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Foreign-owned Hotels To Install Firewall In China
Frosty Piss writes "Foreign-owned hotels in China face the prospect of 'severe retaliation' if they refuse to install government software that can spy on Internet use by hotel guests coming to watch the summer Olympic games. Republican Senator Sam Brownback produced a translated version of a document from China's Public Security Bureau that requires hotels to use the monitoring equipment. The Public Security Bureau order threatens that failure to comply could result in financial penalties, suspending access to the Internet or the loss of a license to operate a hotel in China. The policy was designed to 'ensure the smooth opening' of the Olympics, as well as 'promote the healthy and orderly development of the Internet, safeguard state security, maintain social order and protect public interests,' the translation of the one of the documents read."
I really don't understand China. They lock down the flow of information in their country so that they don't look bad, but in doing so generate a ton of negative media saying how they lock down their information. Could someone please explain what benefit this gives them?
Trautman: What do you say John?
Rambo: Fuck 'em.
Of course, the them==Russians but I am getting a bit tired of the BS regarding the Chinese government. Everyone knows money vs ethics = money wins. Of course it is not in the hotel's interests to get fined or have no internet. Bah I hate cliches.
So Brownback is upset that the Chinese government is forcing companies to spy on innocent citizens? Hypocrite much?
James Fallows already did in The Great Firewall. The short version: China is worried chiefly about controlling its own people and setting bad internal precedents. It's not as worried about the rest of the world. In addition, the Chinese authorities are somewhat inept, as he explains here. Because neither can be excerpted effectively, you'll just have to follow the links.
Incompatible with liberalism
If by "liberalism" you mean the philosophy of letting people do their own thing (i.e., what libertarianism used to be called), you couldn't be more wrong. Capitalism is the ideal economic system for such a political philosophy.
Incompatible with conservatism
I guess that depends on how you define "conservatism". You may have a point, but don't be so vague.
Incompatible with human rights
The fact that the US has always been capitalistic, and done ok on human rights (not great, but not terrible either), contradicts this.
Incompatible with human nature.
Absolute horseshit. Capitalism aligns PERFECTLY with human nature. Human nature is to improve one's own lot in life as much as possible. Capitalism is to make as much profit for oneself as possible.
Somebody please tell me why we're still fisting Adam Smith's very dry corpse?
Maybe because it's worked out pretty damned well? It's not perfect, but nothing is. Maybe you live in a world where everything goes right all the time, but most of us sure don't.
"16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
The other option is not get a cut of the market at all. Everyone wants in to China's market- if a company isn't willing to compromise and accept breaching the rights of Chinese citizens, another Western company (and more frequently, Chinese companies) will step up and happily take their place. And as long as the Chinese government keeps delivering economic growth like this, we'll keep scrambling to get a piece of the pie, and the Chinese citizenry will happily give up their civil liberties in return for stability and nice hotels to stay in. After all, compared with pre-reform China, hotels with any internet are a dream come true. With China, and its government, growth and stability go hand-in-hand. Both government and citizens are willing to sacrifice civil rights for it. Not the ideal bargain, but better than some countries ;) We're giving up our civil liberties in America, and not getting much in return.
China doesnt block VPNs. Game over.
Somebody please tell me why we're still fisting Adam Smith's very dry corpse?
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I think your familiarity with Adam Smith is limited.
To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers may at first sight appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is, however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers; but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers.
....Snip... . As sovereigns, their interest is exactly the same with that of the country which they govern. As merchants their interest is directly opposite to that interest.
But a company of merchants are, it seems, incapable of considering themselves as sovereigns . . . Their mercantile habits draw them in this manner, almost necessarily, though perhaps insensibly, to prefer upon all ordinary occasions the little and transitory profit of the monopolist to the great and permanent revenue of the sovereign . .
(Book_Four*Chapt_VII*Of_Colonies)
I_Voter
Political Power in the U.S.- an under construction web site.
http://web.newsguy.com/politicaleconomy/
I hate Government oppression as anyone but I've got to call you out here. I think the Olympic Committee was hoping that the Chinese government would clean up it's act for it's people as a direct result of planning The Games.
In some respects this is true, there has been great infrastructure and environmental improvements in China recently. In terms of infrastructure, you might like to consult this interesting article, PART 1, PART 2 comparing the difference between credit crunch enlaboured American cities and shining new developments in China.
In terms of environmetal issues, Greenpeace have applauded many of the Chinese Governemnt's efforts. Efforts include a focus on reducing emmisions and river pollution, switching to renewable energy sources such as hydro and geo-thermal, expanding public transportation and air quality improvements. In America, the government is actively trying to prevent any improvements relating to global warming.
In terms of censorship, also recall that employees at the American Environment Protection Authority have been prevented from talking to journalists. How's that for "extreme censorship"? Also, don't forget about warrentless wire tapping and the subsequent bill to protect the government and telcos from any repercussions.
Remember that testing for doping is overseen by the Olympic Committee, not the Chinese government. You should also be aware that America is involved with doping too and stripped of medals.
Admittedly, the improvements aren't as good as they could have been, but if you ask the average Chinese on the street, I'm sure he's very satisfied with the changes and his governments ability to effect them. I'm not trying to imply that America is worse than China or even close, just that it has it's problems too and they are pretty much the same ones. It's time to get off your high horse and realise that he who is without guilt should cast the first stone. Not you.
I didn't say it was good or bad, just in line with human nature. That's not a debateable point, imnsho. It's just plain fact.
It is very much a debatable point. Are you arguing that Jesus, Buddah, Mandela, Ghandi and countless others are not human? It is my belief that it is you that subscribes to an inhumane philosophy.