China: the way it has always been

What is the government frightened of? Why does it behave this way when it can rightly boast of a remarkable journey from a poverty-stricken rural economy to rapidly developing nation status with an economy which is weathering the worst world-wide economic downturn since the great depression in the 1930s.

An economy which the rest of the world hopes will lead it out of recession and into prosperity again once the worst is over. China has so much to be proud of.

Credit is due to the central government in Beijing. Credit due to its remarkable manipulation of the economic levers available to it, in the form of the stimulus program and the shift in focus away from a supply-driven export-oriented economy and towards a more demand-driven domestic economy.

Unlike the West, when Beijing wanted to change policy, all it had to do was to order the change. Premier Wen Jia Bao (representing the leadership collective) gave the instruction, and the descending levels of government authority all said, "Yes".

Nobody said "Why?"

No debate, and no time lag. Policy implemented immediately.

China should have more faith in itself and in its own people. There is no need to control information. Chinese people are capable of working things out for themselves.

In fact, if history is any guide, and if given the choice, Chinese people would be more likely to choose a benevolent Confucian-style of government rather than a Western style democracy. A Confucian style of government would still value centralised control, and respect for social stability and so on. In reality, not much would change.

There would just be more accountability to the people.

Come to think about it, maybe this is what really worries the guys in charge today. The party would be over.