MCLC: "people's proposals" on reform

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: sigrid schmalzer <sigrid at history.umass.edu>
Subject: "people's proposals" on reform
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I'm forwarding the following email from Zhun XU, a Ph.D. candidate in the
Economics Department at UMass Amherst.

-- Sigrid Schmalzer

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Dear all,

A few days ago [on Feb. 23, 2012], People's Daily published an editorial
["宁要微词，不要危机"] calling for further reform while acknowledging the
Potential oppositions. In the Chinese context, "further reform" in the
mainstream media means neo-liberal reforms like privatization,
marketization etc. This article attracted lots of critique from Marxists
and left wing in general, the scale of which is very unusual in the last
20 years. These discussions gave birth to a People's Proposal on China's
future development.

The first draft was written by a writer on one of the largest online forum
in China. Red China website quickly edited them into a concise version.
After that, people have been enthusiastically discussing the proposal all
over the Internet and have been adding other things. We translate the Red
China version into English to give you a sense of what the proposal looks
like. This achievement is definitely a milestone in working class movement
in China in that for the first time in recent three decades so many people
are consciously questioning the whole program of the ruling class and
begin discussing what they want. The proposal does not use any Marxist
term, nor does it mention socialism, but everyone can see where it is
going.

A SIXTEEN-POINT PROPOSAL ON CHINA’S REFORM

1. That the personal and family wealth of all officials be publicized and
their source clarified, and all "naked bureaucrats" be expelled from the
Party and the government. (“Naked bureaucrats” refer to those officials
whose family lives in developed countries and whose assets have been
transferred abroad, leaving nothing but him/herself in China.)

 
2. That the National Congress concretely exercises its legislative and
monitory function, comprehensively review the economic policies
implemented by the state council, and defend our national economic
security.  

 
3. That the existing pension plans be consolidated and retirees be treated
equally regardless of sector and rank.

 
4. That elementary and secondary education be provided free of charge
throughout the country; compensation for rural teachers be substantially
raised and educational resources be allocated on equal terms across urban
and rural areas; and the state assume the responsibility of raising and
educating vagrant youth.

 
5. That the charges of higher education be lowered, and public higher
education gradually become fully public-funded and free of charge.

 
6. That the proportion of state expenditure on education be increased to
and beyond international average level.

 
7. That the price and charge of basic and critical medicines and medical
services be managed by the state in an open and planned manner; the price
of all medical services and medicines should be determined and enforced by
the state in view of social demand and actual cost of production.

 
8. That heavy progressive real estate taxes be levied on owners of two or
more residential housings, so as to alleviate severe financial inequality
and improve housing availability.

 
9. That a nation-wide anti-corruption online platform be established,
where all PRC citizens may file report or grievance on corruption or abuse
instances; the state should investigate in openly accountable manner and
promptly publicized the result.

 
10. That the state of national resources and environmental security be
comprehensively assessed, exports of rare, strategic minerals be
immediately cut down and soon stopped, and reserve of various strategic
materials be established.

 
11. That we pursue a self-reliant approach to economic development; any
policy that serves foreign capitalists at the cost of the interest of
Chinese working class should be abolished.

 
12. That labor laws be concretely implemented, sweatshops be thoroughly
investigated; enterprises with arrears of wage, illegal use of labor, or
detrimental working condition should be closed down if they fail to meet
legal requirements even after lawfully limited term for self-correction.

 
13. That the coal industry be nationalized across the board, all coal mine
workers receive the same level of compensation as state-owned enterprise
mine workers do, and enjoy paid vacation and state-funded medical service.

 
14. That the personal and family wealth of managerial personnel in
state-owned enterprises be publicized; the compensation of such personnel
should be determined by the corresponding level of people's congress.

 
15. That all governmental overhead expenses be restricted; purchase of
automobile with state fund be restricted; all unnecessary traveling in the
name of "research abroad" be suspended.

 
16. That the losses of public assets during the "reforms" be thoroughly
traced, responsible personnel be investigated, and those guilty of
stealing public properties be apprehended and openly tried.

 
ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY Hanjiangchunmeng (寒江春梦) on bbs.people.com.cn
EDITED BY RED CHINA WEBSITE
(http://redchinacn.com/portal.php?mod=view&aid=2141)
TRANSLATED BY CHINA STUDY CLUB IN UMASS AMHERST

Zhun Xu
www.puluo.org <http://www.puluo.org/>
Department of Economics
University of Massachusetts Amherst