Oct 26 2007
Is Chinese Apolitical?
I think they are. There are five Chinese Americans who had won Nobel Prize in science, but there isn’t one that is readily known in the political realm. Ok, perhaps Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor is one, Gary Locke, the demo governor of Washington (I first learned this from Uncle Jimmy who lives in Seattle), and who else? Well, I could google more, but it would defeat my point … well known. Even Chao and Locke aren’t really well known. But I’m sure everyone who reads the Times or listen to radio would know Norman Hsu and the eposode that Hillraiser returned his $850k contribution, after they learned he’s a fugitive on the run, for 15 years. Was it John Huang the last disgraced Chinese big donor during the Clinton/Bush run? Sheshi, can a decent and clean Chinese deep pocket come forward? But again, I would think that fund raisers aren’t classy either, they’re easy target for those sleazy types since they can’t be selective at all, as long as you show them the money. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hsu’s business card adorn with half dozen titles. I have to wonder out loud, why the true princes dont come forward? For example the recent Wall Street alchemy turned leveraged debt in other parts of the world into cash that lined those bankers or fund managers pockets .. those guys are well educated (MIT’s PhDs or the like), made partners or MD on WS, well connected. They don’t have to pressure the small potatoes for donation, they could just ink the fat checks themselves. .. b/c WS bonuses in 2006 reached 24 billion. Few I’ve met are all very well rounded, well spoken, but why don’t they?? Too busy with a real job? Too disdained of politics? Fearing the consequences?
As for Chinese immigrants/descent elsewhere, they fare worse. Look at SE Asia, anti-Chinese wave would come once few years, now and then. Their opulent mansions being ransacked, their daughters/wives being rapes. IF they had smart to accumulate this vase wealth, why can’t they see the point to get their hand on politics, imposing more influence where they’re minority? Ok, the fact they employ a nanny for each of their children (this is the trend there) is necessary or one of the reasons made locals resentful is not the debate here. Why would you flaunt your wealth when you’re so vulnerable?