Imagine having someone to turn to, just down the block, who could solve the little annoyances of life in the big city. China’s answer is the “neighbourhood committee”, a network of state-sponsored biddies whose job is to give a one-stop shop where the Party meets the People.
Neighbour’s pipes leaking? Enter the neighbourhood laodama, literally “old big mama”, to help negotiate compensation. Husband cheating again? Let her at him. Got a problem with rubbish, benefits or identity cards? She’s your man. Some of the laodama even hand out condoms (to those who enjoy the state-sponsored right to have sex in the first place).
Think “responsive government” with Chinese characteristics. Like Communism, it sounds like such a good idea: who needs democracy if we can get our every need met without even taking off our slippers?