Should the political deputies' authentic voices continue to be heard only through new media such as microblogs, instead of in the high-level forum where they are physically present, then to call the people's sessions "rubber stamps" would be no exaggeration.
It is never an easy task for China to take forward the principle of "incremental democracy" on a legal basis. One example of this is the progress of a draft amendment to the electoral law currently under discussion to grant urban and rural citizens equal representation in legislature.
Yet it would also be a tough, if not tougher, job to ensure that those elected represent the people effectively by speaking out on real problems and sensitive issues.
Laughable as the non-serious and even ridiculous proposals raised by some participants may look, their proliferation is a worrying sign about the quality of China's political participants. Even more worrying is that some representatives simply jump on the bandwagon to vote "yes" without even knowing which is the opposition button in the voting machine.
The representatives' political naivety, indifference or irresponsibility do not make up the whole picture.
A delegate from Shenyang, Liaoning Province, blew the whistle recently by revealing on record that local officials put much pressure on him to be "cautious" while speaking on sensitive issues like the demolition law.
On the long, winding path toward democracy, muzzled "people's representatives" would undoubtedly take the nation nowhere.
China is a conventionally centralized society, where consensus seems so easy to reach, and dissenting opinions are so rare. That explains why the delegates' courage and savvy to speak the truth can play a crucial role in properly addressing the concerns of the vulnerable social groups and laying a solid foundation for a civil society.
Caught in the "deep water zone" of reform, China finds itself confronted with many pressing economic, political and social problems. Past achievement can at best serve as a morale booster, though at times they may inspire solutions.
While they provide a record for going forward, it is problems that demand attention.
Only when the people's representatives can freely express their concerns and frankly moot suggestions can the problems be solved efficiently while social justice is delivered.
Given the domestic and international scenarios of the "most complicated year," there is a particularly strong case for the authentic voices of representatives to be heard.
Riding the wave of rising expectations, both at home and abroad, China can only go forward when the people's representatives are truthful and outspoken at the people's sessions.
Global Times
