tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636313704681840087.post1606967347238545509..comments2023-10-16T16:59:13.174+08:00Comments on [GUO DU] James Tam's Bilingual Blog [过渡] 谭炳昌的双语博客: Authoritarianism with Chinese CharacteristicsJames Tam 谭炳昌 (过渡)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04425158964357728038noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636313704681840087.post-65116904468291941672015-12-07T16:31:14.641+08:002015-12-07T16:31:14.641+08:00Just read a piece on Indiaschinablog: http://indi...Just read a piece on Indiaschinablog: http://indiaschinablog.blogspot.hk/2015/12/china-media-bias-guilty-until-proven-guilty.html#more with a good dissected view on media bias.James Tam 谭炳昌 (过渡)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04425158964357728038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636313704681840087.post-26012581410125672532014-10-14T15:40:04.470+08:002014-10-14T15:40:04.470+08:00One important detail overlooked by many Occupy Cen...One important detail overlooked by many Occupy Central supporters is the protesters’ demand for Freedom and Democracy according to “international practice”. These intellectual giants and their mentors tell us that candidates for the Chief Executive should be nominated by the public, and voted on directly without any form of screening. “Otherwise, it’d be a sham!” Hear! hear! <br /><br />Duh, I've stupidly checked the facts. (I know I know. Annoying isn’t it?) Direct election of the head of state is an exception, not the norm, in Western Democracies. The British Prime Minister, for example, is one of many Western leaders not chosen by direct election. Neither is the American president chosen by popular votes. Sham? I think so. Furthermore, they’ve all been through multiple-layers of small circle party-screening. Although most of them evidently don’t love their countries in deed, they all profess patriotism. Ah, but they’re not Chinese, so, not comparable? Different standards perhaps?<br /><br />But when it comes to Public Nomination of candidates, my little research has failed to yield even ONE country which follows this “International Standard”. Not even referenda burdened Switzerland. Not even the Philippines which seems governed by a neurologically spontaneous democratic spirit.<br /><br />Anyways, I suppose this is all heretical to true democrats, so doesn’t matter.James Tam 谭炳昌 (过渡)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04425158964357728038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636313704681840087.post-17196060403832666572014-10-09T11:43:29.694+08:002014-10-09T11:43:29.694+08:00Thanks George. Don't know whether you can read...Thanks George. Don't know whether you can read Chinese. An analysis I read this morning gives another scenario. Beijing would just leave this to the HK Gov't, however long it might take. HK has reduced itself so much in the past decade it's simply not worth the political cost of intervention. Makes sense. Take a look if you wish: http://activity.renren.com/outshare/blog/252317812/936603647?from=timeline&isappinstalled=0James Tam 谭炳昌 (过渡)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04425158964357728038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636313704681840087.post-66535972624612775212014-10-09T11:32:35.325+08:002014-10-09T11:32:35.325+08:00Bravo James. This is my first visit to your blog. ...Bravo James. This is my first visit to your blog. Your points are succinct, fair and plainly stated. More folks need to read your post.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13997598378471957487noreply@blogger.com