Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche
"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
“You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier
"Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas
"Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex
What, no Chinese Water Torture???
How about the guys who ran Chinese Factories and took off with all the profits when the economy tanked in Fall 2008 – Many owed their suppliers of materials & workers thousands of dollars – I bet they knew they were likely to be charged with “failing to pay proper respects to the State”, rounded up and shot – THEN, after they were dead, they would be given a “fair” trial….
“Your winnings, sir…”
Claude Raines Oh, thank you very much.
Anyone still alive who experienced pre-WWII China could tell you a thing or two about the tendencies for massive corruption in Chinese society. Very little out-ward violence or thievery but massive behind-the scenes corruption at all levels–both governmental and civilian.
Good G-D VX!!!
I know you’ve mentioned you’re getting up there in age, and you certainly have an enjoyable crankiness that’s aged like a fine wine, but PRE-WWII China! You’re not the kid from Empire of the Sun are you? I think Brabancourt’s pickled your organs
Even hangings has not had the desired effect of limiting corruption in China. These guys and others prosecuted are usually scapegoats who happened to miss paying off the right people. Thus, examples, both internally to others who don’t spread the wealth, and externally to show how tough the PRC is on corruption. Two birds with one stone (rope).
The “baksheesh” mentality is extremely prevalent throughout the world, especially in developing countries, where most of the labor force is to be found. It is extremely difficult for US companies to conduct business in these areas while operating withing the boundaries of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. BAE just agreed to a 400 million “donation” to resolve allegations. It is my belief that they will continue to walk the line and sometimes kind of step on it. All about stockholder returns you know.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702506.html