This is the 1510 Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published in Chinese on My1510.cn, with links to translations on the Marco Polo Project.
This week’s digest presents three articles exploring questions of social justice from three different perspectives – a call for improving the social security system in the name of freedom, an appeal for developing a responsible culture in the use of public money, and a description of hardships experienced in rural areas.
Reflections on the social security issue
By Su Shi, 06 August 2012
Discussions on freedom in China generally focus on political freedom, voting rights, and censorship. This article takes a different approach, reflecting on the question of social security, and its role in personal freedom. Adopting a Marxist approach against the tenants of economic liberalism, it advocates the development of a stronger social security system in China, out of a sense of justice, but also as a way to increase stability.
At present, economic liberalism dominates Chinese discussions on economic policy and, accordingly, improving the social security system is rejected as ‘a road to serfdom’. However, Su Shi argues that the existing system actually favours the rich, putting the poor at a double disadvantage. The result is political opportunism, and the rise of the so-called ‘Mao Left’ as an outlet for dissatisfaction, which may threaten political stability.
Social security was first rejected as harming competitiveness; more recently, it has been described as harming private property – the cornerstone of liberalism. Yet, based on his reading of Locke, Su Shi argues that the legitimacy of private property is limited, and should not lead to waste. Also, based on the studies of various American theorists, protecting private property costs more to the State than social security – which can be interpreted as the poor paying for the rich to be protected.
Su Shi then argues that economic security is a pre-requisite for actual freedom – giving people the courage to embrace it. Even further, developing social security, by encouraging people to embrace freedom, may limit the powers of the State, something economic liberals should desire. Some critiques argue that social security would encourage laziness, but humans have spiritual aspirations, and the sense of security given by a solid welfare State would be more likely to encourage creativity, and lead to a more skilful population – as happens in Europe. Finally, a solid social security system would lead to a more rational and humane way of dealing with accidents, providing adequate compensation to victims without an undue burden falling on innocent bystanders.
Marco Polo translation: Reflections on the social security issue
Original link: 关于社会保障问题的几点思考
Taxpayers are not ATMs
By Feng Qingyang, 10 August 2012
This article is a meditation on the theme of ‘no taxation without representation’. It starts from the following premise: Chinese people bear a heavy fiscal burden, with over a third of the country’s revenue going to the government in direct and indirect taxes. Yet most of them are not fully aware of that load, and, more importantly, have not developed a sense of their rights as taxpayers. The government should not treat citizens as ATMs, argues Feng Qingguan, but consider itself a stewart of the public money, and spend it in the most effective and responsible manner. Tax culture should also change, the citizens become more aware that their money should be spent on works that benefit them, and be given a right to monitor government spending.
Marco Polo translation: Taxpayers are not ATMs
Original link: 别把纳税人当自动提款机
Some reflections on rural life in China
By Hang, 16 August 2012
This post focuses on the hardships faced by residents of Chinese rural areas. The author, an educated urban worker, returns to his hometown for a few months, and tells of his experience there. First, he describes the realities of rural life, far from the visions of rural idyll he developed in the city. Farmers are smart, and people have their own philosophy of life, but the dominant feeling is sadness at the hopelessness of the farming condition: bitter toil, meagre rewards. Then, he focused on the question of family planning and its implementation in rural China. Chinese people have traditionally relied on children for security, but family planning has become an important task in the face of decreasing resources and expanding population. Yet, in rural areas, the operations of family planning are first of all an occasion for corruption and bribery – or even practices closer to proper extortion, much worse than the government abuses which urban residents are exposed to.
Marco Polo translation: Some reflections on rural life in China
Original link: 关于中国农村生活的一些感想
All articles in this digest and a large range of other Chinese readings are accessible at Marcopoloproject.org. Some are available in English, French and Spanish translation. (You can join the project if you’d like to help with translations.)
Danwei is an affiliate of the Australian Centre on China in the World at The Australian National University. This posting is a result of one project that is part of that on-going collaboration.
China Heritage Quarterly and East Asian History are two other publications supported by the Australian Centre on China in the World.