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by bmn__ 1692 days ago
Mister Lai, I accuse you of being a sly fox who can tell lies with true words.

> China does have accountability for government officials

True, but is it the case that the laws are upheld every time? Is there an independent judiciary that sees violations persecuted through with due process?

I submit: no, this is not even possible due to the level of corruption. Officials accumulate influence, wealth and power so they can extract themselves out of sticky situations. Occasionally, officials are held accountable to much public fanfare, but they happen to be unwitting pawns, scapegoats taking the fall for someone else, or faction members that are opportunistically eliminated by their rivals.

> criticisms and protests are common

True, but do they effect change? I submit: rarely. The vast amount of forms of criticisms and protests are suppressed before collective action can occur.

Source: eyewitnesses (expats living in China)

> China is [not] a totalitarian/[…]dictatorial system.

Shill harder. I've seen you approve of CCP apologist Barrett.

1 comments

> I accuse you of being a sly fox who can tell lies with true words.

I deny your accusation. I have my own opinion based on my own knowledge and research, thank you very much.

> True, but is it the case that the laws are upheld every time?

No. Accountability is not perfect. There is no country in which accountability is perfect. Accountability does not have to be perfect in order for there to be accountability.

I submit that the situation in China still has room for improvement, and that it is improving.

> True, but do they effect change? I submit: rarely.

The paper I showed you contradicts your submission. They define "receptiveness" as "actually changing policy".

> Source: eyewitnesses (expats living in China)

Please post their videos. I posted one, I showed data. In his videos he makes concrete, verifiable claims. I would like to see your data as well as concrete, verifiable claims.

> Shill harder. I've seen you approve of CCP apologist Barrett.

This reference to "shill" is uncalled for. It is an evidence-free out-of-hand dismissal of anybody who has a different opinion of China than yours.

I don't even watch Barrett's videos that often. The only time I posted something was when Barrett documented on how sanitary workers in Shenzhen receive 1 free meal every week. That's not even political, so why do you categorize this under "shilling"? Aren't we supposed to be "only against the CCP and supporting the Chinese people"?

I was following this chain until the parent poster said "Shill harder". What a shame.

I think it's made obvious that you're operating on a level in which you still critically think about the opinions that you hold. Most of the people who resort to anti-China platitudes or accusing others of shilling have simply tuned out the actual thinking part of the equation.

Most outrage culture nowadays involve blatant rage without giving a second thought. I checked out your links and it seems more substantial than "eyewitness accounts from expats".