Now ---People would probably keep out of that square, because they know they should - for their own health's sake. They have the internet, CNN (the international version) and they know what's going on. It doesn't stop the anger the people have for their government, and they should be angry.
At any rate, Tian'anmen,as big as it is, is only a speck.
No one wanted to be the messenger and give bad news to a new government who is trying to get themselves established. This keeping the news rosy, is as old as history I guess.
I don't think it will be the end to Communism in China. Is it really "communism"? At any rate it won't be the end to the hard central rule, but I hope it scares the gov't enough to demand an accounting from the top down and the bottom to the top.
It is such a complicated issue - aside from the incompetence, and the economic effect. I hope they can get a handle on things -- for the peoples sake. I hear they are starting to STRONGLY crack down on the spitting, instead of just a simple fine. 'bout time!
I'd like to see some up-to-date charts on population ratios of the infected, the deaths, and cures - not only in China but in Hong Kong and other affected areas. I would also be interested in a breakdown of the stats in China - as to their own cities and regions.
Actually, this crisis can be an opportunity for Hu Jing-Tao to expand his power base by purging the Shanghai mafia headed by Jiang Zemin. A lot of Jiang's cronies are in charge of many important posts now. Hu can brand them as incompetent and corrupt. He could then sweep them aside, bring in his own people.
We will see how the power struggle unfolds. It is interesting to see how much mileage Hu can get out of this. Since he is in power only for a short time, he can reasonably claim his innocence, while blaming the crisis on Jiang's cronies.