Perhaps, its worth mentioning that most of the 当官的 in China have descended from another 当官的 and if thats not the case, you may want to bribe a 当官的 as a referee. Also there are all sorts of bureaus/government offices in China, some are more ‘profitable’ than others but most offer cushy jobs that pay well by local standards. For example, my uncle in law works for 文明办 which translates directly into the Office of Civilised Behaviour – what do they actually do is a complete mystery. While the existence of a 文明办 may demonstrate lack of accountability of tax payer’s money and gross inefficiency, its actually considered a 清水衙门 meaning that it is a department where corruptive opportunities are rare. As a general rule, jobs at 清水衙门 departments are not as desirable as those that present their employees with lots of oppotunities to extract that extra penny. Other desirable governments jobs are with natural monopolies such as electricity / water suppliers.

Maybe because where i come from you just can’t do or say that without getting your head kicked in even if you are from the government, and as i’m sure you know goverment officials are not there to show off and abuse the power they may claim to have, a proper statesman would surely have err.. 正直的人 (moral integrity) ? and perhaps some kind of prowess in their government abilties, instead of lording it around his/her city with their big head and no brains.

Option #1 nearly always results in the business failing because the new business owners cannot afford all of the taxes and fees levied on them. Or they cannot afford all the various permits and licenses (or bribes to secure them). A lot of them can barely keep the business going even if they didn’t have to go through all of these extra processes.

The crazy part is that the government is very aware of the toll that the bureaucracy takes on successful business and even on rule of law in regards to business practices in China. Many of the documents that I have detailing these failed businesses are from a government department which profiled why women using one of their education programs succeeded or failed!

However, I have to wonder how many go under because they end up giving away too much to too many people.

Why everyone in China today so eager to be a civil servant which only pays $ 250 per month, rather than a barbershop owner, who might make about $ 500 a month? Simply because the former position is at the top (or high level at least) of the social food chain. It is unnecessary for him to kiss others’ ass, except for a higher level official. Even if he must do so occasionally, he can use his social and public resource with his privilege, instead of his own money.

The worst thing ever happens to the barbershop owner, who represents the whole worker class, is neither the endless working hours nor the poor income. They are at the bottom of the society, having to kiss someone else’s ass to protect themselves and there is no way for them to change it. That’s the most pathetic thing.

a hong kong tycoon once told reporters here that in order to start a hotel in mainland china one has to apply for 200 different permits with various departments.

as far as i’m concerned, in china, the government IS the mob.