英国《金融时报》Lex专栏作家Ben McLannahan将谷歌威胁把中国告到世贸组织，比作莎士比亚笔下站在血泊之中而不得不“涉血前行”的麦克白。但是市场似乎已经认定，在早先的威胁并未奏效之后，不论谷歌在中国采取什么样的策略，包括将中国告到世贸组织，它都将失败。
想象这样一个国家：丈夫必须为妻子的家务活付钱，网吧受到禁止，所有问题都用一种称为“科学发展观”的神奇政治公式来解决。
这些正是昨日中国在北京召开年度政治盛会——中国人民政治协商会议——之际浮现的几个创意。
这个政治顾问机构没有实权，但这并未阻止精心挑选产生的政协委员——影星、身着民族服装的少数民族人士、体育明星、亿万富翁企业家、以及其他“群众代表”——就国家应该如何运行展示自己的想法。政协会议的开幕日早于中国立法机构——全国人民代表大会，人大年会将于明日开幕。
在北京市中心人民大会堂举行的政协年会，表面上为中国民主党派统一阵线的成员提供了一个平台，但实际上是一场精心策划的政治秀，旨在给外界这样一个印象，即执政的共产党是一个愿意协商的、民主的实体。
中国有八个民主党派，但它们的领导层、运作和资金都是由共产党提供的。
“人民政协始终与共和国同步伐，与全国人民共奋进，走过了不平凡的光辉历程，”身为中共中央政治局常委的政协主席贾庆林表示。
在今年政协会议代表的提案中，《中国美容时尚报》(China Beauty Fashion)总编辑张晓梅提议，立法规定丈夫为妻子所做的家务活支付薪酬。
有一名代表提议禁止网吧，因为网吧对中国的青少年产生了不好的影响。还有一名代表则提议立法禁止销售狗肉和猫肉。
2004雅典奥运会男子跨栏金牌得主、政协委员刘翔提议，顶尖体育教练应得到更好的培训和更高的薪酬。
但是，26岁的刘翔承认，由于自己的训练太忙，他的提案不是他亲自写的，并补充说，如果他自己动笔的话，会更专注于运动员的待遇。
许多中国人对政协年会不屑一顾，视其为富人、名人和官场人士的交流场合。即便是某些政协会议代表也抱怨称，年会已成了名流俱乐部。
许多代表的提案往往被视为是琐碎的，或者只是呼应了共产党的政策。
一名机灵的会议代表主动向英国《金融时报》记者打招呼，介绍他的提案，内容是运用中国国家主席胡锦涛的“科学发展”观，解决国家面对的多数问题。
但并不是全体2374名会议代表都那么认真地对待自己的政治责任。
“今年我觉得不太舒服，”一名情绪低落的代表一边按摩胃部一边说。“所以我没有提交任何提案。”
译者/和风
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001031559
Imagine a nation where husbands are required to pay their wives to be homemakers, internet cafes are banned and all problems are solved using a magical political formula known as “scientific development theory”.
These were just some of the ideas on show yesterday when China kicked off its annual political pageant in Beijing, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
The political advisory body has no power, but that does not stop its hand-picked members – film stars, ethnic minorities in national dress, sports stars, billionaire entrepreneurs and other “representatives of the masses” – parading their ideas about how the country should be run. It comes ahead of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, the Chinese legislature, which starts tomorrow.
The conference, held at the Great Hall of the People in the centre of Beijing, ostensibly provides a platform for members of China's United Front Democratic Parties, but in truth is an elaborate political show staged to give the impression that the ruling Communist Party is a consultative, democratic body.
China has eight democratic parties, but their leadership, operations and funding are all provided by the communist party.
“The CPPCC has always walked in step with the People's Republic, advanced bravely together with the people of the whole country, and followed an extraordinary, glorious course,” said Jia Qinglin, the Poliburo member who chairs the CPPCC.
Among the proposals this year was one from delegate Zhang Xiaomei, editor of the China Beauty Fashion newspaper, who proposed legislation to force husbands to compensate their wives for doing housework.
One delegate suggested banning internet cafes because of their bad influence on the nation's youth, while another wanted to outlaw sales of dog or cat meat.
Liu Xiang, the 2004 Olympic gold medallist hurdler and CPPCC delegate, suggested top athletic coaches should get better training and more pay.
But Mr Liu, 26, admitted he had been too busy training to write the proposal himself, adding that a self-penned suggestion would have focused more on the welfare of athletes.
The annual gathering is regarded with scorn by many Chinese who see the exercise as a networking event for wealthy, famous and politically- connected people. Even some of the CPPCC delegates have complained the conference has become a club for celebrities.
Many delegates' suggestions are often viewed as frivolous or mere echoes of communist party policies.
One slick delegate approached a Financial Times reporter about his proposal to use Chinese President Hu Jintao's theory of “scientific development” to solve most of the problems facing the nation.
But not all of the 2,374 delegates take their political responsibilities so seriously.
“I didn't feel very well this year,” said one dejected delegate, rubbing his stomach, “so I didn't make any suggestions.”