Re: China: Mandate of heaven?

On May 22, 8:48=A0am, Jim Walsh <jimNOwalsSPA...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Thu, 22 May 2008 13:36:49 +0800, BobLee1964 wrote
> (in article
> <7f5279d3-dfc4-4e04-b1ed-49814a13d...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>):
> > Hong Kong is autocratic.
>
> No, it is not. Autocratic countries do not permit free speech, free
press,=

> freedom of religion etc.
>
> Autocratic countries do not permit substantial economic freedom.

Autorcratic only means that the ruler (theoretically) has the power
exclusively. Hong Kong chief executive appoints judges, and is a lot
more powerful than the legislature. His power is from the central
government and a small group of elites, not from a popular election.
And he has the exclusive power unrivaled to rule Hong Kong. Isn't Hong
Kong an autocratic society? At least it is NOT nearly as democratic as
Iraq.

Said that, it does not mean that autocratic society does not have
substantial freedoms. It only means that the ruler has the power to
curtail /  take away the freedom if he or she sees fit. Many parents
are autocratic, but their kids still have freedom to pursuit some
happiness.

> > For example, the most im****tant political
> > move in Hong Kong for the last ten years is that the Chief Executive
> > requested the central government to interpret the basic law and revert
> > a decision by the Hong Kong supreme court. The move was made by the
> > Chief Executive alone. Cheered by many though.
>
> This decision is famous because it is a virtually unique example of CCP
> interference with a Hong Kong court. In autocratic countries, nearly
every=

> court decision is made by the autocrat.

Don't be so ridiculous. No autocrat can make every court decison and
is still expected to survive for more than a month. The workload will
kill him or her.

> > Iraq is just one of the many screwed up democracies. It is a democracy
> > because the government is popularly elected.
>
> Do you really believe the Iraqi government is a democracy? One election
do=
es
> not make a democracy.

How many elections are required to become a democracy? Has Hati or
Philippines have enough of them?

> BTW, George Bush says that Iraq is a democracy, but you don't believe
him,=
 do
> you?

I trust and verify. Iraq is a democracy.