I don’t get China. From an explanatory note in Great Leap Forward:
This dynamic is reflected in the opposition of two famous Chinese proverbs: “Fat water does not flow out” versus “Sheep wool comes from sheep.”
What?
And, of course, remember that “Generally speaking, the overall situation is very good; even though problems are not few, the future is bright.” Well, that certainly does explain the whole SARS mess.
From the Shenzhen Commercial Daily, July 18, 1996:
Among all problematic buildings, the high-risk group was the “five-lack buildings,” which were built by farmers in the villages and towns without the five essentials: design, drawings, permits, construction supervision, inspections, and reports. [sic. that's six]
…
According to a survey conducted by the Department of National Construction in Beijing, of the 700 million square meters of rural building completed between 1982 and 1983, one-eighth is deemed to have collapsed…within the first year.