在美國體驗和諧社會 (ZT)

來源: fffafff 於 06-08-19 -----------------------------------------

茅於軾

華爾街開完會，我又來到波士頓，在十九年前待過的城市，我經歷了
一系列感動——

我們現在講構建和諧社會，到底和諧社會是什麼樣子呢？六月初，我
到美國開會、遊歷，碰到了一些小事，雖然只是點點滴滴，體會卻很
深。

一天，我開完會準備回旅館，為了省錢，沒有打的，坐公交車回華爾
街。可是我不知道該坐哪趟車，看見來了一輛，估計方向不錯，就上
去了。

我問司機，是不是去華爾街的，答覆說去第八街。我想，雖然直接到
不了華爾街，但方向不錯，上了再說。我不知道怎樣買票，拿著錢詢
問司機。司機答覆說，不收現錢，只能事先買好。我正猶豫，司機示
意我先坐下。我又試著問別的乘客，能不能賣一張票給我。可是他們
手上的車票面值和我所要的票價不同，交易沒做成。坐公交車卻沒有
票，我心裡很不安。

最後車到了第八街，大家都下車了，我只好跟著下，但司機示意我坐
下。他繼續開車，直到一個能去華爾街的地鐵入口處，告訴我可以下
車了，換地鐵就能到達。這件事讓我感受很深，這是一個紐約公交車
司機對待一位不是故意的無票乘客的方式。

這讓我想起北京公交車的售票員態度，這幾年也有了很大改進。我曾
經看到過一位衣著破舊、行動不便的老太太無票乘車，她上下車所用
的時間比普通人要長。售票員並沒有翻臉，老人下車時還特別照顧她，
怕她摔了。看到這樣的情景我感到非常溫暖，雖然這件事不是發生在
我自己身上。如果我們這個社會的每個人，都能像那位可敬的售票員
一樣照顧人、以人為本，和諧社會有何難哉！

波士頓的感動

華爾街開完會後，我來到波士頓，那是我十九年前待過的城市。我最
想去的地方，是十九年前住過的房子。可是在我的記憶中，這所房子
只留下模糊的印象，確切位置已經記不清了。因為那房子不是在一條
大街，而是位於縱橫交錯的許多小街裡邊。

馬路上空無一人。我正在彷徨猶疑，見到一位老人出來倒垃圾。我正
欣喜，趕緊跑過去，可是他已經倒完垃圾回去，進了門，把門關上了。
我想敲門，又怕惹人不高興。但是又沒有別的辦法，只好鼓著勇氣上
前敲門。老人開了門，見到一個外國人，眼中有點茫然。我說明來意，
問 Avola街在什麼地方。他抬頭想了一下，說不知道。我正要灰心
離開，他招手示意，叫我等著。只見他回去打開抽屜，找出一本地圖，
然後戴上老花鏡，又找了好一會兒，說找到Avola街了。

這位波士頓老人回過頭來，問我開車來的還是走路來的。我說是走路
來的。他就說："我開車把你送過去。"


說罷，他出了門，把車從車庫裡開出來，讓我上車。是啊，就算這位
老人告訴我地址，給我看地圖，我一樣還是找不到。就是這位本地老
人，拿著地圖也兜了好幾個圈子，才幫我找到Avola 街 53號。下車
時，我心裡真是感激極了。


老人花了這半個小時，圖的是什麼？什麼也不是。他幫助的並不是美
國同胞，而是一個外國人。許多人都說美國人歧視華人，從我的經驗
看，這不是普遍現象。反觀我們中國人，能這樣幫助一個來城裡打工
的人嗎？能這樣幫助一個外國人嗎？尤其是，如果這個外國人是個黑
人、是個日本人會怎麼樣？和諧社會不僅僅是中國的，更應該是世界
的。一個國家內部和諧了，外部卻不和諧，紛爭不斷，還和諧得起來
嗎？

人與人之間的信任

美國對老人有許多優惠，坐公交車、看電影、游博物館都享受優待，
買票可打折扣。這在中國也有了。但是在美國，給老人優惠並不要看
身份證，只要自報家門，人家就信了。而在我國，明明一看就是老人，
還要《老年證》。沒有《老年證》，再老也不認。人對人如此的不信任，
真叫人寒心。也許優待老人並不是真心誠意，其實並不想優待，如果
這樣，沒有身份證明就只是一個借口。這種人跟人的關係氛圍，生活
在其中很不舒服。

美國社會人與人之間的信任，是建立在制度的不信任上。制度的設計
假定人都是壞人，這才有日常生活中的互相信任。有一個例子，在商
場買衣服需要試穿，大一點的商場都有專門的試衣室，而且是封閉式
的，旁人不得進入。顧客進入試衣室時，門口要檢查，看是拿了幾件
衣服進去的，並且發一張牌，上面有衣服數字。出來時要檢驗，是否
把拿進去的衣服都帶出來了，因為有人把帶進去的衣服穿在了身上。
有些超市在收銀處還要查看顧客帶進去的包。因為制度嚴密，培養了
人人遵紀守法的習慣。


這就是他們的處事原則。先把人當成是壞人，培養人們不敢犯法的習
慣，然後形成了人人遵紀守法的風尚。在我們這兒，經常唱高調，甚
至於假定一些人是特殊材料做的，天生的毫不利己、專門利人，因而
疏於監管，提供了鑽空子的機會，培養出漠視法律的社會風氣，到后
來再採取措施，已經太晚了。

交了多少稅清清楚楚

在美國買東西要交稅，這大家都知道的。買完東西交完錢，收款員給
你一張收條，上面有稅款一項，說明你這次買東西給國家交了多少稅，
清清楚楚，明明白白。和諧社會就要把賬算清楚，否則容易彼此懷疑，
反而引起不和諧。


其實，在中國買東西同樣要繳稅，只不過沒有在發票上寫明白。百姓
和政府之間的經濟關係也模模糊糊，好像政府的錢是從天上掉下來
的，不是老百姓交的。美國百姓也確確實實從所納的稅中享受到好處：
各種良好、廣泛的公共設施，老年人每月的生活補助，免費的州際公
路，等等。而且他們所納的稅，跟我們納的稅和政府收的費相比，占
GDP的比例差不多,可是我們享受的公共服務卻差多了。

說起公共服務,我最喜歡的是那兒的社區圖書館。我去過好幾個社區
圖書館，有大有小，這跟社區的財政情況有關，富有社區的圖書館大
一些，但不分大小，服務都非常好。圖書館不但藏圖書，還有音像資
料，有計算機可以上網。最叫人驚喜的是裡面有兒童閱覽室，也是兒
童遊戲場，書大多數是撕不爛的塑料書，有許多玩具。前來光顧的小
孩，都是剛會走路、學齡前的孩子。孩子們在裡面盡興奔跑，但沒有
打鬧。兒童閱覽室有專人看管，還教孩子們怎樣遊玩。這樣好的環境
在中國不是沒有，但只有在高收費的幼兒園裡才有，可在美國，任何
一個社區都免費提供。

社區圖書館確實好。

Good service comes from good faith, and good faith needs many years building.

先生:肯定、您會惹來惡毒的「海罵」！國人中「愛國者」大有人在的！
                            半殘餘叟        2006-20/08

這樣好的環境 在中國不是沒有，但只有在高收費的幼兒園裡才有，可在美國，任何
一個社區都免費提供。

Where do you know the money come from? It is all come from taxt payers--property tax. If you don't own a house In US, you don't really know. We pay $5,000 a year for property tax, which includes state, municiple taxes. Some of the public libreries, public roads, and public transpotitions are funded by our money! Please don't give all the credit to US government.

I hope you have heard a saying in America--there is no free lunch.

[QUOTE=d_sc03721]先生:肯定、您會惹來惡毒的「海罵」！國人中「愛國者」大有人在的！
                            半殘餘叟        2006-20/08[/QUOTE]

I usually don't 「海罵」,  I told the truth, at least I tried. If you think what I said is not true, then show me your side of the truth. I enjoy very much true discussions.

For example, telll me what is not true in my above post.

We can't just read any articles and agree with the author. We have to think what he said is true or not. Even if the author didn't intend to mislead, he or she might not have enough information to support the statements made.

I'm not sure whether I have done enough to be called a "patriot," but at least, I use my own eyes to watch things, to see the world, not listen to anybody else all the time. On the other hand, I have lived in US for 20 some years and confident that I know much more than an accidental traveler.

If you are not happy with what I have written in this site, please send your complaints to US universities for it was the re-education, I have received from them, that taught me to search for truth, and refuse to be fooled by anybody else.

Free thinking isn't a strong tradition in China. I hape our people have the ability to think.

[QUOTE=d_sc03721]先生:肯定、您會惹來惡毒的「海罵」！國人中「愛國者」大有人在的！
                            半殘餘叟        2006-20/08[/QUOTE]

哈哈！不光要罵，而且要狠狠地罵。

茅老先生是中國主流經濟學家中的泰斗，跑到美國去，最後的感受就是這個？
如果要寫這種文章，我絕對相信樓上的神話兄比他寫得好，而且很多可親的會員也會比他寫得好。
作為一個普通人，知道 what 也許就夠了；
作為一個學者，應該去努力明白 why；
而作為一個學家，不光知道why,恐怕還要明白 why of why
作為學界的泰斗...

看了這篇文章，充分明白，原來現在的先生們，水準是這樣的...
怎能不罵呢？

[QUOTE=Mythologist]Where do you know the money come from? It is all come from taxt payers--property tax. If you don't own a house In US, you don't really know. We pay $5,000 a year for property tax, which includes state, municiple taxes. Some of the libreries, public roads, public transpotitions are funded by our money! Please don't give all the credit to US government.
...[/QUOTE]

It』s a very interesting question. I thought though, that we would not need to figure out who』s been managing the money from the taxpayers.

[QUOTE=zzyzx]It』s a very interesting question. I thought though, that we would not need to figure out who』s been ...[/QUOTE]

If you know what you are writing, then you should not be oblivious to the fact that some politians subcontruct some government projects to their relatives and friends so that they can charge our tax payers $100 for a hammer, which is sold in Home Depot for not more than $5-$10.

[QUOTE=菜鳥潛水員]哈哈！不光要罵，而且要狠狠地罵。

茅老先生是中國主流經濟學家中的泰斗，跑到美國去，最後的感受就是這個？
如果要寫這種文章，我絕對相信樓上的神話兄比他寫得好，而且很多可親的會員也會比他寫得好。
...[/QUOTE]

Thank you for your vote of confidence. I appreciate it.[:443:]

[QUOTE=空手]來源: fffafff 於 06-08-19 -----------------------------------------

茅於軾

華爾街開完會，我又來到波士頓，在十九年前待過的城市...[/QUOTE]

I remember there was a time when some Chinese sites were talking about "誰在導致中國公眾艷羨美國?" The author of this article is one of the culprits I caught who is 導致中國公眾艷羨美國.

Sir, don't you know what is going to happen when truth is not told, or when the truth is twisted?

When the truth is not told, the readers of this article will think US is a kind of paradise, verything is so perfect.

If the truth is told, reader will learn public facilities are directly from the contributions of the public, not sent by God, not borne with the land, not George Bush works his butt off to provide people with. Every citizen should pay his or her taxs so that government can use the money to do things good for the public.  

Some singers or performers, who used to ran away from their tax duties, will probably realize, after reading the right information, the money they handed to governemnt for tax is used for good purposes. Next time, they may not hesitate to pay for tax according to the law.

If people read the right information, they would expect to pay tax instead of critizing, without rationality, Chinese government for not providing proper public facilities.

[QUOTE=Mythologist]I have lived in US for 20 some years and confident that I know much more than an accidental traveler...[/QUOTE]

I feel sorry for you to have lived in a society you don』t like for more than twenty years. I believe you have built up a natural immunity to the incredible pain in the ass you may encounter on a daily or weekly basis. I have been in the US for years as well, probably longer enough to say things, but definitely not for everything. I pay respect to everyone in the world including you sharing his or her opinions about the country, regardless of whether he or she lives here or not, or how long.

[QUOTE=zzyzx]I feel sorry for you to have lived in a society you don』t like for more than twenty years. I believe...[/QUOTE]

I like this country or not, I know better than you do. Pain in the ass on daily basis? Whom are you talking about? Well off enought to pay a property tax of $5,000 a year and live in an area, in which the population earns 98--99% of the highest income of the country, 2 newly bought cars YYYYYYYY and YYYYY. My zip code is YYYYY you find yourself by some websites. If you are smart enough, you know I'm a writer, I stay at home writing and sharpening my eyes and brain. That is the reason I would never let lies and twisted truth pass my eyes!!! LOL

Sorry: the information I took off here was originally intended only for zzyzx. I assume he had read it. so I took it off.

[QUOTE=zzyzx]I feel sorry for you to have lived in a society you don』t like for more than twenty years. I believe...[/QUOTE]

If I'm always in pain to let the truth known, are you always happy when telling lies, or twisted truth? Just curious, no offense.

[QUOTE=Mythologist]If you are smart enough, you know I'm a writer, I stay at home writing and sharpening my eyes and brain...[/QUOTE]

You were absolutely right. I was not smart enough as if you said. Great to know you are a writer and interesting hearing you bitching about the things we really don』t understand. You don』t have to show me the money and I care less about your personal life. Wish what you have been acting here would just be a side of you. Anyway, we are what we do and we do what we are. Hope someday we have a chance to read what you have being writing.

"You don』t have to show me the money and I care less about your personal life."

Hi Loushang: We were fine to discuss a question. But it's you who were the one attacked me personally. I just gave you some information to show that I'm not having any pain daily or weekly. Quite contrary, I'm very fine and enjoy my life here.

Everything is quite clear from the posts. Read yourself.

This unpleasant thing happens when you take something personally. IF we stayed on the track to discuss the question, there wouldn't have been the problem.

Thank you for your good wishes. I feel grateful.

By the way, I didn't mean I was smarter than you. If I meant that, I wasn't very scientific myself, because I know nothing about your personal data.

All I meant was I'm a writer, my job is to collect scientific data, think things through, and write about it. And I was trained to do so and did my job daily. If your profession isn't writing, I don't think you can beat me. It is the same that I can't never beat anybody that is an expert on laws, engineering, doctoring, or anything else.

To write things people love to read, you have to have sound logic, solid data, and moral integrity.

To say I wrote the posts in this site because I have pains in the ass for 20 years IS ILL LOGIC.

To say 現代中國知識分子歧視黑人, YOU DON'T HAVE SOLID DATA.

To justify Clinton had an affair with a White House Intern, lied to the country and the people by saying "美國政府怕人民" IS TO SHOW THE LACK OF MORAL INTEGRETY.

"...interesting hearing you bitching about the things we really don』t understand..."

If you don't understand anything in the following paragraph, please let me know, I will explain to you, even translate into Chinese for you.

"If you know what you are writing, then you should not be oblivious to the fact that some politians subcontruct some government projects to their relatives and friends so that they can charge our tax payers $100 for a hammer, which is sold in Home Depot for not more than $5-$10."

[QUOTE=丁巳]Good service comes from good faith, and good faith needs many years building.[/QUOTE]

What are we talking about here? If good service comes from good faith, what should we do, pray, to the God???

My experience told me good service coming from tax payers' money. [:792:]

lol, zzyzx I thought you told me off long ago and you were saying that mythologist is your friend right?