The Policy

[_krose]

grammar Nazisms aside...the second term agenda is hardly clandestine.

Grammar? Are you serious?

I usually ignore such things, but if you want me to provide grammar and syntax feedback, I can. We can start with capitalization rules.

[_Gadianton]

It might also be instructive to read the references you provide....(and note that their score has been dropping steadily over the past 5 years)

"Although Hong Kong remains number one in the Index rankings, the uniqueness of its commitment to economic freedom has eroded in recent years, and any further implementation of populist policies that empower the bureaucracy or undermine the principle of limited government could threaten its standing in the future." (emphasis mine)
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/hongkong

your point is lost....ouch.

So what you're saying is that Hong Kong, the nation where government already controls the full list of institutions that purportedly reflect the core of a Marxist economy, and then some, yet ranks #1 in the world for economic freedom as graded by the Heritage right-wing think tank; that if it should allow more government control in the future, that it's position as the #1 most free economy in the world could be threatened?

So what, it might drop to number two or three?

The broader point is that most of the sectors you listed have government hands in them for ALL of the nations ranked higher than the US -- the top ranked nations in the world -- for economic freedom. It might be that the economic world of Lenin and those who opposed him is a bit dated, and drawing superficial historic parallels, well, could be a waste of time. Heritage would surely like to see most government controls disappear, but, they must weigh many factors, and it seems that when they grade on the curve, that many of the issues right-wing Americans are concerned about, such as universal health care, are overshadowed by low tax and free trade policies. This doesn't mean we should implement universal health care, or implement Obama Care in particular, but proves universal health care is apparently, in principle, compatible with a free economy.

You'd love Hong Kong, Subgenius, because it has one of the highest wealth inequality scores in the world, and i know how passionate you are about rewarding fierce competition and big, zero-sum bets. It's definitely no left-wingers fantasy for this reason. Again, economies are complex, and I encourage you to try and learn something, rather than go the Droopy/BCSpace route of reciting sound bytes and drawing superficial parallels Marx and Mao.

[_subgenius]

lol. That's not the point at all. The point is, a heavily authoritarian government chock full of socialist policies that send the conservative right in America into a tizzy is listed as the freest economy in the world, and is in absolutely NO danger of being removed from the list. So you can keep on pretending you've made some kind of point here, but anyone who isn't a knuckle dragging ape can easily see through your little game.

this is always the best [art of any thread with posts like yours...when it becomes apparent that you are blissfully unaware of the facts and the reality of that which you are so confidently posting: (personally i think it is cool that you do not know much about this topic but that you opt for the more led-around-by-the-nose strategy that so many Obama supporters prefer).


Hong Kong's Basic law is based on the English law and so in general, Hong Kong is perceived to enjoy a high level of civil liberties.

The Basic Law provides for freedom of religion, which is generally respected in practice. Religious groups are excluded from the Societies Ordinance, which requires nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to register with the government.

Hong Kong’s police force, which remains firmly under the control of civilian authorities, is not known to be corrupt.

Women are protected by law from discrimination and abuse and are entitled to equal access to schooling, as well as to property in divorce settlements.

Hong Kong residents enjoy many of the same basic rights as before the 1997 handover, though these are now on a weaker legal footing. While the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights continues to be formally incorporated into Hong Kong’s 1991 bill of rights.

Internet censorship in Hong Kong operates under different principles and regulations than under the rest of China.

Hong Kong has a unitary system of government

http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/free ... untry=7741

Under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy. The Hong Kong Government, financially independent from the Government of the People's Republic of China, oversees the affairs of Hong Kong. (emphasis mine)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Basic_Law
http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?art ... assessment

weird it seems that reality does not align with your "lol point"....wait...not weird at all...in fact, it is quite predictable.

[_Molok]

Keep trying Subby, maybe you'll make a point eventually. The key word in your phrase is "financially" independent. That doesn't mean it is a separate government, which is what you're implying. So my statement about the freest economy in the world being chock full of social policies that send the ultra conservative right such as yourself into a tizzy is still 100% accurate.

[_subgenius]

...So my statement about the freest economy in the world being chock full of social policies that send the ultra conservative right such as yourself into a tizzy is still 100% accurate.

so, sorry...i thought you were coherent.
don't let the facts, like "high level of civil liberties" or "freedom of religion" or
" Hong Kong, allowed direct elections for 18 seats in the territory’s 60-member legislature - with business/social interest groups selecting an additional 30" deter you from your delusion. (yup, them consrvatives would certainly hate to see a business interest group permitted to select legislators without an election)

Yes, so much about HK is an abhorrence to conservatives ...and HK is so "chock full"...all simply because you say so, why bother with actual supporting facts??....I like your strategy of just making up facts and opinions about Hong Kong and then relying on the "unh-unh, no, its not" exclamation.
well played Molok...well played