The massive explosions in Tianjin, China, that have claimed over 100 lives thus far, make clear that the consolidation of power without checks and balances yields not only corruption but leads almost inevitably to tragic consequences. While details remain sketchy, owners of the company that controlled the warehouses that exploded have conceded that they used their political connections to get approval for the site despite violating rules on the storage of hazardous chemicals. This problem is by no means uniquely Chinese. But as with so many things in that country, the impact is much larger and more severe.
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