On July 15 2010 12:25 Beef Noodles wrote:
The video isn't real! Seriously. Videos like this are a dime a dozen in China. It's as staged as Grey's Anatomy. Don't lose your faith in democracy or children!

Except this video was made in BRITAIN, not by evil communists as propaganda

trugbylight

United States37 Posts

July 15 2010 04:14 GMT

#82

On July 15 2010 11:46 Leath wrote:
Lets me sum this documentary for those who do not want to waste 50 minutes of their lives like I did.

Summary
+ Show Spoiler +

They run a school election for monitors.
Three children are appointed as candidates, Xu Xiaofei, Cheng Cheng, and Luo Lei.
Xu Xiaofei is an introvert girl, she looks hardworking and talented in some arts but do not pose as a leader. She would make a charismatic leader, at best.
Cheng Cheng is confident and smart kid. He has the street smarts, quick wit and several tricks up his sleeve. He looks like some sort of leader by merit.
Luo Lei is a bit like Cheng Cheng, except maybe a bit more of a rebel or a bully. He lacks a lot of the qualities of his adversaries, but has some confidence. He wins the election by purchasing his electorate with gifts.

This happens not only in China but pretty much everywhere else in the world. Specially in developing countries where the majority of the candidates live around the poverty line. It is very easy to enchant the simple minded people. If the subject is their own benefits, their minds work quite similar to the those of school children, easily bribed and fooled. I guess this is why popular governments seem more likely to arise in low income countries.

Now, to answer the OP question. If I was in my early childhood days, I would have probably voted for Luo Lei. As an adult however, I think Cheng Cheng would make the best monitor, even though he has a lot of traits I disapprove. Most likely, I would have voted blank.

Why would you vote for Cheng Cheng? He did basically nothing but lie, sell out positions for supporters. His entire campaign was designed around making his opponents look bad.

Would you trust a kid that blatantly lies to everyone and seemingly no morals to be president?

trugbylight

United States37 Posts

July 15 2010 04:17 GMT

#83

On July 15 2010 12:01 endy wrote:

@The Storyteller : I worked for Temasek holdings and yeah there is a lot of corruption in Singapore (fyi Temasek is a huge investment company, and the CEO who as been elected as the 3rd most powerful women in the world is Prime Minister's wife lololol)

How is this an evidence of corruption? The investment company can make WHOEVER they want into their CEO.

Its only corruption if Temasek starts getting government favoritism AFTER hiring family members of the prime minister.

trugbylight

United States37 Posts

July 15 2010 04:22 GMT

#84

On July 15 2010 11:39 The Storyteller wrote:

Show nested quote +

Taiwan? And it's now one of the four Asian tigers. But Taiwan also had a long period of martial law before it democratised.

Except Taiwan only became wealthy because the USA gave them billions with no strings attached

Beef Noodles

United States937 Posts

July 15 2010 04:22 GMT

#85

The BBC just like every other company/film maker has to go through the Chinese government. Just because it says BBC, that doesn't mean anything.

Also, I'm not saying that the Chinese government is evil. They are just making a video to fit their agenda and they stage/bend the footage. Every country does this...

caelym

United States6430 Posts

July 15 2010 05:00 GMT

#86

This documentary can't be taken seriously... they're just kids. When I was that young, I'd vote for whoever gave me the lollipop ezpz. I do feel bad for Cheng Cheng though. and did anyone else notice the blatant corruption on the part of luo lei's father as a police chief. using his power to gave his son's class free and private rides on the monorail. also notice how rich he is. tsk tsk government corruption. (and he's teaching his untalented bully of a son the same dirty tricks)

The Storyteller

Singapore2486 Posts

July 15 2010 05:07 GMT

#87

On July 15 2010 13:17 trugbylight wrote:

Show nested quote +

No it's still not corruption. It would just go to show that the CEO is just so good that she's able to get government favoritism, and hence show that Temasek were right to hire her in the first place.

Hey, it's not corruption if it's legal! =D

seRapH

United States9824 Posts

July 15 2010 05:11 GMT

#88

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ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｎｏ　ｉｄｅａ　ｗｈｙ　ｍｙ　ｔｅｘｔ　ｉｓ　ｓｕｄｄｅｎｌｙ　ｓｏ　ｗｅｉｒｄ　ｏ．Ｏ

User was warned for this post

illu

Canada2531 Posts

July 15 2010 05:20 GMT

#89

Like Arthor Branch said in Law and Order, democracy is the worst form of government there is, yet still better than every other forms of governments (lol-logic).

The only reason China is not democratic is because people in the Communist Party are desperate to keep hold of their powers.

trugbylight

United States37 Posts

July 15 2010 05:21 GMT

#90

On July 15 2010 14:07 The Storyteller wrote:

Show nested quote +

So what do you want? a law forbidding any company from hiring people related to politicians?

RifleCow

Canada637 Posts

July 15 2010 05:23 GMT

#91

An elected office that has to answer to a bill of rights, civil liberties, human rights, and a seperate judicial system is currently an effective system, imo. This is what developed countries aim for in terms of providing for their citizens. However, this may not work for China since realization of economic goals may not be as efficient without a fluid process derived from dictatorship.

trugbylight

United States37 Posts

July 15 2010 05:30 GMT

#92

This guy explains how China funds their projects compared to how India funds their projects

In other words the difference between communism and democracy