Not Actually Indie
If they were worse off with their crappy jobs than they would be without any jobs, they'd quit. China is already an employer's market; the employees are more dispensable than the jobs. An economic crash would make that much worse.
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Unchanging Avatar.
I wonder if China is even capable of supporting its population after the collapse of their economy anymore...
It's not like it's easy to feed 1.4 billion.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
I changed accounts.
Depends on how smart the leaders are, really. I somehow imagine that they'll fuck it up...
That, or they'll start a war.
I am now known as Flyboy.
Proud Canadian
The leaders are the cause of the problem. I don't think they can handle crisises very well, looking at the SARS incident.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Actual Wrestling Legend
Why is China an employer's market? Unintended consequence of outsourcing, or would they be even worse off without those jobs?
I'm a skeptical squirrel
Proud Canadian
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Because it's cheaper to pay someone to do something then buy a machine.
I changed accounts.
A total lack of worker protection, and strong incentives for large corporations to come in and work for less taxes and without having to pay so much for labor.
Everything to gain for employers, and very little to gain for labor.
I am now known as Flyboy.
I believe the greater issue is that the labour pool far outstrips the job pool.
An economic crash would NOT bring about democracy. Economic gain would. If you think that a bunch of people getting impoverished is going to turn stuff into happy fun rainbow time, you haven't ready any Chinese history. It usually becomes a quickly devolving mess of civil war and suppression. Then you'll have to hope that mess doesn't spill outward into some ridiculous east asian war that drags the whole damn world in.
Proud Canadian
Civil war in which Democratic forces win.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
People with full stomachs don't start revolutions. An economic crisis would empty a lot of stomachs, so the government would have to prepare for a bit of backlash...
Proud Canadian
Not to mention there has been recent activity supporting democracy, which have been largly quelled.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
If I were part of the Chinese government, I'd start to impose travel restrictions and such, and I'd be trying to lessen the contact that my citizens would have with any dangerous ideas that could possibly lead to revolution. Of course, since China isn't North Korea, this could be somewhat difficult...
Proud Canadian
And there goes the slippery slope of authoritariansm.
edited 8th Oct '11 10:42:49 PM by Erock
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
China's already authoritarian. If they become more so in response to a revolution, rather than in anticipation of one, they will find it much more difficult to handle one. Besides, chances are, the new government would be equally authoritarian.
edited 8th Oct '11 10:44:35 PM by tropetown
I changed accounts.
Just do another "Cultural Revolution" or whatever they called that crap in the mid-20th Century, when they riled up all the young people and sent them on witch hunts.
I am now known as Flyboy.
Proud Canadian
And eventually you jsut get the populace even angrier, especially the ones who were just tolerating th ogovernment before. If you give any concessions, though you end up with what happened in Russia in 1990.
Oh dear god no
I changed accounts.
Proud Canadian
Seriously, read about the Cultural Revolution. And the Great Leap Forward too.
Then ou'll realize why you should neevr, ever suggest something like that.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
I changed accounts.
Oh, you think I'm actually suggesting they do that? Oh Christ no, I know exactly what all that is.
I'm talking from their point of view. If the Chinese Government wanted a mass distraction, the next best thing to bread and circuses is nationalistic fervor. So, they would have to either direct it outward (war or imperialism) or inward (cultural purge).
Of course, if they tried either one, it would most certainly blow up in their faces...
I am now known as Flyboy.
Bread and Circuses, Erock. As long as the people are fed and entertained, they won't kick up a fuss. If the Chinese government did that while a revolution was going on (aka, when they're neither fed nor entertained), then the people would only get madder. If they did it before, the people might complain a bit at first, but they'd eventually just go back to eating, drinking, and living their lives as normal.
Of course, I'm just speaking from their perspective; nevertheless, a stable China is good for the world.
edited 8th Oct '11 10:59:27 PM by tropetown
I changed accounts.
Well, really, what China really would need to do is call up its reserves, go "we've got lots and lots of money. Stay with us and you and your family get fed and clothed."
And then anybody who starts shit gets shot by the content military.
That's usually how successful suppression of popular movement turns out. So it goes...
I am now known as Flyboy.
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
It's only good for the world if you have a vested interest in the preservation of the current order of things.
edited 9th Oct '11 12:13:35 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
Which I do. The collapse of social order is only a good thing if you're in a position to seize power for yourself. The only good chaos is one which you have control over.
edited 9th Oct '11 12:11:55 AM by tropetown
I changed accounts.
I've been saying it for a while now - this is gonna put China in a tough situation.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.