Political implications of the Beijing Olympics

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-09-2008, 11:02 AM

This topic is for discussion of POLITICS ONLY. Don't discuss the sports here (for that, you might want to try the other topic we have).

As you all know, the 2008 Beijing Olympics are very much the most important Olympics of our time...so far. This is probably the third Games, after the Berlin and Seoul games, that has political implications.

China's regime is one of the strangest and weirdest in the world. Unlike most dictatorships which are oppressive and impoverishing, China's is oppressive and empowering. China has come a long way, but it still has a VERY long way to go.

The main things that bother me are what the Beijing government did to the people of Beijing: how they evicted tenants from their homes and didn't give them any compensation for it, how they treated migrant workers who build the Bird's Nest, their censorship of the internet and press, and of course the mistreatment of rural Chinese, Tibetans, and Uyghur Muslims (if they say Tibet and East Turkistan are part of China, they ought to have allowed them to show both their pride in their country AND their unique traditions, both in their everyday lives and in the opening ceremony last night).

And of course there are the problems in Darfur and Burma, which the Beijing government seems to be supporting.

Many people are calling for a boycott. I'm not. Boycotts are for cowards. The best thing to do is to face the Beijing government head on, show pride in your country, and show pride that you support human rights for all. -CSM

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-09-2008, 11:53 AM

The minor US governments annex houses all the time, even if it is a ridiculous practice.

According to the Chinese government's economical foundation, all of their housing property is under ownership of the people's republic. They will be rehoused, to say the least. The government isn't a total socialist state, simply because no one has any idea how to implement being a socialist state.

I would say that it is unfair to declare China a dictatorship; it's not like anyone in the US actually has a major choice to make in election of officials - they might have extreme or reformist policies, but they still have to function under the guidance of the same government. It's virtually impossible and even illegal to initiate radical reform in the US, in most situations. Abolishing public offices and restructuring the economic system won't fly in the states; why should it anywhere else?

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-09-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DELICIOUS POISON

According to the Chinese government

And what of neutral human rights observers? The International Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions say a lot of people were kicked out of Beijing and not given any new place to go.

Every party except the ruling Communist Party is banned in China. In the free world there can be as many parties as desired, and some third parties even take away votes from the major parties. Protesting against the Beijing government's policies gets you imprisoned. How is that not a dictatorship? -CSM

Bomby · 08-09-2008, 11:08 PM

Because it is a democratic dictatorship.

You all know where my heard lies, anyways.

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-10-2008, 10:57 AM

^That's Hong Kong, which is different.

Anyway, two other reasons why I hate the Beijing government:

1. They support Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe
2. They had two soldiers go into the house of a retarded kid in Beijing, brutally killed him in front of his parents, then took his parents out to a nice dinner and gave them hush money. -CSM

Robotazy · 08-10-2008, 01:38 PM

Well, at least they were decent enough to take them to a fancy Chinese restaurant afterwards.

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-10-2008, 02:18 PM

^Brutal killing isn't something to joke about, I'm sorry. And the fact that they bribed the parents only makes it worse. -CSM

Kil'jaeden · 08-10-2008, 02:59 PM

The US government is not going to do anything against China no matter how nasty China gets with its human rights violations. The US and China are too deep into eachother's pockets. Sure, pronouncements will be made from time to time, but nothing will happen. International and human rights groups will protest, but nothing will come of it.

Actually, the CCP "allows" other political parties to exist. With permission, they can exist, and send two representatives to a yearly convention where they will be ignored.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-10-2008, 03:09 PM

How is something oppressive and empowering?

Also, I don't think boycotts are for cowards, sometimes it's the easiest and simplest way to get something going.

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-10-2008, 04:58 PM

^^This isn't something governments can fix alone. It takes international organizations and humanitarian aid to do that. -CSM

Kil'jaeden · 08-10-2008, 05:34 PM

Those don't seem to do much either.

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-10-2008, 09:47 PM

Stop buying Chinese products, then, hit them where it hurts.

Oh wait, even US flags are manufactured in China. Good luck.

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-10-2008, 10:10 PM

^You're right, but the problem is that that's almost impossible. I wish it were possible to boycott Chinese goods. -CSM

Bomby · 08-11-2008, 09:59 AM

Personally, I wish that the Kuomintang would've won the revolution. Even though I disagree with their policies, at least they've allowed another party to participate and even win elections in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

In fact, my heart also lies here:

Robotazy · 08-11-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyswordsman

^Brutal killing isn't something to joke about, I'm sorry. And the fact that they bribed the parents only makes it worse. -CSM

I'm not allowed to try?

Unfair.

Also.

Politics.

Swordmaster Link · 08-11-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyswordsman

^You're right, but the problem is that that's almost impossible. I wish it were possible to boycott Chinese goods. -CSM

I thought boycotting was for cowards?

LinkManDX · 08-11-2008, 05:45 PM

The best thing to combat the "Made in China" epidemic would be to keep the dollar low.

Exporting becomes cheap, American manufacturing becomes cheaper to export, and therefore, more exportation.

Also, we can lessen the impact of unions, as there's a bunch of protection of workers built into the law (minimum wage, etc.).

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-11-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinkManDX

The best thing to combat the "Made in China" epidemic would be to keep the dollar low.

What?

Bomby · 08-11-2008, 06:24 PM

^ Because it would send more Americans to factory work.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-11-2008, 06:25 PM

Factory work v.s spending power. Hm.

08-09-2008, 11:02 AM	#1
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	Political implications of the Beijing Olympics This topic is for discussion of POLITICS ONLY. Don't discuss the sports here (for that, you might want to try the other topic we have). As you all know, the 2008 Beijing Olympics are very much the most important Olympics of our time...so far. This is probably the third Games, after the Berlin and Seoul games, that has political implications. China's regime is one of the strangest and weirdest in the world. Unlike most dictatorships which are oppressive and impoverishing, China's is oppressive and empowering. China has come a long way, but it still has a VERY long way to go. The main things that bother me are what the Beijing government did to the people of Beijing: how they evicted tenants from their homes and didn't give them any compensation for it, how they treated migrant workers who build the Bird's Nest, their censorship of the internet and press, and of course the mistreatment of rural Chinese, Tibetans, and Uyghur Muslims (if they say Tibet and East Turkistan are part of China, they ought to have allowed them to show both their pride in their country AND their unique traditions, both in their everyday lives and in the opening ceremony last night). And of course there are the problems in Darfur and Burma, which the Beijing government seems to be supporting. Many people are calling for a boycott. I'm not. Boycotts are for cowards. The best thing to do is to face the Beijing government head on, show pride in your country, and show pride that you support human rights for all. -CSM

08-09-2008, 11:53 AM	#2
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	The minor US governments annex houses all the time, even if it is a ridiculous practice. According to the Chinese government's economical foundation, all of their housing property is under ownership of the people's republic. They will be rehoused, to say the least. The government isn't a total socialist state, simply because no one has any idea how to implement being a socialist state. I would say that it is unfair to declare China a dictatorship; it's not like anyone in the US actually has a major choice to make in election of officials - they might have extreme or reformist policies, but they still have to function under the guidance of the same government. It's virtually impossible and even illegal to initiate radical reform in the US, in most situations. Abolishing public offices and restructuring the economic system won't fly in the states; why should it anywhere else?

08-09-2008, 11:08 PM	#4
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Because it is a democratic dictatorship. You all know where my heard lies, anyways.

08-10-2008, 10:57 AM	#5
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	^That's Hong Kong, which is different. Anyway, two other reasons why I hate the Beijing government: 1. They support Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe 2. They had two soldiers go into the house of a retarded kid in Beijing, brutally killed him in front of his parents, then took his parents out to a nice dinner and gave them hush money. -CSM

08-10-2008, 01:38 PM	#6
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Well, at least they were decent enough to take them to a fancy Chinese restaurant afterwards.

08-10-2008, 02:18 PM	#7
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	^Brutal killing isn't something to joke about, I'm sorry. And the fact that they bribed the parents only makes it worse. -CSM

08-10-2008, 02:59 PM	#8
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,132 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	The US government is not going to do anything against China no matter how nasty China gets with its human rights violations. The US and China are too deep into eachother's pockets. Sure, pronouncements will be made from time to time, but nothing will happen. International and human rights groups will protest, but nothing will come of it. Actually, the CCP "allows" other political parties to exist. With permission, they can exist, and send two representatives to a yearly convention where they will be ignored.

08-10-2008, 03:09 PM	#9
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	How is something oppressive and empowering? Also, I don't think boycotts are for cowards, sometimes it's the easiest and simplest way to get something going.

08-10-2008, 04:58 PM	#10
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	^^This isn't something governments can fix alone. It takes international organizations and humanitarian aid to do that. -CSM

08-10-2008, 05:34 PM	#11
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,132 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	Those don't seem to do much either.

08-10-2008, 09:47 PM	#12
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Stop buying Chinese products, then, hit them where it hurts. Oh wait, even US flags are manufactured in China. Good luck.

08-10-2008, 10:10 PM	#13
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	^You're right, but the problem is that that's almost impossible. I wish it were possible to boycott Chinese goods. -CSM

08-11-2008, 09:59 AM	#14
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Personally, I wish that the Kuomintang would've won the revolution. Even though I disagree with their policies, at least they've allowed another party to participate and even win elections in the Republic of China (Taiwan). In fact, my heart also lies here:

08-11-2008, 05:45 PM	#17
LinkManDX Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Because political usernames ftw Gender: Posts: 3,582 Thanks: 297 Thanked 266 Times in 156 Posts	The best thing to combat the "Made in China" epidemic would be to keep the dollar low. Exporting becomes cheap, American manufacturing becomes cheaper to export, and therefore, more exportation. Also, we can lessen the impact of unions, as there's a bunch of protection of workers built into the law (minimum wage, etc.).

08-11-2008, 06:24 PM	#19
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	^ Because it would send more Americans to factory work.

08-11-2008, 06:25 PM	#20
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Factory work v.s spending power. Hm.