Americans didn't invent chicanery; they just picked up the ball and ran with it. Moreover, it may be wise for us to think on the following when considering the EFL scene in China:

"What is the difference between unethical and ethical advertising? Unethical advertising uses falsehoods to deceive the public; ethical advertising uses truth to deceive the public.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson

True enough, though, things do often get worse before they get better. I've been witness to the slow erosion of ethics at the college where I work due to the lure of riches and the leaders being unable to resist lining their pockets to the detriment of quality education for our students. The current and general attitude that permeates this EFL business is a foul odor that wafts down the academic corridors with the blessing of those of us who willingly accept it even though we can easily sniff it out. My own ability to do so is quickly waning as I observe the Dean of our college adapt a policy of selctive appeasement - anything to keep us Westerners happy as long as we don't address the critical issues at hand. On the other hand, there seems to be a policy of weeding out the professional teachers - a form of "dissing" that makes it uncomfortable to continue so that they will have a more easily controlled faculty.

Yes, they love the Western sheep in this business.