That kind of flashy, gaudy wealth is very common in both China and Russia, marx termed it primitive capitalism,and even Deng Xiaoping himself, architect of the opening and reform said something along the lines of, when we open up, we can't keep all the flies out. It is all based on face and a lack of belief in anything else. Then again to quote something else I read which said laugh at the poor, not at prostitutes, I don't expect contemporary china to change. Greed IS the religion.

A good post, San Mig. Some of those little quotes from Mao, good old Deng and co, are quite amusing, don't you think? Have you read Mao's Great Famine by Frank Dikotter? They were total shits and their leaders and the rich still are, but I don't know how this affects FT's and what sort of lives they can have in China? I think we should all take a leaf out of the book of Foxy Poster- I don't imagine he worries much about things out of his control; why should he, a nice Chinese wife, a good place to live in Thinner Mongolia, a year's L visa when he wants it? I wouldn't mind a slice of that cake, thank you very much; makes life in the goood old United Kingdom sound particuarly unattractive. But thank you for sending in such a good post; the bit about not being able to keep the flies out made me laugh.