The Brian Lehrer Show

March 13 the US STATE DEPARTMENT removed China from the list of countries who are the worst violators of human rights.

State Department refuses to commment.

The US & world media has no interest.

Call the state department to demand why.

202-647-2492

The reason why is best explained by rereading the prophet George Orwell's book Animal Farm. A deal has been struck, and the 33 year long enfolding of the USA and China into a symbiotic relationship has brought the US more onto China's path and China more along the USA's. The removal from the list is just another step in that plan. The last line of Animal Farm is the most telling. look for increasing Chinese influence in the coming years. Is this good or bad? The answer to that question requires more deep consideration than we are wont to give it at the moment.

One of the biggest criticisms I've read about China and seen first hand while visiting, is that the government functions as a vast mafia. Corruption is the primary mode of capital formation, and the fruits flow both up and down the political ladder. Thus when money is appropriated to compensate farmers who are beign displaced for a factory, most of the money is misplaced along the way to disbursement by local officials, who then kick it back up to their superiors. Barring extreme protests by the aggrieved party, nothing is ever done. How does this square with your thesis?

This is absolutely fascinating and something I have felt when I have interacted with Chinese nationals. The general view in our media and polity about China has been too simplistic.

Vietnam, Indonesia, and other non-democratic countries -- as well as India -- watch every move they can see in China, however slight, from protest to GDP growth to environmental rules.

While we may be watching China out of self preservation -- they are watching as emulators.

i understand a lot of counterfeit merchandise found in NYC starts with people's army officers

China is making progress, but progression takes time. China became a republic through a revolution a little over 100 years ago. It's made serious mistakes since, but it has also made amazing progress. Where was the human rights' status in America 100 years after its revolution? -- The civil war, freeing the slaves. I'm not saying the criticism is unfair; I'm saying it takes time and a nuanced analysis wouldn't hurt.

It's nice to hear something other than the old stereotyping about China and Chinese government from a western media. I was a college student in 1989 and am a firm believer that people can govern themselves better that dictators in the long run. You described a Chinese government patched up with reforms and new ideas. Do you think a more fundamental change will become unavoidable in the future? If so, can we avoid human suffering? I am hoping that China will follow the example of Taiwan, and new parties will be formed out of CPC, and Taiwanese parties will be allowed to run in unified China.

China is making progress, but progress takes time.

We are already overlooking that country's abuse of it's people and land; give them a couple more years to apply this ruthlessness to US.

this is really fascinating and consistent with what i perceive from reading chinese intellectuals debates.