«

[TheChosen]

Yes, If you havent followed news lately, its right behind the corner. This is where you talk about it.

And also, you can post here the "Woo! Woo! Our country won!" posts.

[_r.u.s.s.]

there are gonna be a demonstrations on 8th august guys, so don't forget to participate http://www.rsfbeijing2008.org

demonstrations will be both irl (London, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Washington, Stockholm) and cyber-demonstration (www.rsfbeijing2008.org)

[karooble]

Doesn't seem like China can keep doing this and be recognized as a civilized nation. I think they're more likely to bend to the social pressure than to submit to being regarded as tyrants, though -- it seems like the government is issuing more apologies every day.

On that note, isn't it WEIRD not to watch the Olympics live?

[Miles]

Yeah, to begin with (and this coming from an American. Warning :P), I don't like the idea of China oppressing their people. They're one of the last Communist nations on the planet, and it looks like they never noticed that the Origin/The Big Daddy, the Soviet Union failed. Now wouldn't you think that if the origin had died, that it'd be kind of a wakeup call to say 'Hey guys, Communism ain't workin' here!'

And then you got the oppression of freedom of speech, religion, etc. and the issues with Tibet and Taiwan. It's time to wake up and smell the napalm, China.

Communism doesn't work (unless you're playing in Civilization) and the same can be said especially for oppression (Effects in Civilization may vary. Cy-Fox does not condone oppression, even it is being done on simulated populations. It'll just tick said simulations off and cause them to band together into a little network with visions of doomsday we like to call SKYNET :P)

[karooble]

Funnily enough, China is now more economically free than many nominally "free-market" nations, which are veering into socialism. At this point, it's communist in name only. However, the nation's suppression of its people is a different issue, however, and emerges from the totalitarian nature of its government. Even if its economic restrictions are fairly lax, the government still has the power to control any aspect of its people's lives, if they want.

Cities like Shanghai are really beautiful, and day to day, most of the people live freely -- but speaking up can still get you jailed, and property rights are not as secure as they need to be for further prosperity and emergence on a world market.

I look forward to seeing how the Chinese government will react to the challenges in its path. As I said before, I'm optimistic -- but we'll see.

[Miles]

If it comes down to watching the Olympics or turning off the TV, however (and I do not intend to cause offense. More like the opposite effect, humor) I'm turning off the TV and going to marathon-play Rise of Nations with the British versus (You guessed it) China (Mainly because I'm a cheapo and don't have the Thrones and Patriots expansion, yet :P)

[karooble]

Hee. Well, personally, I think free trade with China is the best way to civilize the government. The more co-mingling, the better; if China sees the world's approval as necessary, maybe it will change its behavior.

Also, if China has to compete economically, they'll have to start treating their people better -- the oppressed don't work well.

[Miles]

Yeah, look at Wal-Mart and the Post Office :P

[powdernsky]

Originally Posted by Miles

Yeah, look at Wal-Mart and the Post Office :P

:laugh:


Shocking. The Olympics aren't going to be live? Erm, what the hell?

[ysorian]

Communism is a brilliant concept if u go back to marx... but tryin to integrate a communist society into a capitalist world is only goin to encourage the weak and corrupt to expolit the people... communism can only work on a global scale.

But which country is going to be the first to offer a quality of life to the poor of africa or south america?