Wu Guangqiang

    IN a program produced by Nanchang TV Station marking the 29th World Consumer Rights Day, a female official from the Nanchang health bureau, identified as Zhang, lost her temper when challenged by a lawyer.

    The debate centered on the crackdown on doctor decoys — those who cheat patients visiting public hospitals into patronizing private hospitals, often deceptive ones. When the lawyer was questioning the official if the health authorities had exercised proper supervision, she blew up, accusing the lawyer of being ignorant of the law. Not giving in, the lawyer was equally as insolent, rebutting the official with the f-word. For this reason, a civilized dialogue ended in a vulgar manner.

    That said, the official should not have stooped to flaring up in public. Like many other officials, she could not stand being challenged since she regarded herself as a representative of truth and authority.

    Some muddle-headed officials equate themselves with the leadership of the Party and turn their backs on the people. One of the most notorious cases concerns Lu Jun, vice chief of the bureau of urban planning of Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan Province.

    On June 17, 2009, when a reporter from CCTV asked Lu why land intended for construction of affordable housing had been used for a villa, Lu asked back: “Are you speaking for the Party or for the common people?”

    Lu’s arrogant response immediately backfired. A commentary in the People’s Daily delivered stern criticism to a handful of cadres who “harbor an erroneous assumption that the power in their hands was delegated to them by higher authorities and that the power had nothing to do with the people. So all they do is sycophantically pander to their superiors and seek to climb the ladder of officialdom by networking while being dismissive and cold toward the common people.”

    In fact, Lu is not alone. Lin Jiaxiang, former Party chief of the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, in a squabble with other diners after his meal in a restaurant in Shenzhen, obviously drunk, shouted: “Do you know who I am? I am ranked as high as your mayor! How dare you challenge me?”

    People across the country hail the statement made by President Hu Jintao, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, about the exercise of power of the Party and the government. He said that the Party and the government must use their power for the people, have affection for the people and work for the well-being of the people. But why do many officials turn a deaf ear to such a popular call?

    Again, it’s due to a lack of an effective mechanism to ensure strict selection of qualified and humble officials and close oversight of the officials’ conduct. Examining those high-handed officials, we can find one thing in common: they have had little supervision and restriction. So the best way to clear away bureaucracy is put a bridle on the power, which, if unchecked, will lead to autocracy and corruption. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    (The author is an English tutor and a freelance writer. He can be reached at jw368@163.com.)