The New Beginning

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Photos: Hong Kong Film Awards

Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen arrives at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong actress Karen Lam attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Taiwan's actress Rene Liu (L) and Hong Kong actress Karen Lam present the Best New Director Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Taiwanese actress Kelly Lin arrives at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Taiwanese actress Annie Liu arrives at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Actress Carina Lau and actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai attend the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Chinese singer Jane Zhang (C) sings at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Chinese actor Zhao Ben-shan presents an award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Two-time Best Actress award winner Anita Yuen speaks at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

South Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo and actress Song Hye-kyo present the Best Asian Film award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actor Eric Tsang and actress Teresa Mo present an award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Chinese actress Zhou Xun (L) celebrates with her trophy beside Hong Kong actress Miriam Yeung at the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. Zhou won the best supporting actress award for her role in 'The Banquet'. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actor Tony Leung Ka Fai (R) and Chinese actress Zhou Xun attend the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Hong Kong actress Teresa Mo, nominee for the best actress award, attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Hong Kong actors Aaron Kwok (R), nominee for the best actor award, and Gouw Ian Iskandar, nominee for the best new performer award, attend the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Actress Annie Liu attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi arrives at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Actress Shu Qi attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actress Huo Si-yan, nominee for the best new performer award, attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actor Lau Ching Wan reacts after winning the Best Actor Award for the movie "My Name Is Fame" during the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actor Tony Leung Ka Fai (L) and Chinese actress Zhou Xun (R) present the Best Actor Award to actor Lau Ching Wan at the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. Lau the award for his role in movie "My Name Is Fame". REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

South Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Actor Sean Lau and his wife Amy Kwok attend the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Isabella Leong (L), Jaycee Chan (C) and Clarlene Choi attend the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Actor Daniel Wu and model Lisa S. attend the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actress Huo Si-yan, nominee for the best new performer award, attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Actor Tony Leung and actress Carina Lau attend the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Hong Kong actress Carina Lau and actor Tong Leung arrive at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Hong Kong actress Isabella Leong, nominee for the best actress award arrives at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong actor Jaycee Chan, center, actresses Clarlene Choi, right, and Isabella Leong, nominee for the best actress award arrive at the 26th Hong Kong Film Award Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Actress Kelly Lin (R) presents the trophy to Malaysia-born actor Gouw Ian Iskandar as he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for the movie "After This Our Exile" during the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Malaysia-born actor Gouw Ian Iskandar (2nd R) holds the Best Supporting Actor Award with his father Gouw Togi (L), his brother Brian (2nd L) and mother Michelle Togi after the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Actress Kelly Lin (L) and Shu Qi (R) present the trophy to Malaysia-born actor Gouw Ian Iskandar as he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for the movie "After This Our Exile" during the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Chinese actress Zhou Xun receives her trophy for the Best Supporting Actress for her movie 'The Banquet' at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo attends the Hong Kong Film Awards in Hong Kong April 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Recent photos of Jackie Chan

wearing more Blanc de Chine?

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan, left, and former heavyweight champion George Foreman pose during a promotional event for Foreman's grilling machine in Hong Kong Tuesday, April 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan poses during a promotional event for former heavyweight champion George Foreman's U.S. brand grilling machine in Hong Kong Tuesday, April 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan rides on the Segway scooter at the Spring China Sourcing Fair for Electronic & Components in Hong Kong Thursday, April 12, 2007. Jackie Chan and Jet Li's first movie together is about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological monkey king, the film's U.S. distributor said. 'The Forbidden Kingdom' will start shooting May 2 in movie studios in Hengdian, located southwest of Shanghai, and neighboring locations, the movie's producer Casey Silver said in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan visits the Spring China Sourcing Fair for Electronic & Components in Hong Kong Thursday, April 12, 2007. Jackie Chan and Jet Li's first movie together is about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological monkey king, the film's U.S. distributor said. 'The Forbidden Kingdom' will start shooting May 2 in movie studios in Hengdian, located southwest of Shanghai, and neighboring locations, the movie's producer Casey Silver said in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan poses at the Spring China Sourcing Fair for Electronic & Components in Hong Kong Thursday, April 12, 2007. Jackie Chan and Jet Li's first movie together is about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological monkey king, the film's U.S. distributor said. 'The Forbidden Kingdom' will start shooting May 2 in movie studios in Hengdian, located southwest of Shanghai, and neighboring locations, the movie's producer Casey Silver said in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

PCR, The State or the People

The State or the People
by Paul Craig Roberts

What use is the political left? This is a serious question, not a rant. The same question can be asked about the political right. The question does not imply derogatory implications about individuals on the political left or the political right. Rather, the question concerns the basket of emotions, issues, and knee-jerk responses associated with the political left and the political right.

Traditionally, the political left has had a Benthamite view of government, seeing government power as the tool for improving society whether through revolution or reform. Paradoxically, the political left has believed in Big Government despite the political left’s emphasis on civil liberty. The political left sees government power not as a threat to civil liberty but as a tool for enforcing civil liberty; for example, through Brown vs. Board of Education and coerced integration in the southern states.

Traditionally, the political right has had a Blackstonian view of government, distrusting government power as a threat to individual liberty. Paradoxically, conservatives value individual liberty while tending to view civil liberties as protective devices for criminals and, currently, terrorists.

The political left tends to blame problems on existing societal institutions, especially on capitalism, which is believed to foster greed and private power that is not accountable to the people. The political right blames problems on human fallibility and on laws and regulations that create the wrong incentives and that replace private action with government action.

The Founding Fathers, being mild revolutionaries, set up a Blackstonian Constitution in which law is a shield of the people and not a weapon in the hands of government. The Founders balanced this restraint on government with reformist democracy that works against status quo hierarchies.

Another essential difference between the left and the right is "compassion." The left tends to regard criminals, the poor, misfits and failures as victims of society and reacts with excuses and social safety nets. The political right emphasizes individual accountability. In a world of pragmatists, differences in emphasis would be compromised. But ideologies are different. Ideologies run to extremes. They are fighting creeds that demonize opponents.

Whether one stands with the left or the right, it is apparent that both political factions are failing the country. The right responded to 9/11 by asserting American hegemony over international law and by permitting the executive branch to waive civil liberties. The political left went along with these developments, perhaps thinking to use the enhanced power of government for its own purposes later. Hoping to restrain the executive’s assaults on the Middle East and civil liberties, the electorate gave control over Congress to the Democrats last November. However, the Democrats have not ended the war or overturned the encroachments upon civil liberties.

There can be little doubt that the Republicans have brought discredit upon themselves. The question is: now that the political right has damaged the Blackstonian civil liberties that restrain the Benthamite impulse, what will the political left do with executive power when it regains it?

The "war on terror" has further eroded the Blackstonian check on Benthamite impulses just as Lincoln’s Civil War, the Great Depression and the New Deal did earlier. Our political system has become unbalanced. The Civil War effectively erased the Tenth Amendment, ended states rights and concentrated political power in the central government, thus undermining the Republic. The New Deal undermined the legislative power of Congress by giving the executive agencies the right to make law by writing the regulations that interpret statutes. The Bush administration has used the war on terror to assert executive branch hegemony over international law and the Constitution.

The foundation is in place for rule by the executive. Normally this is called dictatorship. The tendency is always strong to look to the executive for leadership. With elite power now concentrated in a few material interests and the demise of an independent news media (except for the Internet), we face a future with a more powerful and less accountable executive.

Those with agendas will welcome this development, but the fight to gain executive power will become more vicious than ever. The people are diminished as government accountability declines. An important buttress to the power of the citizenry is the Second Amendment with its implication that the people have the right to overthrow a government that abandons the Constitution and oppresses the people.

The gun control movement reifies guns and attributes to inanimate objects the behavioral failings of humans. Events such as the Blacksburg shootings by a deranged student provide powerful propaganda for gun control. Those who would overturn the Second Amendment should not proceed blind to the fact that stripped of the right to bear arms, the people would be stripped of the right and the means to resist government oppression.

The demise of the Second Amendment would result in a critical change in psychology. The creed that government is answerable to the people would fade away as the American people are transformed from citizens empowered to hold government accountable to mere subjects of executive power.

April 20, 2007