Despite the challenges, the poverty relief program may have a long-term political benefit that helps to ensure some of it survives. Gratitude for the program seems to be reinforcing the political power of the party in rural areas.

In Youfang, Mr. Zhang was quick to praise not just the poverty program but also Mr. Xi, comparing him to Mao.

parenti

[–] DefinitelyNotAPhone@hexbear.net 49 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I love the open incredulity that the government would do things to help people and being popular as a result is the entire point rather than some nebulous cronyism.

[–] SacredExcrement@hexbear.net 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"They only pretend to love the government because of 10 billion secret police monitoring them"

- reddit-logo

[–] Darth_Reagan@hexbear.net 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Government bureaucrats shouldn't approach governance materialistically, where they put forward programs that help the people and in return the people show support for the government. A sort of mutualistic relationship between government and citizen. No, they must operate under ideas that mean whatever the people in charge want them to mean and expect the people to fall in lines with their choices because its the right thing to do.

[–] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

It's more expensive than simply forcing kids to pledge allegiance every day and simply telling them they live in the greatest country in the world in every form of media.

And because it's more expensive, it's bad

[–] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

matt-jokerfied