Clearly, fear-based rule was not left behind with the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, as many thought. This should not be surprising. Even as China's economy has boomed and modernized, its political system has retained its core totalitarian features: a state exempt from the rule of law, a domestic security apparatus with agents and informants virtually everywhere, widespread censorship, and weak protection of individual rights. Having never been repudiated, these institutional relics of Maoism remain available to be used and intensified whenever the top leadership sees fit, as it does today.

"Feeding myself through writing made me fall in love with literature."

The political dysfunctions caused by the dominance of rich campaign donors in the American political system have provided an opportunity for opponents of political equality to attack democracy itself. A sophisticated version of this is Daniel A. Bell's recent book, The China Model.

Consider us disturbed.

Steve Hoffman at Founders Space recently returned from a "marathon business trip" to China. He returned with some unexpected findings that defy many of our staid stereotypes in the West. With Steve's permission, I am quoting his findings below.