August 19, 2008 12:41 PM
Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Criticism
"I'm against protesting, but I just don't know how to show it." -- Mitch HedbergReady for media overload? Here goes:
BEIJING - Chinese authorities have not approved any of the 77 applications they received from people who wanted to hold protests during the Beijing Olympics, state media reported Monday.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency said the applications received since Aug. 1, a week before the games opened, were submitted by 149 people, including three from overseas. The complaints ranged from labor and medical disputes to inadequate welfare, it said.
But 74 of the applications were withdrawn because the problems "were properly addressed by relevant authorities or departments through consultations," Xinhua said.
As John Pomfret of The Washington Post so elegantly puts it: "Talk about efficiency!"
Also: anyone else find it strange that Xinhua, which is state-owned, broke the story? Personally, I think the Chinese see this as a positive story. The red tape is working!
July 23, 2009
3:31 PM
MelinaGilbert writes:
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
July 24, 2009
1:25 PM
Make Easy Money writes:
I cannot believe this will work!