I’m watching a Frontline episode on China, with context to the demonstrations and massacare of 1989 and todays ‘economic’ boom.

The Chinese govt., that supposedly represents the ‘workers’ of China has abandoned them. In particular, the peasants and farmers that still constitute the bulk of the population. In an attempt to gain economic progress rapidly and artificially, the communist party of China has turned into the other side of the coin – the absolute capitalist.

Workers in factories and industries do not have any rights to negotiate pay. In order to make cheap goods and undercut rest of the world, they have supressed the labor market and regulate it with an iron fist. They peg their currency against the dollar rather than letting it float on the market. So, their products (and profits) are competitively priced in the market, yet labor is held static by abusive measures. Migrant workers pour in from rural areas, work like dogs, and move on to the next project. This reminds me of America during the turn of the 19-20 century. Only difference is that people eventually forced change as avenues existed for people to voice their concerns and opinions (labor laws and the rise of unions). No such space exists in China. And it is dangerous for China.

India will level off with China some day, because China cannot sustain its current internal economic model, and India has greater opportunties to grow. Labor unions protect Indian labor interests (obviously with strong support from communists), but those interests are being balanced out by free market business and their policies. Balanced growth in an open environment where people can negotiate deals may be slower, but it is far more stable and sustatinable. The ability to barter your services for equitable pay is key. Now, you can get into situations where neither side can see the writing on the wall (general motors and its labor unions, or in India’s case state employees of inefficient govt. companies), however, when shit hits the fan, all will know both contributed to their own downfall. Nobody else to blame but themselves.

Obviously. Thats how communist govenments have operated everywhere. But the communist defend by saying that the scientific theory (viz. communism) has not been implemented to its fullest!

You know, I’d much rather imitate the Curies’ mad passion than their young and painful deaths. I neither want to get run over by a carriage nor die of leukemia.

I can’t find the link now, but there was a kid, in Korea, I think, who died after gaming for too long and not sleeping or eating. There clearly is an addictive component to it for some people. The Chinese plan is apparently motivated by the fact that game addiction sucks up the productivity of the brightest young minds. It provides all the endorphins for problem solving much constantly and easily. I have a theory that a lot of electronic activity is an opiate for the smartset, providing instant gratification endorphins where before only certain productive tasks could:

blogging–taps into and sucks out on our ability to work for fame, our writing mojo, and our political activism music-mixing–taps into and sucks on our ability to actually go through the time and effort it takes for instrumentalism and live group music playing gaming–taps into and sucks on our ability to solve problems

I’m no luddite, and I’m a big fan of all of these things, but I do think there’s a need for balance.

And all this is more fun when you get someone else living with you addicted to the blogosphere as well. Two messed up blog addicts are better then one!

and all that walking around for 30 mins in between looking for a new place to sit…

=)

The fact is that the New England Journal of Medicine has never published a study on the long term effects of blogging. We are treading untested territory here. Kind of like the Curies.

Your vision will be blurred, your income will plunge, your sex life will disappear and your debating points will be made to sound incoherent.

Nothing at all like what happens now.