Written by Frank Li
After discussing “meritocracy” in my last post (The U.S. vs. China: Meritocracy), let’s discuss “election vs. selection” for political offices.
Simply put, it’s mostly by election in the U.S., but by selection in China. Overall, selection is far better than election. Hear me out …
Please share this article – Go to very top of page, right hand side, for social media buttons.
1. What is the reality in China?
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
For more, read: The People’s Republic of China at Age 70.
2. What is the reality in the U.S.?
America is deeply in trouble. “We the People” simply do not know what to do, other than periodically casting our vote of “no confidence” to elect someone, anyone, very different to be the President – first Barack Obama, then Donald Trump. Unfortunately for America, neither has worked out …
For more, read: Why Is Covid-19 Such A Total Disaster in America?
3. How does the Chinese system work?
China has a one-party political system, with the CPC (Communist Party of China) ruling at all levels (e.g. village, county, city, province, and the central government).
Here is a simple analogy to help my fellow Americans understand the CPC:
- The CPC under Mao (1949 – 1976) is like the Democratic Party, with only the extreme left though. Hell!
- The CPC post-Mao (1978 – present) is like the [pre-Trump] Republican Party, without the extreme right though. Heaven? Not really, but it’s surely far better than hell!
For more, read: The Communist Party of China at Age 99.
The CPC operates like a big company (e.g. GE or Microsoft) in two major ways:
- The “politburo” (or the board of directors) elects, but actually selects, the General Secretary (or the CEO).
- The CEO fills all the management positions by selection, top-down.
The fight for the top job in the CPC can be cruel. For example, in the last run (2011-2012), the final was said to be between Xi Jinping and Bo Xilai (shown below). Both were high-achievers, with each having an impeccable track record of getting things done from the bottom level to the top along the CPC hierarchy.
Xi won the job, and Bo ended up in jail on some corruption charges.
Too bad for Bo to end up like that! However, the outcome of the CPC in-fight is typically very good for China: all the finalists are good, but one of them, who is not always the best by all standards, comes out on the top!
The Chinese system has three huge advantages over a western democracy (e.g. the U.S. or Canada):
- The politburo is composed of mostly very accomplished men (and women), based on nothing but meritocracy!
- Regardless of who wins the top job, he (or she) is a very capable person.
- The party’s policy continues under the new leader. It is for this reason, chiefly, that China can plan ahead for decades, whereas in a democracy like the U.S., politicians hardly plan ahead beyond the next election!
For more, read: Governance in China: Past, Present, and Future.
4. How does the U.S. system work, actually?
Two characteristics:
- For the top job in America, no experience is required! Just be a U.S.-born citizen and older than 35 – That’s it! For more, read: So You Want to Run for President? Just Sign Here. It asks “far fewer questions than a McDonald’s job application“!
- The voters are mostly un-informed or mis-informed! Any doubt? Look at the image below!
On top of that, we have a bad system, by design, with the biggest problem being “getting re-elected ad nauseam” at all levels! For example, most, if not all, Presidents governed for his own re-election throughout his first term, without exception! For more, read: American Presidency: Why is One-Term a Must?
In other words, there is little governing, but constant election only!
What, then, is the difference between election and governing?
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
For more, read: Governance in America.
5. Discussion
Governance is hard.
Overall, China’s system (i.e. selection, mostly) is proving to be better than America’s (i.e. election, mostly)!
Note: Although China has been coming back over the past few decades, it actually took China about 200 years to have finally found a system that works the best for her. Not surprisingly, it is well aligned with China’s ancient philosophies as shown below.
In contrast, how long will it take for America to adapt this time?
In fact, James Madison knew the difference between election and selection. Below is an excerpt from Political Selection.
James Madison (1788 [1961]), the primary author of the U.S. Constitution, wrote in the Federalist Papers (#57): “The aim of every political Constitution, is or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.” The second issue that Madison identifies- that is, the need to get institutional incentives right so that politicians act in the public interest-has been studied at length. But the first issue-the need to form a political class that is competent and honest enough to discharge its duties-has received far less attention.
Moreover, the Romans knew it too, more than 2,000 years ago! It was for this reason, chiefly, that the Romans invented the Electoral College, which allowed Senators to “choose” (or “select”) the head of the state.
America’s Founding Fathers simply copied it from the Romans and adapted it to America. Two informative readings:
- America: What Did Our Founding Fathers Do, Actually?
- Opinion: Electoral College embodies founders’ vision for choosing a president.
Furthermore, “We the People” in the U.S. Constitution referred to everybody, except for the minorities, women, and even white men without [enough] property (What Is “White Trash”, Anyway?). As a result, when George Washington was elected the first American President in 1789, only 6% of the American population was eligible to vote (U.S. voting rights timeline).
In short, America was founded by/of/for the rich, with a pseudo meritocracy awarding the rich (i.e. land-owners, mostly) for being rich, instead of being “for all” (i.e. rich and poor), which has been uniquely Chinese over the past 2,000 years!
Worse yet, “selection” has been almost totally lost in America over the past 200 years! For example, today, most, if not all, Electoral College delegates vote according to the popular vote, automatically.
Good news: America has established, over the past 200 years, the voting rights for the minorities, women, and even white men without [enough] property.
Bad news: America still does not have a meritocracy system for all, like China did 2,000 years ago!
Why is that?
Many reasons!
Here is one: Blame the two “bankrupting” slogans:
- “All men are created equal”. For more, read: What Is The Declaration of Independence, Anyway?
- “We the People”. For more, read: What Is the Original U.S. Constitution, Anyway?
Net result: Today, America’s political system works even worse than it did 200 years ago!
In other words, meritocracy is everything – Discrimination against gender or race is wrong. However, without meritocracy, hugely expanding the voter pool without any discrimination is even worse!
For more, read: America: It’s Democracy, Stupid!
6. Summary
Overall, selection is better than election, perhaps even overwhelmingly.
Selection requires a meritocracy-based system for all, which China has but the U.S. does not!
It is for this reason, chiefly, that China will most likely claim the 21st century, because although initially founded by/of/for the poor, the PRC has evolved, over the past few decades, into a form by/of/for all (i.e. rich and poor), thus making it possible for China to become not only a prosperous country, but also a harmonious one, with justice and peace for all!
In contrast, America was founded by/of/for the rich, and remains so today, without possibly having justice and peace for all in the coming decades, if at all! Two informative readings:
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?), or become a fiddle, second to China!
7. Closing
Once again, overall, selection is overwhelmingly better than election.
With that, here is the topic of my next article: professional politicians by meritocracy and selection, not by election!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the video below.
.
Page Code: $divide1 = “394”; echo $divide1; ?> | Count: $headline = “”; include “/home4/aleta/public_html/pages/contributors/frank_count.php”; echo $headline; ?> |