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The people are uneducated. In order to protect them from themselves, a strong government must control them. Since a strong government controls the people, there

by branden 18y ago

The people are uneducated. In order to protect them from themselves, a strong government must control them. Since a strong government controls the people, there is no need to educate them. The people are uneducated...

jmathes 18y ago
So "the education-preventing government control will continue until education improves?"
stcredzero 18y ago
Our own country was organized to be run by an elite of educated landowners. Many of our founding fathers felt that the masses were not educated enough to participate in self-rule. Fortunately, many of our founders also believed in the ideals of the Enlightenment, and this led to the United States strongly favoring universal education. Arguably, the current Communist regime in China was founded on ideals that also favor universal education.
- tjic 18y ago
  > this led to the United States strongly favoring universal education. I'm all in favor of folks getting as much education as they want. I question, though, whether the current system of universal education is really doing all that much educating, or whether it's mostly a jobs program for unionized teachers.
blader 18y ago
There's no direct english translation, but the term "su zhi" has class, cultural, economic and even ethical implications beyond that of just education level. It (very) roughly means something like "basic cultural quality level." To focus on the "education" inflection of that word could result in misunderstood arguments like the Chinese government wants to keep its population uneducated. If anything, their basic educational policies over the past few decades have been the complete opposite of that.
- tjmc 18y ago
  Would it roughly translate to redneck (US), chav (UK) or bogan (Aus)?
  - blader 18y ago
    No, it's not a derogatory term. Having high "su zhi" is a good thing.
  - hboon 18y ago
    It loosely translates into "quality". How you read it then depends on context. It could refer to class, behavoir, etc.
- chiffonade 18y ago
  There's a direct English translation, as there usually is: "class" sums it up nicely.
mlLK 18y ago
Your Internet is almost as ignorant as your statement, but I take it you already knew that given your factual characterization of some people not from the west. As long as the sentiment like this is taking precedence over, and please pardon my French, the fucking world-wide web then I'm afraid the Zap Brannigans of America will continue to control all of you. Oh and I almost forgot to mention this. . .Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009001_suptables.pdf http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009001_suptables.pdf
- branden 18y ago
  I think you misinterpreted my comment. I wasn't saying anything about China or its citizens specifically, I was just showing that governmental paternalism for an uneducated/low/dumb/weak/however-disadvantaged population can wind up being its own justification. I could've been a bit clearer about that, but then my comment wouldn't have sounded so wise ;)

by branden 18y ago

jmathes 18y ago

So "the education-preventing government control will continue until education improves?"

stcredzero 18y ago

Our own country was organized to be run by an elite of educated landowners. Many of our founding fathers felt that the masses were not educated enough to participate in self-rule. Fortunately, many of our founders also believed in the ideals of the Enlightenment, and this led to the United States strongly favoring universal education. Arguably, the current Communist regime in China was founded on ideals that also favor universal education.

tjic 18y ago
> this led to the United States strongly favoring universal education. I'm all in favor of folks getting as much education as they want. I question, though, whether the current system of universal education is really doing all that much educating, or whether it's mostly a jobs program for unionized teachers.

blader 18y ago

There's no direct english translation, but the term "su zhi" has class, cultural, economic and even ethical implications beyond that of just education level. It (very) roughly means something like "basic cultural quality level." To focus on the "education" inflection of that word could result in misunderstood arguments like the Chinese government wants to keep its population uneducated. If anything, their basic educational policies over the past few decades have been the complete opposite of that.

tjmc 18y ago
Would it roughly translate to redneck (US), chav (UK) or bogan (Aus)?
- blader 18y ago
  No, it's not a derogatory term. Having high "su zhi" is a good thing.
- hboon 18y ago
  It loosely translates into "quality". How you read it then depends on context. It could refer to class, behavoir, etc.
chiffonade 18y ago
There's a direct English translation, as there usually is: "class" sums it up nicely.

mlLK 18y ago

Your Internet is almost as ignorant as your statement, but I take it you already knew that given your factual characterization of some people not from the west. As long as the sentiment like this is taking precedence over, and please pardon my French, the fucking world-wide web then I'm afraid the Zap Brannigans of America will continue to control all of you. Oh and I almost forgot to mention this. . .Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009001_suptables.pdf http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009001_suptables.pdf

branden 18y ago
I think you misinterpreted my comment. I wasn't saying anything about China or its citizens specifically, I was just showing that governmental paternalism for an uneducated/low/dumb/weak/however-disadvantaged population can wind up being its own justification. I could've been a bit clearer about that, but then my comment wouldn't have sounded so wise ;)