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> An inadequate and inhumane policy being enforced by an out of touch, or perhaps even uncaring, government The inevitable result of centralized control.
by dqpb 5y ago
> An inadequate and inhumane policy being enforced by an out of touch, or perhaps even uncaring, government
The inevitable result of centralized control.
- kharak 5y agoThat is certainly an important factor. I think it goes even deeper. China doesn't recognize human rights as we know them. The collective, represented by state interests (CCP), is above all. Hence any individual right can be sacrificed for the greater good. Aka state interests. And that's why situations like this shutdown in Shanghai can unfold. It's a deeply philosophical problem that China hasn't resolved, despite ample opportunity to learn the lesson.
- bllguo 5y ago> It's a deeply philosophical problem that China hasn't resolved, despite ample opportunity to learn the lesson. What a bizarre statement. How can you simultaneously think it's a deep philosophical issue and also that there is an obvious solution?
- kharak 5y agoI didn’t say it was obvious? Even in the western world, it’s sometimes contested. Still, the consequences of having and not having human rights have been observed often enough by now. Including in Chinas (recent) history.
- bllguo 5y agoOh please, spare me. So what did "ample opportunity to learn the lesson" mean? "Observed often enough by now," we don't need to talk any specifics, _obviously_ Western ideals are superior! End of history and all that jazz, huh? I was hoping for more critical thought when you rightly mentioned this to be a "deeply philosophical problem."
- rini17 5y agoI understood parent as: The unnecessary deaths count in China since the Great Leap is obvious and provides the learning opportunities. But sadly none are taken and death toll is ongoing. But hopefully someday learning and philosophy can take place as it did in the West after the war. If I read that right, what in there is so inflamatory to you?
- kharak 5y agoYou got me right. He seems to have a problem with the idea that the western world figured something out that China hasn’t (yet). Or the idea that different values cause different outcomes. Or the issue is that I’m not making much of an argument? Seemingly implying that my conclusion is obvious. In that case, I apologise for not going into more detail here.
- wonnage 5y agoAny time we humans have tried decentralized control, we've found a way to turn it back into centralized control. Hell, just look at the universe. What started as a random distribution of gas still found ways to condense into literally an infinitely dense point. Any minor power imbalance in a decentralized system will be exploited and provide the cumulative advantage over time to turn it back into a centralized system.
- Bayart 5y agoCentralism worked well enough in Europe. The problem is counterpowers and rule of law, not the structure of government.
- ricardobayes 5y agoWhere were these checks and balances when Europe decided to rob and enslave the whole world? (British, Spanish and Belgian colonies)
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- Bayart 5y agoThat's most besides the point and disingeneous thing I've ever read on HN. What link is there between COVID management and the colonial empires ? How can administration predating or concurrent to the industrial revolution could possibly be used as a placeholder for current administrations ? Your comment makes no sense.