Patriot Media Network
According to this BBC article, the Chinese government’s campaign to rid Beijing of “anti-social” behavior in preparation for the 2008 Olympics is..well, coming along swimmingly.
Allegedly, rates of spitting, cutting in line, and littering have all fallen precipitously.
Needless to say, I find this whole deal to be disturbingly Orwellian (which means, I suppose, that it’s right up China’s alley). “Civic indices” to measure good behavior? Mass-mailings of “etiquette letters”? No surprises here, coming from the same nation that masterminded the disgusting One-Child forced abortion policy. Truly, the planned society at its most onerous.
When libertarians moan about the “nanny state,” just remember this, and take us seriously.