Comments on Next Big Future: Money does buy happiness or at least satisfaction....

The Chinese are happier these days because the Bei...

2008-07-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Chinese are happier these days because the Beijing government, despite its reputation in the West, does not much regulate the two real freedoms that people care about. The freedom to make as much money as you want and the freedom to get laid and generally have a good time. Indeed, the Beijing government probably encourages these freedoms more than the U.S. Every hotel that I have stayed at provides condoms in the room. Can you imagine the hoo-haa if a hotel in the U.S. did the same, especially in the "South"?

The Beijing government does maintain a tight grip on political expression. They will continue to do this as long as they can get away with it. However, as people have personal freedom and an ever rising economic freedoms and opportunities, they will largely be happy with the current state of affairs. There may or may not be problems when China hits a recession.

This is long term sustainable, by the way. Singapore is essentially a one-party city-state and has one of the highest standards of living in the world.

I thinks its funny to listen to Americans berate China for not having freedom. Both corporate and personal income taxes are lower in China than in the U.S. There is less regulation as well. Throw in the fact that they don't give a s**t about your sex life (unlike many anal-retentive Americans) and I would plausibly argue that they may even have more freedom than we do here.

I lived in Japan and Taiwan for 10 years. I go to China on business. The thing I like most about Asia is the complete lack of PC liberal-left people and christian right people. This is probably the best reason of all to like China and the rest of East Asia.

P: your theory does not hold up. The 2002 poll had...

2008-07-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

P: your theory does not hold up. The 2002 poll had 48% satisfaction. So the chinese government of 2002 was more lenient than it is now ?

China's government does not care or need to control the small stuff.

There are local village and local party elections

Just like the Federal government in the US is completely different from city or town councils.

China has control of media and journalists but does not squelch opinions that will not lead to anything.

I've spent a great deal of time in China over the ...

2008-07-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

I've spent a great deal of time in China over the past decade and a half. Perhaps it's not only improved economic conditions, but a state-controlled media and entertainment apparatus which uniformly celebrates the nation, its people and its culture -- albeit, often to the point quite obvious propaganda and jingoism.

Conversely, media and entertainment industries in the West seem devoted to sensationalizing its shortcomings, aggravating grievances and nurturing discontent.

Also, with regard to respondents to any poll in China, it is useful to keep two things in mind. First, there is far more societal cohesion in China, especially when it comes to what is presented to others, especially foreigners -- which explains the nation's severe sensitivity about its image.

Second, unlike the mythical Bush-Cheney police state, there can still be consequences (although less likely today than in the past) in China for being critical of the government, or even being accused of doing so.

We must have in mind that China is not a democracy...

2008-07-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

We must have in mind that China is not a democracy and that most Chinese people are afraid of speaking their true meaning because if they do they most probably die.