The Chinese Work Ethic

Santayana:  “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.”

Slim Fairview: “Those who remember history are able to repeat it.”

As you look back over history, you see the ebb and flow.

The few may be oppressed by the multitude, but the multitude may not be oppressed by the few—not for very long, anyway.

I say this because we’ve witnessed two major paradigm shifts that will cause a major change in the future of history: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the rapid rise in China’s economy.

“One picture is worth 10,000 words” ~ Old Chinese saying.

The world saw the pictures of Ronald Reagan at the Berlin Wall and of the Berlin Wall being torn down, and that for 40 years only One Billion people had been ground beneath Soviet Military occupation; and that the people of Russia and of Eastern Europe liberated themselves.

The Power of the Multitude

What we’ve witnessed in China is similar.  China has focused the power, the will, and the determination of the Chinese People to drive China’s Capital Investment, Economic Development, and Growth.  The Chinese People have liberated themselves (and others) from the shackles of poverty.

We Are Slow to Catch On

“When people work for themselves, they benefit the group.  When people work for the group, they benefit no one.”  ~ Slim Fairview.

• Pilgrim leaders learned it.

• Soviet leaders did not

• Chinese leaders certainly understand it

          &

• South Korea speaks for itself!

History

In the mid 1800s, America used what was then called Chinese coolie labour to build the Trans-Continental Railroad:  Chinese workers building an American railroad in America for the American people.  Now, Chinese workers are building a Chinese railroad in China for the Chinese people—for themselves!

By transforming China’s economy into a free-market style economy, Chinese leaders are recapitulating what we once referred to as The Protestant Work Ethic; or, if you prefer, the American Work Ethic.  Now? The Chinese Work ethic; or, if you prefer, the Asian Work Ethic.  It is still the same thing.

• Post WW II Japan

• China since Nixon’s Overture in Asia Major

• South Korea

Now, What about Russia?  Mr. Putin is transforming Russia.  And, in so doing, he is establishing a template for Emerging Nations.

Mr. Putin will continue with his Economic Theatre of Operation; Visible Hand, and B-School Strategic Planning. And he will do it successfully.

Emerging Nations will embrace the template being established by Mr. Putin.

China, Russia, and Emerging Nations will succeed because China, Russia, and Emerging Nations will…Do as we did and Not as we say.

Call it the Chinese work ethic if you will, or the protestant work ethic if you won’t, just don’t go off topic.

Warmest regards, 

Slim

Slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2014  Robert Asken as Slim Fairview

All rights reserved.