vironmentalists spoke of the "efficiency" of their farming systems and how they used hardly any organic fuels in the production of food for their people relative to some of the other countries of the world-most notably the United States. What they neglected to mention, however, that one farmer at the end of one rake struggling to feed his family kept fuel consumption very low indeed. It was not, by any stretch, "efficient."Matching conditions still exist today. Rumors of the wonderful prosperity of the south and eastern provinces have reached the more isolated-and less prosperous-interior provinces. Those current farmers who would travel in order to be more prosperous themselves are often stopped at the borders of industrial growth and made to turn back. Everyone in China seemingly wants a share, but the industrial provinces can physically support no more drain on their existing housing and infrastructures, and they are finding themselves unable to enhance their current positions despite their economic prosperity. When examining an issue, it is imperative to honestly look at all sides, and not all of Chinas "sides" are forthcoming. The country has indeed become more open toward foreign investment, and in fact openly courts it. China have been known to have placed several restrictions on the multinational companies that have opened operations within their borders, but they are generally not so restrictive as to be prohibitive. For example, after IBM accepted Chinas conditions regarding the true ownership of IBMs facilities and environmental rulings, it seemed that all of the rest of the world wanted to join in.Deng Xiaoping called Chinas entrance to and courting of the industrialized world "crossing the river by feeling for the stones" (The Economist 26). In "feeling for the stones," Chinas already realized economic transformations have "vastly improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people" (The Economist 26)- Chinese p...
