Perhaps the loss of life wouldn't have been so great if they'd used good construction methods. in a race to become the world's leading producer of inexpensive goods, China's sacrificed a lot along the way. Now, I wonder if they'll rethink their strategy. But I doubt it.

My guess is there will be a few high level ‘prosecutions’ of building inspectors and various senior people involved in school construction. Each one designed to send the message that going forward this sort of thing will not be tolerated. One can hope China will learn from this. But the reality is, there is little China can do in the short to mid term. It is a huge country with decades of sub-standard construction to make up for.

As for the google search graph; it is indeed humbling and it shows the deep connection many Chinese feel towards their country and its children. As NPR noted yesterday, due to China’s ‘One-Child’ policy many families lost an entire generation in the quake.

I saw the story earlier today about there now being at least 4000 earthquake orphans. I wonder if it would be good or harmful to match the orphans with the newly childless. Apparently there has been a huge outpouring of people in China who want to adopt the orphans from this tragedy. I wonder if any of them will adopt kids who were already orphans before the earthquake. I know China has curtailed Western adoptions, but have Chinese people started adopting those kids? My cousin and his (soon to be ex-) wife adopted 3 kids from China, one of whom has a number of pretty serious health issues.

In the 1980's, before WTO, a Congressional delegation went to Hong Kong to investigate the charges that (state run, prison labor) mainland China was subcontracting for Nike shoes. (reported in the LA Times) They tried to follow the trail into Communist China, but the leads always disappeared. The issue then as now, is what happened to the US consumer money being recycled into China, where did that money go? Of course China holds a trillion in foreign reserves, which in a very real sense is money which cannot be spent. However the politicians in China have diverted capital toward growth in economic development, most of which is in the cities. China is a planned, politburo style economy, although Wall Street seems in love with the possibilities.

American labor would never endure the class warfare that is going on in China at the moment.

you guys think china is any better? i did too when i was really naive n stubid governments are that the world over exploiting us all for their own benefit,

china for now is still very peacefull with very very low crime rate people can n do walk in parks anytime the streets n everywhere in safety their children are polite n very well behaved like litle angels they always give up their seats on the busses n trains to older people

BUT in a country that some can n do pay over £500 for ONE meal in top beigin restaurants drive super class mercs n many more in villages just about scrape a living on their plot of land n their only income is the few fruit n veg they may sell occasionally n have £20 to £30 a year with NO free medical care n NO free education is heading for dissaster,

china a communist country? yes MORE capitalist than even america one "communist" official evicted 1000s of peasants from their land (didn't renew their lease as the government owns ALL land freehold) n had on it build a copy of a French palace with a life size gold statue as in France at a cost of if i remember right $45 Million i bet his palace was not build like the school that colapsed

big trouble heading their way am sure the poor are like beggers n the rich who stole are like Kings