[aurizon]

You live in a power structure based on a hierarchy of control down to almost, but not quite, the individual level. All monies are stolen high up in this hierarchy and filter down as bribes to the lower levels. China is perfecting this to attain the individual level. The control mechanism in these power structures is:- Fear, pure and simple. If you attract the attention of the structure they will deal with you in one way or another, ranging from cash at one extreme and a knife or bullet at the other. Why do people tolrate this? In the USA they would not, but Africans are drawn to these people in power, it is a tribal thing and as you can see with all the African dictatorships, pervasive. Even those that resemble democracies are actually power based dictatorships. To change it? Until the basic African mind set changes you can not. Any attempt will attract the attention of the system to you = death or $$ - you choose...

[monoideism]

China has the most 2nd-most millionaires per capita of any country in the world (and by far the most by total). The idea that "all monies are stolen high up" and "filter down as bribes" is just laughable.

Perhaps you're just referring to the rampant (and real) corruption among public officials, but if you're claiming that poor and middle-class Chinese are ripping off the wealthy, there's very scant evidence for it.

[aurizon]

I was referring to the OP in Africa about their African tribe based dictatorships etc. China is a different case, more mature chicanery involved.

[apache99]

This also a really good answer. Thanks