Comments on: Public Aggression across China on the Rise

By: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Chris Devonshire-Ellis — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:45:28 +0000

Thank you for your comments. Much of the issue in China is because I feel the general population has become naieve in how markets behave. They go up – and they go down. Too many people in China have been brought into the stock and investment markets with insufficient education. When you have kids of 21 having two mortgages, and cleaning ladies buying the latest stocks, there’s a problem. Faced with a downturn, people are beginning to take their frustrations out socially. There has always been some volativity in China, but recently it seems to have increased. The government will need to take serious actions to avert a GDP growth rate of less than 9% per annum if things are not going to get out of hand – however the signs are they are doing just that with huge stimulus packages and tax rebates being offered.

As for materialism, China has a spiritual vacumn and has become largely ammoral – an additional social problem I pointed out here: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2008/09/26/recognizing-china%e2%80%99s-amorality-a-box-that-needs-to-be-checked.html

Clearly, a move to a greater form of democratic process, aligned to a relaxation of religious freedoms would help pacify the general population. But changing a governmental system the size of China’s takes time. Lets hope the government are able to keep a lid on it – the encouraging news is, they’ve done a good job thus far. However there’s still a long way to go and bumps along the road.

- Chris

By: Caitlin Morgan

Caitlin Morgan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:14:19 +0000

A valuable piece of writing. But what is happening in China is happening all over the world as well. Economic constraints are affecting us all, and people are snapping right and left. In San Francisco, California (where I live) crime has recently increased, particularly robberies. My own car was just broken into, where I’ve lived in my neighborhood for years without incident.

We all need to take a collective, global breath and recognize that our worth is not based in material goods. Survival is important, but we need to reevaluate whether or not we need extraneous things to make us happy. The answer is: We don’t. Personally, I’m stripping down to the basics, curtailing my buying, and appreciating what I have. I am not a rich person here in the U.S. (I work in social services), but I’m not starving. As long as my family is well, we have our needs and our love for one another, that’s most meaningful.

I am an American, but, beyond that, I am a member of the race of humankind, and it pains me to hear of my Chinese brothers and sisters suffering in the ways mentioned within this article. Please: Let China lead the way in handling this global economic crisis with sensibility and compassion. China is a very great country, and has the ability to influence the whole world in positive, remarkable ways. Please: Set the standard for global behavior during these trying times. Thank you.

By: Victime Royale

Victime Royale — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:24:42 +0000

I do agree with the article mainly, but the violences described already appeared few years ago…

We as foreigners, may be facing more and more violence, since the Chinese people have no proper way to express their anger. We would rely in the justice system in our country, but not in China.

As a chinese woman said in a television report: “the chinese family is joke, it is an empty shell”. So if the young generation has no education ground because they do not act or listen to their parents, violence can only go up.

By: Luke Liu

Luke Liu — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:44:50 +0000

wow, what a nice piece. You are bold and brave. I admire you. But worry about your safety though.