Another reason not to fear China's military might

[Jacob]

... their entire officer cadre above the lower grades are basically there on purchased commissions rather than being promoted on any kind of merit.

My wife's cousin is married to a (now former) career military officer... he graduated from a military academy, spent about 20 years in; as far as I can tell he was a competent guy as such things go. On being considered for promotion to - I think it was the equivalent of a Captain but I'm not sure, a command of 100-200 - he was expected to pay a bribe of 1 million RMB to secure the command.

This apparently is completely standard and expected; the military has a reputation of being much more corrupt than government bureaucrats.

So yeah...

[jimmy olsen]

... their entire officer cadre above the lower grades are basically there on purchased commissions rather than being promoted on any kind of merit.

My wife's cousin is married to a (now former) career military officer... he graduated from a military academy, spent about 20 years in; as far as I can tell he was a competent guy as such things go. On being considered for promotion to - I think it was the equivalent of a Captain but I'm not sure, a command of 100-200 - he was expected to pay a bribe of 1 million RMB to secure the command.

This apparently is completely standard and expected; the military has a reputation of being much more corrupt than government bureaucrats.

So yeah...

Sounds like 18th century England.

[Camerus]

I've met a few Chinese in other fields who've done similar things.  The entire society runs on graft and guanxi.

[Razgovory]

I guess that's the nature of one party states.

[Phillip V]

In return for bribe, Obama offered me rank of U.S. Army General (4 stars). I refused in order to maintain my honor and integrity.

[CountDeMoney]

I guess that's the nature of one party states.

It's the nature of China.  Graft and corruption has been business as usual going back through the dynasties.  It's what they do.

[DGuller]

I guess that's the nature of one party states.

It's the nature of authoritarian regimes.  The only alternative to the rule of graft and connections is the rule of law, but that's a tricky thing to implement for rulers that rule by fiat.

[Malthus]

... their entire officer cadre above the lower grades are basically there on purchased commissions rather than being promoted on any kind of merit.

My wife's cousin is married to a (now former) career military officer... he graduated from a military academy, spent about 20 years in; as far as I can tell he was a competent guy as such things go. On being considered for promotion to - I think it was the equivalent of a Captain but I'm not sure, a command of 100-200 - he was expected to pay a bribe of 1 million RMB to secure the command.

This apparently is completely standard and expected; the military has a reputation of being much more corrupt than government bureaucrats.

So yeah...

Sounds like 18th century England.

Yet they managed to kick egalitarian French ass ... 

[Valmy]

Yet they managed to kick egalitarian French ass ... 

When your egalitarian system consists of elevating those who play Versailles political games the best, you may not be selecting for the right skills

[Ideologue]

... their entire officer cadre above the lower grades are basically there on purchased commissions rather than being promoted on any kind of merit.

My wife's cousin is married to a (now former) career military officer... he graduated from a military academy, spent about 20 years in; as far as I can tell he was a competent guy as such things go. On being considered for promotion to - I think it was the equivalent of a Captain but I'm not sure, a command of 100-200 - he was expected to pay a bribe of 1 million RMB to secure the command.

This apparently is completely standard and expected; the military has a reputation of being much more corrupt than government bureaucrats.

So yeah...

Sounds like 18th century England.

Yet they managed to kick egalitarian French ass ... 

I think it may also have something to do with having nearly all Europe as allies against them.

[Ideologue]

Anyway, it's not like America has selected its officers based on ability to actually fight a war.  Maybe we've always had those skills, but no American commander has been shown to possess them since 1951.

[fhdz]

Anyway, it's not like America has selected its officers based on ability to actually fight a war.  Maybe we've always had those skills, but no American commander has been shown to possess them since 1951.

Schwarzkopf?

[Habbaku]

Anyway, it's not like America has selected its officers based on ability to actually fight a war.  Maybe we've always had those skills, but no American commander has been shown to possess them since 1951.

Schwarzkopf?

It's not nice to point out when Ide's talking out of his ass.

Note that this doesn't mean not to do so.

[The Minsky Moment]

So yeah...

Sounds like 18th century England.

Yet they managed to kick egalitarian French ass ... 

The British system was the product of a particular time, place and cultural environment.  It isn't something that can likely be transplanted successfully into the modern world - indeed, in Britain itself the purchase system was eventually eliminated when found counter-productive for a modern industrial army in a modern industrial society.   Another thing to consider is that even under the purchase system, a commission could be obtained without payment if vacancies arose while campaigning (i.e. casualties) or through brevet promotions, both which I think were relatively common during the Napoleonic Wars.

[CountDeMoney]

It's not nice to point out when Ide's talking out of his ass.

Note that this doesn't mean not to do so.

Yeah, Ide's just a bit wide of the mark there, but I think we can forgive him, what with his insistence on reviewing shit movies.