tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post4236045284667186760..comments2024-02-26T00:59:26.907-08:00Comments on Ana the Imp: A Tale of Two CitiesAnastasia F-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-38164257523124928752011-10-20T16:27:11.149-07:002011-10-20T16:27:11.149-07:00Thanks, Yunyi. China fascinates me, its history, ...Thanks, Yunyi. China fascinates me, its history, its culture and its politics fascinate me.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-4284162694395416952011-10-19T17:17:48.930-07:002011-10-19T17:17:48.930-07:00Very interesting comparison Ana! And yes, the Chin...Very interesting comparison Ana! And yes, the China today's situation is millions times worse than Dickens' time! I like what Calvin said about "human capital". I bet it is not that government doesn't know about it's value, but they prefer put money on buildings/technique and let education stay poor so they could continue to exploit the majority.Yun Yihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06311104014692132715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-38012536329333540222011-10-09T15:52:13.373-07:002011-10-09T15:52:13.373-07:00Calvin, like Holly Golightly? :-) I take it you a...Calvin, like Holly Golightly? :-) I take it you are on vacation?<br /><br />Yes, you are absolutely right about that, and as the nineteenth century progressed there were substantial improvements in the condition of the working classes. It looks as if the Chinese sub-class are a permanent feature of the system, like slaves or serfs.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-19537815252781539932011-10-07T10:15:19.265-07:002011-10-07T10:15:19.265-07:00I'm traveling, Ana, so my comments must be bri...I'm traveling, Ana, so my comments must be brief.<br /><br />The difference between the two cities and their times is that in London in the 1840s the grim circumstances of the underclass were the result of temporary dislocation and rapid change . . . for the better. But in the Chinese cities of today, the maintenance of an underclass is a deliberate expression of government policy favouring buildings and infrastructure over people. The regime just does not recognize that human capital is infinitely more valuable than bricks and mortar. But this is an inescapable component of tyranny.Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640148105202971907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-28292812477167098132011-10-06T16:20:20.810-07:002011-10-06T16:20:20.810-07:00Nada, thank you and a big warm welcome to my world...Nada, thank you and a big warm welcome to my world. :-)Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-32719985679536196952011-10-06T14:57:48.362-07:002011-10-06T14:57:48.362-07:00This is so insightful. I love the analogy and the ...This is so insightful. I love the analogy and the way you hook the reader by immersing them first in the sights, sounds, and emotions of the protagonist before revealing the shocking truth. This isn't the side of China that we normally read about, and I'm glad to have read this.Kimberly Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10169564498218640557noreply@blogger.com