Back in China again!
I am staying at a hotel in Beijing about 3 blocks from Tiananmen Square where the infamous protest event will celebrate its 20th anniversary in two weeks. Tiananmen Square would be equivalent to our nation’s capital. This is where the Chinese government officials meet. The Square also encompasses Chairman Mao’s Crypt and the Forbidden City where the Emperor once lived. China hasn’t had an emperor in over 50 years and still has a Chairman as its leader. Life here in the major Cities of China is not much different than in the U.S. (aside from the fact that they eat with chop sticks). People work hard and receive pay that is taxed about the same rate as ours. Some companies offer benefits and some do not. Health care is a problem and although they have social medicine to “some degree”, it isn’t that different than our system. Ironically, and not surprisingly to a conservative, the system here is more socialized and as a result the sick and poor get little treatment and the terminally ill are left to die. If you have money you can get treated. Sounds like the direction we’re headed actual.
I find it very interesting that China, like most countries I visit are pushing (sometimes revolting) to achieve the protections and freedom of the U.S. Constitution as intended by our Founding Fathers. While we on the other hand are pushing to move in the direction these social societies came from. As I listen to Obama’s words of how he thinks the constitution should be; providing more social support to the “needy”, I can’t help but think that is exactly what got these people in the trouble they are in. Sure they too want to help the needy. But who are the needy and what is the best way to help them? This is the fundamental difference in the political direction of our country as compared to theirs.
China has been forced to make some very hard choices because of the pressures of their growing population, especially their elderly. More responsibility is placed upon the young workers to care for their parents and families at home. This is opposed to the new direction the U.S. is taking and redefining “responsibility” as one’s ability to pay the government to “take care of people”. That definition here in China is exactly what led to an oppressive government that eventually only takes care of itself. We are starting to see this in the U.S. with the growing cost of government benefits. Benefits that the government demands regardless of economical conditions! These are the events that led up to the Tiananmen Square protest that led to the death of many at the hands of that oppressive government. The very fact that I am able to be here and write this to you is proof that they are making progress.
