[noodle]

Originally Posted by Henbaka

Yeah countries with leaders that don't have to prove to the people they should/are qualified to lead doesn't 'float my boat'



Well, for one thing media is a great instrument to be used by a state (in the case of single-party states, this ain't too unusual...). So for that reason, a free media really hurts.

I don't see your point here. Have you considered that it may be next to impossible for people to "do something" about it? I mean, how would you go about it, just say "hey, we need free media, now!"?

What mainly sticks out for me there, is that in every country people have differing opinions about...well everything. That includes how the country should be and is run. But with a single-party state like China, this discussion isn't allowed as it is pointless anyhow, when you don't have elections with different parties of different opinions anyways... And I don't know about you, but that seems wrong to me.

I think it is whatever floats your boat to be honest. If everyone agreed with you, the chinese would do something about it... But obviously, the chinese are pretty happy with their current government, and why wouldn't they be? The life of average chinese is improving every single day (even Tibetans).

Who knows, but from history, we know that if something is really that important to the "people", we will hear about it and eventually, something will be done (even if it's not really what they wanted).

I somewhat agree with you if it was concerning me, but you gotta think about it from the Chinese point of view. It's like the communism debate... People will argue for and against, but at the end of the day, it's a personal preference. What's important is what the government does. Heck, I wouldn't mind living under a dictator if he improved my life.

Originally Posted by MissMisa

I thought this documentry may be of some interest to the people debating in this thread.

BBC iPlayer - Panorama: China's Olympic Promise

I watched it yesterday and it's very interesting. It's only half an hour long, so if you have some spare time, do watch it.

Thanks... I'll check it out when I get home...