Citizen and State
China has come to be synonymous with words like communism and state control. The image of China is irrevocably one of a state with complete control over its citizens. And because of this overriding power of state the image of the country is, to a large extent the image of the State.
How often does one think of the Chinese individual when one considers the country? One may think of cheap goods being exported at a large scale, and of harsh internet censorship, but how often does one consider the Chinese citizen?
In this respect the Nobel peace prize being awarded to Liu Xiaobao is a landmark and perhaps a crucial perspective into the plight of the Chinese individual and citizen. A reminder of the fact that the country is not all about the state and where one might hate the policies of a state, they have nothing to do with the beliefs of on Individual.
Rakesh Wadhwa. Ever since, I was a school boy, I knew India was on the wrong path. Socialism was just not what we needed to get ahead. Government controlled our travel; government controlled our ability to buy and sell; and government controlled our freedom to move our money. My life has focused on the inherent rights people have. When I was in college, I never understood, what the governments meant by their "socialistic attitude". If people are free to buy, sell and move their capital themselves without any restrictions by state, then the welfare of people is inevitable & hence the countries they live in will become wealthy. The government has no right whatsoever, to point a finger at me or my business. I am not a revolutionary. I just want to light up my cigarette and not get nagged about it. I believe in non-interfering attitude to attain more. 
The Bastiat Award is a journalism award, given annually by the International Policy Network, London. Bastiat Prize entries are judged on intellectual content, the persuasiveness of the language used and the type of publication in which they appear. Rakesh Wadhwa won the 3rd prize (a cash award of $1,000 and a candlestick), in 2006.
1 Comment
Heli
February 13, 2012Amen! Bigger Government is NOT the aeswnr. If we put more responsibility on the state governments we would be in a much better position.