China Becoming a Democracy

[TomC]

Let's look at a similar question: Is China turning its back on communism? The answer is mixed.

China is rejecting the policies of Mao Zedong and the Chinese who tried to copy the industrialist Soviet state, at least in economics. China is opening up its markets, allowing more private entrerprise and less state ownership of industry. It is accepting, with some peasant resentment of course, that these new entreprenuers might cause some inequity among the populace.

So China is easing its allegiance to die hard communist theory in economics, but in terms of political reforms, as we've seen in Russia, China has barely made any sort of change. The NPC, which meets annually like a convention,  does allow some dissent, but anything above, say 30% is very rare, and I feel certain the NPC (both Congress and the Party) is chosen carefully, so that much dissent will not occur.

Also, while state controlled TV doesn't contain any govt dissent, there are local papers that uncover govt corruption and editorialize against this corruption, though I think its entirely about local gov.

[TomC]

 and I agree that the real "dissent" will not occur, not for the reasons you state, but from a deeper stoicism beyond your immediate grasp.  and mine. 

I'm not quite sure I gave any reasons but a summary of recent events and trends.

 but I think I think, as americans are wont to do, you are confusing Freedom and Democracy.  Democracy will not, in our lifetimes (remember this when you are a very old man) rule china, but freedom will.

I don't believe I confused a thing. I contrasted economic reforms and political reforms. I believe my comments reinforce what you say about freedom and democracy. I in fact did point out ways China is becoming more free and changed the focus of the thread's question because I do not believe they are becoming more democratic but are becoming more free. You just stated it in a different way.