Was Bush right? - a growing chorus ponder, say "yes"

I am afraid that you may be misjudging Red China.

There is a profoundly mistaken notion out there that capitalism requires a liberal democracy (using the "L" word in its classic sense. T'ain't historically so. The wealthy become even wealthier in unfree societies because, inevitably, they come to control those societies. They then use the power of the government to crush any effort by the population to control their depredations.

The Red Chinese have largely abandoned communism but they must assuredly have NOT adopted any sort of free society or democratic ideal nor is there any reason to think that they ever will.

They are even now engaging in sabor rattling over Taiwan; the example of Hong Kong is not encouraging.

Capitalism does just fine in military dictatorships or brutal monarchies.

 

I'm not sure where you see the shift. The fact that we (the US) are occuping two Asian countries does not equate to a shift in the internal politics of the said countries. Are you seeing something else?

 

Why is it mistaken? Capitalism, market economy requires freedom and a liberal democracy to prosper. At least, that´s the idea I have held all these years. Those dictatorships do not have eficient economies. They are just a mockery of market economy. Yeah, their economies may benefit from some of the principles of it, like foreign trade (to make richer the elite as you pointed oput), but it lacks most of the opther elements, like consumer freedom, etc, ....

Regarding the idea that originated the thread I think it is way too early to tell whether or not the Middle East will embrace democracy as a result of Bush policies. But, as Bill said, waiting for it to happen would have led us nowhere. Time, the inexorable judge, will tell.