those with money is a good thing.
- leesalminen 6y ago
  You can also get away with all sorts of illegal and terrible things in China with enough money, just like anywhere else. But, in China, you can’t criticize the government no matter how poor or rich you are. That’s the only reason Ma disappeared- he defied the government. Not to say bad things don’t happen to dissenters in the US but it’s not a matter of course like China. IMHO, being able to criticize the government publicly without being disappeared is paramount to our ideals of society. The article’s interpretation left out all that context.
  - simlevesque 6y ago
    Yeah but that's another point totally. I still don't think that allowing only those with money to criticize our government is something to be proud of.
    - leesalminen 6y ago
      No, you missed the point. In the US, everyone can criticize the government and the rich can break many laws. In China, nobody can criticize the government and the rich can break most laws. The only difference is that nobody in China can criticize the government. Rich people can break many/most laws in just about every country on earth. That’s universal. Do you understand now?
      - simlevesque 6y ago
        > The only difference is that nobody in China can criticize the government. In contrast to here in America where only some of us can criticize the government. How is that supposed to help me ?
        leesalminen 6y ago
        You’re still missing what I’m saying. Anyone in the US can legally and publicly criticize any level of our government without fear of reprisal. In almost all cases.
        dragonwriter 6y ago
        > Anyone in the US can legally and publicly criticize any level of our government without fear of reprisal. Both the internal statements by violent right-wing counter-demonstrators about widespread expectation of police tacit support without need for direct coordination that came to light and the actual police behavior toward violent right-wing counter-demonstrators in many cases during the recent BLM protests demonstrate that that certainly isn't true in substantial, recently-salient cases.
        leesalminen 6y ago
        It is what we aspire to, though. Sure, we’re not perfect. Nobody is.
  - volgo 6y ago
    That is completely false, and I bet from someone who has never worked professional nor lived in China Corruption is one of the thing that will end your career, even your life. Things like smuggling drugs, creating fake products that endanger lives, will get you executed. Jack didn’t even go against the CCP. He criticized the financial regulators for not allowing innovation. Weird that people desperately want this to be “China Bad Government” vs the Good Billionare Jack. But it’s more akin to an FCC vs Musk battle
    - leesalminen 6y ago
      I honestly don’t believe you for a second and not to be brash but I suspect you may have ulterior motivations spreading this. I have several direct relatives who have spent a collective 50+ years in China that disagree with what you’re saying. Elon never disappeared either. I’m not sure how this is even remotely similar.
      - volgo 6y ago
        Sorry you’re unable to reconcile the fact that there’s no way your world view is wrong and the only way someone else has a different view has “ulterior motives”
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]

It might be a good thing, if it was just “Privileged position doesn’t get you out of justice” and not “Privileged position doesn’t map as directly to wealth”. (That also, of course, assumes that being targeted by the government in either case maps well to some concept of justice.)

leesalminen 6y ago
Right, yeah, it left out all the context is what I’m getting at. Being able to criticize the government is paramount to western ideals. That’s about the only thing you can’t do in China with enough money.

simlevesque 6y ago

I did. Tell me why the US protecting those with money is a good thing.

leesalminen 6y ago
You can also get away with all sorts of illegal and terrible things in China with enough money, just like anywhere else. But, in China, you can’t criticize the government no matter how poor or rich you are. That’s the only reason Ma disappeared- he defied the government. Not to say bad things don’t happen to dissenters in the US but it’s not a matter of course like China. IMHO, being able to criticize the government publicly without being disappeared is paramount to our ideals of society. The article’s interpretation left out all that context.
- simlevesque 6y ago
  Yeah but that's another point totally. I still don't think that allowing only those with money to criticize our government is something to be proud of.
  - leesalminen 6y ago
    No, you missed the point. In the US, everyone can criticize the government and the rich can break many laws. In China, nobody can criticize the government and the rich can break most laws. The only difference is that nobody in China can criticize the government. Rich people can break many/most laws in just about every country on earth. That’s universal. Do you understand now?
    - simlevesque 6y ago
      > The only difference is that nobody in China can criticize the government. In contrast to here in America where only some of us can criticize the government. How is that supposed to help me ?
      - leesalminen 6y ago
        You’re still missing what I’m saying. Anyone in the US can legally and publicly criticize any level of our government without fear of reprisal. In almost all cases.
        dragonwriter 6y ago
        > Anyone in the US can legally and publicly criticize any level of our government without fear of reprisal. Both the internal statements by violent right-wing counter-demonstrators about widespread expectation of police tacit support without need for direct coordination that came to light and the actual police behavior toward violent right-wing counter-demonstrators in many cases during the recent BLM protests demonstrate that that certainly isn't true in substantial, recently-salient cases.
        leesalminen 6y ago
        It is what we aspire to, though. Sure, we’re not perfect. Nobody is.
- volgo 6y ago
  That is completely false, and I bet from someone who has never worked professional nor lived in China Corruption is one of the thing that will end your career, even your life. Things like smuggling drugs, creating fake products that endanger lives, will get you executed. Jack didn’t even go against the CCP. He criticized the financial regulators for not allowing innovation. Weird that people desperately want this to be “China Bad Government” vs the Good Billionare Jack. But it’s more akin to an FCC vs Musk battle
  - leesalminen 6y ago
    I honestly don’t believe you for a second and not to be brash but I suspect you may have ulterior motivations spreading this. I have several direct relatives who have spent a collective 50+ years in China that disagree with what you’re saying. Elon never disappeared either. I’m not sure how this is even remotely similar.
    - volgo 6y ago
      Sorry you’re unable to reconcile the fact that there’s no way your world view is wrong and the only way someone else has a different view has “ulterior motives”
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]