Groan..

sorry ...

Touching the power grid is generally not recommended.

Mandarin trouble!

That headline physically hurt.... i go lie down now

I've been really impressed with the solidarity and quick response of so many Chinese people to help out their countrymen. There are many many ills in their political system, but the speed and force of the national reaction was much faster than anything I think you would see in the US, certainly more than Katrina. I think this is one of the few advantages to a socialized and central government: when the decisions are obvious (i.e. hurry up and rescue people) they are carried out more efficiently than in multi-party democracies.
The news coverage here, on the other hand, has been abysmal. The reporters for CCTV just asking people "So, how did it feel to lose your entire family?" The incompetence that comes from a corrupt system based on nepotism has also been exposed in many areas here, including the truly shoddy state of the buildings that collapsed particularly the schools. I hope they hang those thieving bastards who took a cut of everything from the highest structure left standing in Sichuan.

NYZooMan: Mandolin Mandarin trouble!

I think this made me laugh more than the subby

/sorry subby, its not a -1 but not a +1

So they kung power their cities again.

ironoctopus:

I also see the Chinese response to the Sichuan earthquake and feel embarassed looking back at how the US government handled Katrina.

But I think the lesson is that it isn't really about how the government is organized - It just shows that if the people in charge are corrupt and/or thoroughly incompetent, the response to a disaster will be a failure. I see how the insane junta that "governs" Burma has responded to a catastrophic typhoon and realize that as bad as Bushco is, America could actually be far, far worse off.

Oh, subby!

Quit trying to Confucius.

erik-k: ironoctopus:

I also see the Chinese response to the Sichuan earthquake and feel embarassed looking back at how the US government handled Katrina.

But I think the lesson is that it isn't really about how the government is organized - It just shows that if the people in charge are corrupt and/or thoroughly incompetent, the response to a disaster will be a failure. I see how the insane junta that "governs" Burma has responded to a catastrophic typhoon and realize that as bad as Bushco is, America could actually be far, far worse off.

I agree, that the organization is not the key factor, just that the way the Chinese gov't is organized means that it's less politicized than, say, Katrina was. And yes, the way Burma is being handled is just a travesty. There's is a regime worth overthrowing. Of course, the irony is that now the people are even less equipped to do so than before. Another interesting irony in the wake of the earthquake is how the Chinese monitoring of internet communication actually helped some people. For instance, a woman thought that there was a plot of land near her house that would be a perfect place to land rescue choppers, so she posted that on a message board, and people kept reposting her message until eventually someone in the Army saw it and sent the helicopters there. It ended up saving many people's lives.

I'd say it's safe Tibet they'll get it all fixed...

erik-k:

Probably also has a bit to do with the fact that if you display incompetence, the Chinese will throw your ass in a deep, dark hole. Or just shoot you on the spot.

Old enough to know better:
Probably also has a bit to do with the fact that if you display incompetence, the Chinese will throw your ass in a deep, dark hole. Or just shoot you on the spot.

Mmm, not so much it seems. Or there wouldn't be quite so much anger over shoddy construction that collapsed, even though the quake was heavy enough to severely damage even resistant structures.

They seem to be showing an astounding level of competence responding to the disaster this time, even given Burma to provide stark contrast. Forget the Olympics, if they keep this up the quake response will end up raising respect for China's government and its international status more than any display like hosting the games ever could.

Good on them. The important thing, as usual, are people helping other people in times of need.

I hate it when problems don't get handled without outside help. Cantonese people do it themselves?

Send these farkers to Iraq. Some actual reconstruction might get done.

Old enough to know better: Probably also has a bit to do with the fact that if you display incompetence, the Chinese will throw your ass in a deep, dark hole. Or just shoot you on the spot.

You're doing it Wong

ironoctopus I love Chinese junk food too.

we need to have lamest headline award on Fark. I nominate subby.

/ -1

We all need the Hunan touch, sayth Rick Springfield.

Headline made me giggle.