I’m kind of disappointed that you didn’t ask them these questions but I think it was because there wasn’t an opportune moment. I’ll play the role as a big bad commie boss and try to answer your questions. I’ve actually asked them some of these questions over the years.

-The alcohol culture isn’t a trademark of the party, it is rather a national past time that is practiced everywhere in society but is very pronounced in Wuyi Shan because it’s a small town and has retained a lot of its traditional culture. As you know, my uncle drinks more than anyone and is about the farthest thing from a party member that one can imagine.

-Universal healthcare, in the countryside they have an insurance policy where you pay 10 kuai and get 80 kuai worth of the services. In the cities, you have insurance if you work for a reputable company that pays for it. With a population of 1.3 billion people and not as much resources as the US, we should be asking more fervently why don’t we have free health care in the US? For a country with an average salary of 2000 dollars a year, a life expectancy of 74 is pretty darn good, and in Shanghai and the southeastern provinces, it’s around 80 which surpasses our average in the US.

-Various Freedoms. In terms of assembly, the government says that there were 84,000 protests in 2006 which means they do happen and without any consequences. Religion-people can believe what they want as long as it doesn’t go against the gov. Speech-It’s getting better every single day. I say some darn things about the government all the time.

-Taiwan, same race, similar culture and history. The Nationalists lost the civil war and moved to Taiwan and named it the Republic of China under the pretenses of taking the Mainland back one day. That remains to be seen.

-Tibet, historically a feudal tribute stay of China, enjoyed great relations in the past. Lama temple in Beijing, Potala Palace in Chengde. Tibet’s being opened up and developed and the people are doing better than they were in the past. It’s over-politicized, the government is much harsher in terms of oppression in Xinjiang and yet no one cries a river over Xinjiang.

Tibet’s a no go, no matter how much people whine, kick, scream, and protest…it’s going to remain an autonomous region of China like Inner Mongolia no matter whether you nor I, nor the Dalai Lama want it to become independent.

-In terms of the route to communism, there’s a line we learn in Political Science. It’s Feudalism

-Primary Education is free for 9 years and has been extended to 12 in many places. My aunt’s school offers free breakfast and lunch and a 200 kuai a month allowance for children coming from poor families.

You didn’t meet my mom’s aunt who makes a living selling rice cakes at the market everyday and both of her children have computer science degrees. If you are willing to work hard, you can reap the benefits and live the Chinese dream.

-Censoring the Internet, I think it’s pretty pointless as well. But if you can get around it, why lose sleep over it?

-Pollution, we happened to spend a summer in Beijing which is polluted, the north tends to be dusty because of the proximity of the desert and the heavy industries. I’ve been to all major cities in Fujian and not a single one of them is polluted. I’ve been traveling around Shanghai the last few days and it’s been blue skies all the way.

-I’m sure you can come back to China anytime you’d like.

-The peaceful rise doctrine is basically saying China will solely use “soft power” in Political Science terms. They will never openly challenge America militarily but will use money, aid, infrastructure to gain stature and goodwill all around the world. Evidence of the effectiveness is that China has no foreign enemies or adversaries except fear mongers.

-Haha, I saw you leave Wuyishan happy and full. Definitely wasn’t any poisoning of the food. Take care buddy!

-joe