The banner reads, "Carry out 'The Eight Honors, The Eight Shames', the idea of honor and disgrace. Protect the progressive character of Communist Party members." It's marginally less awkward in Chinese. This gem is part of a campaign to eliminate corruption. The Commies are always launching new anti-corruption campaigns, which should tell you how effective they are. In fact corruption is endemic to one party dictatorships and China is no exception. With the Party firmly in charge of the agencies which investigate corruption, the police and the courts, campaigns amount to the left hand thoroughly washing off the right hand. Some mid level cadre crooks are sent away and occasionally a senior leader takes a spectacular fall, while sleazy business as usual continues for most. Journalists or citizens who try to blow the whistle on corrupt officials, especially high level officials, are likely to find themselves in trouble for "crimes" like "threatening social stability" or - my favorite - "revealing state secrets". No wonder nobody is paying attention to the silly slogan. |