Bill Gates Kowtows To China. . . Or, "Why I Just Might Buy A Mac Next Time." [Dave at Garfield Ridge]

Bill Gates knows computers, but his economics is shoddy, and his politics. . . well, I'll let him speak for himself:

US software giant Bill Gates has high praise for China, which he says has created a brand-new form of capitalism that benefits consumers more than anything has in the past.

"It is a brand-new form of capitalism, and as a consumer its the best thing that ever happened," Gates told an informal meeting late Friday at the World Economic Forum (news - web sites) in this ski resort.

He characterised the Chinese model in terms of "willingness to work hard and not having quite the same medical overhead or legal overhead".

Gates continued by heaping praise on the current generation of Chinese leaders.

"They're smart," he said with emphasis.

"They have this mericratic way of picking people for these government posts where you rotate into the university and really think about state allocation of resources and the welfare of the country and then you rotate back into some bureaucratic position."

That rotation continued, Gates explained, and leaders were constantly subjected to various kinds of ratings.

"This generation of leaders is so smart, so capable, from the top down, particularly from the top down," he concluded.

There hasn't been this much dicksucking of China since Nixon walked the Great Wall.

What advantage does Bill Gates possibly gain by lavishly praising the corrupt leaders of the world's largest dictatorship?

Could his sycophantic remarks have anything to do with enlisting the Chinese government's help in cracking down on software piracy, particularly of Microsoft products?

Could I interest you in the Brooklyn Bridge?

I know the risk of caricature. I've never been to China, so I can't claim any personal knowledge. My many friends who have spent time there all report back that Chinese capitalism-- not to mention the non-political freedoms of daily life-- is wildy unregulated when compared to the United States. Money talks.

While I recognize that the China of today bears little resemblance to Maoist China, or even to the China of Tiananmen Square, no one should be under any illusions that the Chinese government is in it for anyone but themselves.

China is fundamentally a kleptocracy, committed to obtaining money at the expense of its people, and especially foreigners. They're happy to make money when they can, but they also have no qualms about stealing money when they can't make it for themselves.

China's chaoticly corrupt capitalism is staggering in its scale. *95%* of software is pirated. And piracy isn't limited to just software and DVDs-- everything is pirated, from erection pills to even cars. On top of this blatant disregard for intellectual property-- the lifeblood of Western economic success-- bribery is often the most effective mechanism available to deal with obsolete communist regulations.

What's worse is that many of the most influential companies in China are owned by the government, or even direct subsidiaries of the People's Liberation Army. What these inefficient companies lose out on in revenue they more than make up for with advantageous political connections.

To look at only one example there is a deal pending between the Lenovo, China's top computer maker, and IBM, in which Lenovo will buy IBM's personal computer unit.

For decades, the United States (mostly by itself) has had regulations prohibiting the transfer of high-technology to China and Chinese corporations, for national security reasons. IBM's PC business may not be cutting edge anymore, but I still don't see how this sale can possibly meet the national security test.

Especially when the largest shareholder of Lenovo is the Chinese government.

I guess Bill Gates and others like him think that's all okay, though. Because hey, those Shanghai shopkeepers are so free to make money-- who are we to crush their romantic capitalistic spirit?

C'mon-- It's. Not. Like. China. Has. Ever. Stolen. Western. Technology. For. Use. By. Its. Military.

Wait a moment, why am I worrying? The world's richest man says China's cool, I guess that means they're cool, right? Who's going to disagree with that assessment?

I mean, who aside from him?

-- Dave at Garfield Ridge

posted by Ace at 01:05 AM

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