[gattis]

Well, politicking is mostly a waste of time, but here we have a rare chance to dialog with someone brainwashed by a truly corrupt and malignant ruling party with absolute power, and show them what free-thinking is all about. Personally, I would have taken the shot. The whole point of opening up to trade with China was the hope that the exposure would have influence on their people and that democratic ideas would win out in the end. I don't think we should shy away from this kind of confrontation.

[mcphage]

> The whole point of opening up to trade with China was the hope that the exposure would have influence on their people and that democratic ideas would win out in the end.

That was one of the many really terrible ideas that we've had. In the US we say "It's the Economy, Stupid" to represent the idea that, when the economy is doing well, people are happy with the government. And then we helped give China decades of incredible economic growth, but somehow expected that the result would be Chinese citizens being unhappy with their government?!