With the state of the American economy you would think that people would be concerned with other things but no, it seems that they want to know what is causing John McCain s left eye affliction.
At first people thought that he might have suffered a stroke at some stage, but according to a number of [...]

There has been a lot of concern about the tainted milk scandal in China, and with each passing day, the scope of the scandal gets bigger. How did this happen, why was it covered up, and what needs to be done about it?

My answer is simple: this is the kind of thing which happens when the bureaucracy becomes politicized, and government appointments are made for political instead of professional reasons.

For more than 2,000 years, when China was ruled by an imperial bureaucracy, China had a complex system of imperial exams to insure that anyone who passed could enter the government bureaucracy. This bureaucracy was largely apolitical, except for the most senior appointments in the imperial court or on the provincial level. Most were just professional officials, and would serve their masters, whoever they were.

With the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, and with the foundation of new China in 1949, the party organization affected all levels of the bureaucracy. Endless political movements until 1978 politicized the whole society, not just the bureaucracy. Appointments were made for political reasons instead of professional capabilities. Sometimes, professional qualifications were completely ignored.

The tainted milk scandal is an example of what happens when political considerations override business, health and even ethical concerns. This is what happens when government officials are judged by how much investment they attract and how many jobs they create. Then there is a natural tendency to cover up any information which draws a conflicting picture. What should be a health and ethical issue instead becomes a political issue.

The problem now in China is that there is a severe shortage of people who are apolitical professionals, not politicians. How do they fit in, even survive, in a completely politicized bureaucracy? Does the government have the energy and will to depoliticize the bureaucracy, and create a professional bureaucracy which will fulfill the needs of modern Chinese society?

That is the question for the next stage of Chinese reforms.

Bad weather has delayed the BMW Championship PGA Tour by at least two hours. It was the first round of the 2008 Championship, at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. The earliest that play will start is 12:40 p.m.
The public parking lot off Ladue Road will not open until noon; those who arrive any earlier [...]

The nation has been waiting for Sarah Palin to address those at the Republican National Convention; well it seemed as if she did well in her speech. Below we have a video, highlighting the best bits. Listening to her speech, it looks as if she has put the controversy of her daughter’s pregnancy behind her.
It [...]

Sarah Palin was hailed a “breath of fresh air” in a speech by former senator Fred Thompson. The delegates at the Republican Convention agreed with him and rose to their feet cheering.
Fred Thompson really gave the delegates something to cheer about as he also branded the Democrats as elitists. The former Tennessee senator said that [...]

Ron Paul’s Republican presidential nomination ended a few months ago, but that has not stopped the fans still wanting a bit of Paul. Yesterday the congressman was at a counter rally. He took that opportunity to blast the GOP, Democrats.
Thousands of Ron Paul fans were there to see their hero, and Paul did not disappoint. [...]

Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol Palin’s future baby, the daughter of Sarah has his own MySpace page. So for all you people out there who would like to know a little more about the future son-in-law of the future Vice President of the United States, there is no secret file to hack into, just [...]

The republicans have responded early to the announcements that Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol is pregnant. The news of the 17-year old being pregnant has raised concerns to the Republicans, and many wonder what other unpleasant revelations will follow.
There were already rumors that Bristol Palin had already given birth earlier this year and that Sarah had [...]

As we know Mississippi is facing a national disaster, so you would have thought that when John McCain and Sarah Palin would have shown a little respect. Well it seems that many people were not happy at how McCain’s new VP Palin had decided to dress. People have been saying that her hoop earrings were [...]

It seems that the threat of Hurricane Gustav could affect the Republican National Convention. The broadcast community is having to rethink their plans on the planned coverage of the RNC, which was all set to take place from September 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Joanna Burgos, a spokesperson for the RNC has been telling the trade magazine [...]