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> One journalist from China I met long ago in a place far away commented well in advance of the Internet age that if the Communist Party of China ceased censori

by Volpe 14y ago

> One journalist from China I met long ago in a place far away commented well in advance of the Internet age that if the Communist Party of China ceased censoring mass media that its rule would be gone "in a week." Is that a good thing? Would it's replacement be better? Arab spring has kind of taught us that things aren't as simple as: "Break status quo and things get better".

untog 14y ago
Arab spring has kind of taught us that things aren't as simple as: "Break status quo and things get better". I don't think that anyone needed to be taught that. I doubt that we will be able to judge whether the Arab Spring was a success for another ten or twenty years- the immediate aftermath of revolution is always deeply messy. Not to mention that 'better' is entirely subjective anyway, of course. There are plenty of older Russians that miss the Soviet days, believe it or not.
- Volpe 14y ago
  That was my point. If it takes 20 years to see a 'benefit' is it that bad now, that they should go through that kind of mess?
  - untog 14y ago
    When looked at from the very long term position, the removal of dictators is indeed a good thing that is worth suffering through. I'm not sure that anyone can judge whether it's worth it, though- that a personal judgement.
    - Volpe 14y ago
      Dictators... Are you saying wen jiaobao is a dictator? Given the vast improvement in the way of life for Chinese since deng xiaoping, and their continuos prosperity. Are we really sure that's the "best" thing to do.
eupharis 14y ago
As one American once put it, "The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave." In the United States, over 200 years in, it is still very much so the American experiment. Its success dependent on all sorts of radical notions about human nature. Turbulence in brand new democracies is not evidence of failure. It is to be expected. Democracy is hard.

by Volpe 14y ago

untog 14y ago

Arab spring has kind of taught us that things aren't as simple as: "Break status quo and things get better". I don't think that anyone needed to be taught that. I doubt that we will be able to judge whether the Arab Spring was a success for another ten or twenty years- the immediate aftermath of revolution is always deeply messy. Not to mention that 'better' is entirely subjective anyway, of course. There are plenty of older Russians that miss the Soviet days, believe it or not.

Volpe 14y ago
That was my point. If it takes 20 years to see a 'benefit' is it that bad now, that they should go through that kind of mess?
- untog 14y ago
  When looked at from the very long term position, the removal of dictators is indeed a good thing that is worth suffering through. I'm not sure that anyone can judge whether it's worth it, though- that a personal judgement.
  - Volpe 14y ago
    Dictators... Are you saying wen jiaobao is a dictator? Given the vast improvement in the way of life for Chinese since deng xiaoping, and their continuos prosperity. Are we really sure that's the "best" thing to do.

eupharis 14y ago

As one American once put it, "The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave." In the United States, over 200 years in, it is still very much so the American experiment. Its success dependent on all sorts of radical notions about human nature. Turbulence in brand new democracies is not evidence of failure. It is to be expected. Democracy is hard.