Singapore is the world’s leading nation of gum chewers, thanks to policies mandating that citizens chew gum every waking hour.

Violence is unknown in Cambodia, which has enjoyed four decades of peace and rapid economic growth.

THIS is how Mahatir_Fan sounds to anyone who knows even a little bit about China.

Give up. You have lost the plot, entirely.

The NY times article need to show precedences and court decisions that indicate that The constitution is not accessible. What came out from that paragraph you quoted sounds like a broad unsubstantiated swiping remark that facts.

. . . More Chinese citizens like Mr. He are claiming legal rights and often citing the Constitution, but it is actually a flimsy tool for protecting individual rights.
The problem is not that the document lacks lofty ideals or is considered unimportant but for citizens in China, the Constitution is largely inaccessible. Even as it describes a broad range of rights, the Chinese legal system essentially does not allow people like Mr. He to use the Constitution as a mechanism to challenge laws or policies that they believe infringe on those rights.
Even so, some legal reformers in China believe that advancing the notion of constitutional law is critical in establishing the rule of law, so, increasingly, reformers are pushing ideas like creating a new and assertive constitutional court. Liberal reformers believe that expanding the reach of the Constitution could ultimately provide a greater check on the Communist Party.”

from the article 3 Deaths in China Reveal Disparity in Price of Lives

. . . You have been brainwashed and your mind has been imprisoned from the freedom of thought.

Gee, I can understand the problems one can have with using a second language (English is not easy!) but this is quite nonsensical and has nothing to do with the thesis of China not being a true democracy by any stretch of the immagination. The fellow has even gone and quoted Wikipedia — the same source that he descredited in an earlier post!

Like some people in Seoul that have become blind to the trash in the streets, mathir_fan seems to have a problem acknowledging the reality of China, rather than the wishful propaganda that too many spout. China will improve but only slowly and against the desires of the sly and despotic political machine that is the Chinese Communist Party that wants control at any price.

Frankly, mahathir_fan, describing the US as a command economy based on the example you’ve given is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?

It might be, but probably not for someone who can describe the PRC as a democracy.

[F]or a long time, you were told that central planning and capitalism cannot co-exist. But look at your economy. One of the most important economic decision made by the US is done through central planning - the Federal Reserves board of governors sit on a round table, and decide if they wish to heat the economy or dampen it by raising or lowering interest rates. Central planning!

Frankly, mahathir_fan, describing the US as a command economy based on the example you’ve given is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it? That term is most typically used to describe a system of production and consumption of goods and services. Under your usage, the term loses it’s meaning, as essentially any country which attempts to manage its money supply is therefore a command economy, rather than a market-based one.

Sorry, can’t agree.

You’re wrong. In China, you only get bullied by authorities if you do not know the law. If you know your rights, they are careful when they deal with you. The reason why many people in China are bullied by authorities is the authorities themselves are not well versed with the law. They think they can do anything. But when you tell them what they are about to do to you is against the law, they will be careful.

If they want to search your house, they will knock on your door and intimidate you to open your door. But if you tell them that it is against the law for them to search your house without proper documentation, they will leave and return with it. But if you do not tell them, then they think they can search your house and they will arrest you for not cooperating.

Incident like TaiShi proves that the people elected into these position have REAL POWER. If they do not have real power, no one will bother voting or get into a confrontation with the authorities over a puppet figure.

Elgin,
You have been brainwashed and your mind has been imprisoned from the freedom of thought. Since you were young, you are led into believing that the world is clearly demarcated along the lines of black and white.

For example, for a long time, you were told that central planning and capitalism cannot co-exist. But look at your economy. One of the most important economic decision made by the US is done through central planning - the Federal Reserves board of governors sit on a round table, and decide if they wish to heat the economy or dampen it by raising or lowering interest rates. Central planning!

Now, China has succeeded in implementing capitalism. If you do not believe me, go and visit China some day.

China has also succeeded in implementing universal suffrage. Slim does not deny that there are elections in China. The only controversy is that the anti-China propagandists refuses to “grant” China a democracy status.

There are still countries in this world that does not “grant” China market economy status. But I know China is a market economy by and large. I expect “democracy” status to China to come even slower than “market economy” status.

There is no need to wait for a regime change before granting China “democracy” status. There are many countries in this world that has yet to have a regime change but they are democracies. Examples include Malaysia and Singapore.

Besides, freedom is an innate concept among Chinese people. The fight for freedom is in the first line of the national anthem of China, to be free from slavery.

The important thing I suggest to you is to look at the facts and decide. Do not allow the notion that communism and universal suffrage cannot coexist to affect your judgment. Otherwise, your mind is sad because it is being imprisoned by your prejudice. You know there are elections in China yet you refuse to believe it is a democracy. The people elected Communist party candidates to represent them. Therefore it is a representative democracy.

I looked at the New York Times article and I do not see how it discredit China from being a democracy. One of the greatest leader of the 20th century, Dr. Mahathir once imprisoned his politcal opponents without trial, shut down news paper presses that printed negative articles (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Lalang), yet Malaysia is still by and large considered a democracy.

Mathir_fan is that sort of fellow makes himself look more and more foolish with each posting. So now he blames “vandalism” of Wikipedia. Here is one article from the NY Times which at once demonstrates how China is at once not a real democracy but is being forced to change by its own people. Democracy is slowly coming but not without fighting the Communist Party and its thugs (police):

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04.....nted=print

I suppose Liu Xianhong is misinformed about the democracy she lives in, hummmm?