Who should own the good earth of China – CSM

From a Christian Science Monitor editorial (link):

When Hu Jintao took China’s helm in 2003, his goal became social harmony. No wonder. Riots and protests, mostly by peasants, are up tenfold in 10 years. The Communist Party is now even citing Confucius to try to instill moral standards.

Indeed, quotes from the ancient Chinese sage, who was once reviled by the communists, are useful in reminding leaders of the virtue in taking care of society’s downtrodden – especially Chinese farmers who can till farmland only under a government lease but whose lands increasingly are taken willy-nilly by corrupt officials for development.