“…the Party seems to view itself as more of a shepherd in charge of moving sheep around…than the vanguard of a rising world power.”
Andy Keller from Portrait of an LBX suggests of the Chinese Communist Party, and the government they run over mainland China.
Portrait of an LBX subtitles itself as “a search for humanity in China”, a search conducted by three foreigners on bicycles touring the Chinese countryside where, they say, “real China” can still be found and experienced. They’ll be on the road for a year, probably more, and frankly, I won’t be able to explain their blog better than they themselves can. Suffice to say, it is a monumental undertaking, and they’re sharing it with anyone with access to the internet.
The above quote comes from the latest post titled “The Party or the People?” In it, Andy shares a few thoughts on how to define the laobaixing and the separation between the Party and the people. An excerpt:
From our experience so far, it seems obvious that the Party sees itself as an entirely separate entity from the people, an entity tasked with educating and instructing the masses, almost like an inner-city elementary school teacher, close to retirement, who does nothing but teach by rote memorization and discipline.
…the Party seems to view itself as more of a shepherd in charge of moving sheep around, cracking a whip when they move they walk the wrong way, than the vanguard of a rising world power. There was one rather poignant sign in the coal mine that sums this point up perfectly: “There’s no need to worry that the road is far as long as the direction is correct (只要方向对，就不用怕路远)”.
There’s a lot to be said in agreement or in elaboration of the characterizations Mr. Keller makes here, and a lot could be said in interpretation and about interpretations of the slogan on the sign.
But…for now,if you’re not already following along (and this kind of adventure piques your interest), this is probably a good time to go back to the beginning of Portrait of an LBX, read the old posts, behold the beautiful photographs they’re taking, and catch up. Go check it out, and maybe even live vicariously »
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Quote: Jeremiah Jenne on What Chinese Fear 
Quote: Elaine Chow on Chadni Chowk to China 
Quote: British Paul Carr on American Paranoia 
That’s a pretty generous view of the Chinese Communist Party. I think the Party definitely tries to promote the idea that it is a shepherd taking care of his flock and occasionally have to exercise some tough love by cracking the whip – all for the good the majority, naturally. However, now some ninety years old, it is like a haggardly old man bumbling along without any clear reason or goal, other than its own survival.
This hilarious-albeit-also-unnerving-article to me reinforces the belief that it’s heading down a political cul-de-sac, despite the economic boom of the last three decades. Without some significant external shock, the millions of party cadres have no incentive to change their business as usual (heh pardon the cliche) ways. They’ve reached a kind of Nash equilibrium of corrupt, repressive, and inefficient society-within-a-society that even persistent efforts coming from the very top can’t change. Even if there are moderate/liberal elements within the party that tries reform, they ‘d never make it past the levels of officialdom selection.