Steve Chapman : In 2008, a Democracy Recession

Once upon a time, Americans had the idea that stock markets traveled on an escalator that went only one direction: up. Once upon a time, Americans also assumed that the rise of democracy and freedom was the worlds unstoppable destiny. The best thing you could say for the state of human rights in 2008 is that they didnt sink as far as the world economy.

When Beijing was awarded this years ......