In Which We Anxiously Anticipate the Chinese Duggars

In an attempt to ward off economic decline, China has officially relaxed its one-child policy.  Couples will now be allowed to have two children.  Slippery slope, people!  How long until Chinese TLC subjects us to "Three Kids and Counting"?!?

America! You're Slipping!

Yesterday was the biggest online-shopping day in the history of ever!  And we missed it!

In China, November 11 is "Singles' Day" (all those sad and lonely '1's)--as far as I can tell, a sort of anti-Valentine's Day, whereon lonelyhearts across the world's most populous nation cry in their Tsing Tao and lament their fate--which, come to think of it, sounds pretty much like Valentine's Day, so ignore my earlier comment.  Anyway, Chinese internet retailers have seized upon 11/11 as their very own "Black Friday," a day to lure e-shoppers with ridiculous e-bargains, and this year's Singles' Day was the most profitable yet, with $5.75 billion worth of orders placed, "a record for a single day anywhere in the world, surpassing by two and a half times the total for American retailers last year on so-called Cyber Monday."

So, America, while you were sitting around, barbecuing and honoring veterans--

--that is to say: barbecuing.  And honoring veterans.

--while you were doing that, America, communist China was kicking your ass in that most "socialistic" of activities: Binge-shopping!

Those veterans fought for nothing!

And His IP Address is "Freely"

I realize that cybersecurity is no laughing matter, and I suppose I should be up in arms at the news that the Chinese military has once again unleashed its elite hacker unit upon targets far and wide.  Still, it's hard to get too worked up about this, particularly when you hear that US counterintelligence has been engaged in an all-out effort to thwart people with "names" like "UglyGorilla" and "SuperHard."  The best part?  UglyGorilla's real name, apparently, is Wang Dong!  So I guess UglyGorilla actually sounds comparatively imposing.

What the Chinese Can Teach Us about Capitalism

In China, in 2007, the richest 10% of the population earned, on average, 23 times as much as the poorest 10%. In the United States, in 2008, the richest 0.01% of the population earned, on average, 875 times as much as the poorest 90%.

Chinese officials are worried about this trend. They fear that such income disparity could anger the poor and lead to social unrest. Thus, they have taken steps to forestall resentment--steps like imposing restrictions on ostentatious displays of wealth at funerals and in burial arrangements.

The official American response to income inequality includes such steps as ensuring that tax breaks for the richest citizens remain in place, vilifying unions that represent middle-class workers, and doing everything possible to shred whatever social safety nets have been put in place to protect the poorest.

Now, China has an authoritarian political structure and a popular tradition of respect for authority. But even they are worried enough about popular resentment that they have taken steps (albeit modest) to remedy at least the appearance of flagrant inequality. Americans have considerably less respect for governmental authority (see, for better or worse, the Tea Party). How long will it be before their far-more legitimate grievances boil over?

Solipsistography
"China Curbs Fancy Tombs That Irk Poor"
"It's the Inequality, Stupid"