For years now, free-market boosters have been insisting that as China became more capitalist, it would have to become more free. Or that the Internet would inevitably crack China’s tyranny like an egg as more people used it to communicate, learn and protest. Or some big event—joining the WTO, hosting the Olympics—would force China out of its old ways.

Instead, China has perfected the art of growing booming economy while brutally repressing any form of dissent.

Firewalls shut out unsanctioned sites. Spycams watch Internet cafés. There are cameras on thousands of corners. And the Chinese solution to having a smooth Olympics was to crack down ten times as harshly on dissent—which became easier to do since security companies normally banned from working with the government have been given a free hand to provide extra “security” for the big event.

But afterwards, I’m sure, the Chinese will ease up and liberalize and take all those extra security measures down …

I wonder how many people in our government (and others) are looking at China and thinking how efficient and orderly and stable their system is.

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