The banking system we take for granted is unfixable. The good news is that we no longer need to rely on any private, rent-seeking, socially destabilizing network of banks, at least not the way we have so far.
shows why the current private system is unfixable – and why we don’t need to tolerate it anymore.
Like Vladimir Putin, China's leader is so steeped in a narrative of victimhood and fearful of appearing weak that it is hard to imagine him ever leading China out of the mess he has created. He could well be remembered as the leader who squandered history's most remarkable economic success story.
about the country's increasingly worrisome trajectory, both at home and abroad.
Artificial IdiocyFrank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images
自四年前胡锦涛成为中共总书记和国家主席以来一直僵硬呆板、捉摸不定,令人厌恶。但是去年,神秘的外罩开始脱落。胡锦涛大肆颂扬“毛泽东思想”,镇压媒体异议人士。这些行为不仅开始揭示了一个独裁者,而且也让国内外一厢情愿的自由派人士大失所望。这些人希望胡锦涛会成为锐意改革的领导人。
已故的中共家长邓小平在1992年惊人地要求前共青团书记和被罢黜的前总书记胡耀邦的门生胡锦涛进入中共政治局常委。邓小平实际上亲自指定胡锦涛为江泽民的继任人。正如邓小平在1989年镇压了天安门广场的示威者一样,胡锦涛在两个月前平息了拉萨的反中央骚乱,表现得“坚决果断”。这两个人都理解政治改革的危险。
胡锦涛一生都是党政干部,他在掌权的第一年欺骗了大多数观察家。他和总理温家宝一个接一个地推出令人印象深刻的口号,什么“以民为本”,“依法治国”,“媒体贴近群众”以及“政务透明”。温家宝常常由于他的行政能力和甘当配角而被称为当今的周恩来。这一政权似乎正在摆脱江泽民的老政权。
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