A controlled and orderly society isn’t necessarily a prosperous society. Particularly if orderliness is enforced from above to preserve the social hierarchy. The result can be a rigid, inflexible society that is more fragile than would otherwise be apparent. Such rigidness can mask deep social ills which would be better addressed early on rather than postponed until the stability of the entire system is threatened.

For all the problems the US has, our society so far has demonstrated remarkable robustness and durability in the face of enormous historical and societal changes. During challenging times, “Know your role; Keep your lane” has not been a characteristic of the underlying strength. Rather, American culture, with its emphasis on individualism, is strong for the same reasons plywood is strong — many different layers going in different directions where if one layer proves weak to the forces applied, other layers with the grain running in a different direction can take up the load.

The Chinese are very much more disciplined than their Russian counterparts. There was an entertainment venue who you saw some youths doing Western style dance. You should have seen the scowls on the faces of the audience.

Culturally, in many respects they are conservative.

The Japanese have a saying: “the nail that stands out will be hammered down.”

And China views the Japanese as unruly!

Long before Marx…orderliness was valued.

In the East, stability is more important than justice.

Know your role.

Keep your lane.

That sober-mindedness makes them even tougher than Russians.