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China’s Coronavirus Response Shows the Weakness of Authoritarianism
The Daily Signal ^ | February 14, 2020 | Jarrett Stepman

Posted on 02/18/2020 9:14:39 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Despite China’s incredible economic success as of late, it’s important to remember that it is still fundamentally a communist country.

Recent events have been a stern reminder.

Freedom can be messy, but it’s nothing like the mess an authoritarian regime creates when it fears losing power.

The disturbing outbreak of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China and the communist government’s response to it should be a reminder of the consequence of a system based on state control, without rule by the people and a vibrant civil society.

Many are impressed by the fact that China built a 1,000-bed hospital in 10 days—by employing about 7,000 people who worked around the clock.

However impressive that feat might be, it’s important to consider how dangerous the virus has become and the lack of communication and coordination that could have taken place to avoid having to take such extreme measures.

The virus initially broke out on Dec. 8 in China’s Wuhan province. Instead of immediately informing the public and bringing awareness to a potential outbreak of a highly contagious disease, the local governmental authorities waited three weeks to inform residents.

The Chinese government also actively attempted to suppress information about the outbreak as it escalated sharply.

“That’s clearly unacceptable, especially in light of the SARS experience, when a Chinese cover-up also occurred, and in light of the high domestic and international travel rates of the Chinese people today,” wrote Peter Brookes, a senior fellow for national security affairs at The Heritage Foundation. “To minimize the spread of any potential epidemic, a host country must not only respond rapidly, but provide full transparency to advise not only its own citizenry, but the international community as well.”

(Excerpt) Read more at dailysignal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: asia; authoritarianism; censorship; chicomms; china; communism; coronavirus; disease; firstamendment; freedom; hongkong; ncov2019; protests; sars; technology; tyranny; uighurs; wuhancoronavirus; xijinping
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1 posted on 02/18/2020 9:14:39 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: 100American; 3D-JOY; abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; alisasny; ...

PING!


2 posted on 02/18/2020 9:15:52 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Show me the people who own the land, the guns and the money, and I'll show you the people in charge.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Case Zero was in November, and had nothing to do with the food market.


3 posted on 02/18/2020 9:18:17 PM PST by datura
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Let’s say the idea that any other country would handle such a crisis better is a pure speculation.


4 posted on 02/18/2020 9:19:11 PM PST by NorseViking
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To: datura

The virus came into the market from the outside, and was blamed for the outbreak.

Typical commie lie to save face.

Bio lab, but they will never admit it, even though it is 280 meters from the market they are blaming.


5 posted on 02/18/2020 9:20:01 PM PST by datura
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

You know, I agree communism is bad.

And the delay in informing people to protect themselves was bad.

But I’m not convinced that freer societies wouldn’t be tempted or incapable of covering up and suppressing news like that. I’m not convinced that the countries near China are fully reporting on coronavirus in their countries. But I have no proof to the contrary.

I’m also not sure that free societies, could implement quarantines the way China has. And I’m not saying China has done it well. But could we do it at all? Our CDC resists quarantines. These are our first in 50 years. And I suspect it took Trump to make them happen. And these are small. Could we quarantine a city?

I would never advocate communism. But I think we need to check ourselves and make sure cover-ups can’t happen and that we are willing to act to protect people.


6 posted on 02/18/2020 9:23:19 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: datura

Difficult to believe anything that comes from the Chinese....like the Dems here, nothing is ever what it appears to be.


7 posted on 02/18/2020 9:23:37 PM PST by caww
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To: datura

Difficult to believe anything that comes from the Chinese....like the Dems here, nothing is ever what it appears to be.


8 posted on 02/18/2020 9:23:38 PM PST by caww
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The most insidious weakness of authoritarian systems, the one that continually attacks them from the inside and about which nothing can be done, is nepotism. I believe that if the truth is ever really known about this disaster, we will see that nepotism has had a role.


9 posted on 02/18/2020 9:28:00 PM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrats' John Dean])
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Many are impressed by the fact that China built a 1,000-bed hospital in 10 days—by employing about 7,000 people who worked around the clock.

Not impressive when you consider that it is basically a prison in a box, not a true hospital. Secured rooms that open only from the hallway, bars over windows, no sanitary facilities in the rooms - just beds. It's a place to incarcerate people, not to heal them.

10 posted on 02/18/2020 9:56:08 PM PST by roadcat
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To: DannyTN

Nothing would surprise me about the ChiComs or what they’re capable of, like incinerating Wuhan then concocting a clever headline


11 posted on 02/18/2020 10:17:47 PM PST by jcon40 (The other post before yours really nails it for me. IOr keep people from / PC ing in ver and alway)
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To: roadcat

Not true.

I have been critical of China’s TRADE policies, basically for years, right here on this site.

But I won’t criticize their handling of this crisis. They seem to be handling a TERRIBLE mess, resolutely and effectively.

China does not emphasize individual freedoms, the way we do in America. But the apparent fact that China’s new hospital rooms open and lock from the outside is in my view, just China being careful.

There is currently no effective treatment for the disease.

You don’t want 1,000 patients to just go wherever they want whenever they want.

Not when the disease is fatal to some, and there is absolutely no effective treatment, and nobody whatsoever, has any immunity.

Nobody.

It is to be avoided.

Really. I think that is why. Everyone is a bit scared.

For good reason.


12 posted on 02/18/2020 10:20:50 PM PST by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
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To: cba123

There could be a perimeter around the hospital so every room would not have to lock from the outside. So that is a wrong argument.


13 posted on 02/18/2020 10:34:41 PM PST by A strike ( Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: DannyTN

“I’m also not sure that free societies, could implement quarantines the way China has. And I’m not saying China has done it well. But could we do it at all?”

The closest the US has come to such a situation was 9/11/2001. George Bush grounded EVERY commercial airline flight.

I think for three days?

You are absolutely correct in that Western nations would not do any better in controlling an outbreak of a deadly disease. Assuming this is a poorly designed bio-weapon that escaped containment if it had happened in the US — under any Democrat and most, non-Trump republicans, the fact would be covered up. If it were a demonrat the News media would do it for them.


14 posted on 02/18/2020 10:38:49 PM PST by Fai Mao (There is no rule of law in the US until The PIAPS is executed.)
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To: A strike

I don’t know.

China is not America.

I think they are being careful, and frankly a bit scared.

Rightly so. I do not think the hospital, is anything but a hospital.

Criticize China if you must, when they are doing something like cheating on trade.

Which I will happily help you with.

But not now. Not on this topic.

No.


15 posted on 02/18/2020 10:46:28 PM PST by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
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To: cba123

Locking people in a ‘hospital’ room is totalitarian police state, but I guess “just China” like you say.


16 posted on 02/18/2020 11:03:11 PM PST by A strike ( Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

China is no more Communist than the man in the moon.

They are Techno-Fascist.


17 posted on 02/18/2020 11:10:49 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: NorseViking

Scary
Many are impressed by the fact that China built a 1,000-bed hospital in 10 days—by employing about 7,000 people who worked around the clock.


18 posted on 02/18/2020 11:44:02 PM PST by ptsal ( Bust the NVIA)
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To: ptsal

Now imagine doing the trick here.


19 posted on 02/18/2020 11:51:05 PM PST by NorseViking
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To: Mariner

Yep, no socialized health care, no job security or at least workplace safety, no social security in any form. Disability or unemployment benefits? Are you kidding?
US is about 10 times more Communist than China.
China is a mild fascist dictatorship mimicking as Communist for good press and leftist sympathy.


20 posted on 02/18/2020 11:55:30 PM PST by NorseViking
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