collective view of society. It's a commitment to social order. It's even the reason that they have TWO words for stealing.

One means you took something without anyone's knowledge, the other that you got caught. Both ethically bad, but only one upsets the social order.

But more important to our discussion is that the Chinese follow government orders. And companies aren't free to continue operating without permission (even the one I work for that is 100% US owned). So, if they say you shut down, you do. And if you don't they will cut your power, imprison the owner's rep, plant manager, or GM whatever the case may be, but they will shut it down.

The other thing is that unlike the US where public officials are spending all their time in meetings, Chinese officials get in their cars and PERSONALLY will visit plants, inspect, and review submissions for return to work.

You really had to be here starting in January. You had to see how the natural stoppage of work for Chinese New Year led to preventing a total national disaster. The ability to sequester a population naturally for nearly a week, and at the same time prevent the movement of the 11 million people most likely to spread the disease for weeks is pretty significant.

Add to that the relatively compliant general populace (of course with hundreds or thousands of people who tried to sneak out, and maybe did, but also many were caught, arrested, and will likely face 18-24 months in jail - and all of it publicized on Chinese social media platforms). With nowhere to go for work, with parks, malls, theatres, all closed, where were the Chinese going to go? Out into the rarefied air to walk the streets so that they could be picked up for violating curfew and quarantine?

It's also important to understand that every living location, whether it's a villa (US version of a single family dwelling), apartment, or shack, all belong to some 'village' or 'housing association' or 'community center'. But with a totally different purpose. They are quasi government organizations, they use retired government workers to lead them, and they promote social programs from recycling, child protection, birth control, and yes quarantine registration. They have community centers, for old people to play games, small meetings, etc.

So, imagine that in my little housing compound of 14 small towers, each with 6 floors, and 2 apartments per floor and 168 total apartments (about 200 families and 600 people) is just ONE of 30 housing areas in the #5 Longbai Village. And that each of these housing areas has a local 'management company' that provide the gate guards, custodial (trash pickup), and repairs, landscaping, etc. This little housing association makes it's way around to each compound, and requires every management company to sign in every family and determine their status. Then they are to restrict entry/exit to the compound without violence. And, they provide masks to the residents for their cooperation. And the ability to purchase rice, oil, and other staples at market prices without leaving the housing area.

So, this is how they did it. Good social structure. One that initially was based on the old Communist reforms, but now it just works to help maintain a little social order and a sense of small community security in places like Shanghai. Imagine being able to manage government, or at least government access down to individual families.

There are lots of things I could spend time venting on about my life here. But it's important to understand that DIFFERENT, isn't worse. People who travel to China routinely will tell you they have never felt safer traveling in a country.

So, I'm practical enough to know it's not OVER in China. FOUR new cases today says that somewhere, there are about 2000 people who are probably infected really. And that those FOUR people came in contact with one of the up to 10-14 days ago. Which means that there is still a tremendous chance this could blow up again.

But the biggest difference as I've portrayed is that there is a different structure in place to help have immediate impact in small community groups quickly.