Humanist Cafe – March 7 – Chinese Authoritarianism In A Rapidly Changing World

There is despair amongst some in the USA about the waning of the appreciation for democracy. Military rule is even seen as attractive!

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/43133-democracy-is-not-a-choice

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/10/in-a-new-poll-half-of-republicans-say-they-would-support-postponing-the-2020-election-if-trump-proposed-it/?utm_term=.49d140cc41df

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/opinion/across-the-globe-a-growing-disillusionment-with-democracy.html

Chinese Infrastructure Expenditures show that it means Business

! Highly recommended article by Ellen Brown:  http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/43715-funding-infrastructure-the-trump-administration-should-take-a-lesson-from-china

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ybBZgN154&feature=youtu.be (longer documentary)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/29/at-the-crossroads-of-the-new-silk-road?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Chinese By-outs Continue

https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2018/01/24/Aecon-Buyout-Bad/

Pressure to Adopt Chinese Authoritarianism ‘in order to Create Societal Harmony’

China is moving ‘to promote harmony’ in Chinese society by condemning dissent and blacklisting dissidents.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/chinese-blacklist-an-early-glimpse-of-sweeping-new-social-credit-control/article37493300/

Questions:

Is creeping Chinese political culture a threat to democracy?
 
Does authoritarian capitalism work better than democratic capitalism?

In a crowded world with looming crises (e.g., the devastation of climate change), is authoritarianism, with rapid decision-making, becoming more attractive?

On a crowded planet, can democracy endure or is authoritarian rule the way to go? Are there benevolent dictators we can trust?

How can we justify selling interests in Canadian corporations (crown and other Canadian corporations) to Chinese financial interests when we know that most are at least partly owned by the Chinese government?

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See you there!  Bring a buddy.