Re: Counter-revolution in China vs. Socialist advances in Italy

[HANLY@xxxxxxxxxxx]

A man called Wei In Lin report on China fits in with  a documentary on China
on the CBC that aired the other day: Lloyd Robertson in China, the documentary
was sponsored by large Canadian corporations including an airline and a bank.
Robertson was able to stay free at a luxury hotel as well. There is a huge
migration from the countryside to the city creating an enormous pool of cheap
labor. The slogan IT IS GLORIOUS TO BE RICH seems to work. Everyone interviewed
claimed this was what they wanted, but those interviewed were students,
members of the middle class, and people coming into the city looking for work.
A businessman was interviewed--there was a good shot of his Rolls Royce--
who claimed that he was serving the people just as Mao wished.
 He provided jobs for several
thousand workers and thus enabled the people to prosper! Where have we heard
that before! When asked about the increasing inequality in wealth several
people claimed that inequality in wealth was normal and equality abnormal.
 Lloyd Robertson asked students about civil rights and democracy but no one
would say anything. When he asked them if any of them wanted to go back to
the earlier system, they were unanimous in claiming that they were happier
under the present system. (No doubt they probably all believe they
will be gloriously rich. In fact one person did say he thought that
the pro-democracy movement was irrelevant. Getting rich is important not
human rights or changing the political system.)
  Not surprisingly given the sponsors the documentary was quite positive about
China overall but some of the problems including ecological ones were noted.
THere is to be a huge damn built across the Yangtze that will destroy some
spectacular gorges as well as numerous towns and displace large numbers of
people. (Actually it was planned as long ago as Mao). The damn will provide
power for Shanghai (I believe that is the right city) downstream. Some of those
who were going to be displaced were obviously unhappy about the situation,
and it was not clear that any environmental impact study was done. (IF there
are such things in the PRC).
   The documentary showed  evidence of western capitalist culture
by focusing on  a rock singer and a fashion show. Mao trinkets and memorabilia
were sold to nostalgia buffs and tourists. As the documentary put it,
everything is for sale.
  Cheers, Ken Hanly
P.S . Thanks for the kind comments on the NZ piece. The Kelsey book is
indeed an excellent critique of neo-liberalism. Some of the material in the
letter comes from her book. Thanks also to Uncle Louis who managed to keep
the lines from falling off the edge. Obviously he has the correct line.
I have a piece on privatization I will post once it has been published in the
paper.



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