Despite government efforts to contain it, Chinese villagers are using "village democracy" to gain the skills and mores of democratic, self-governing people.

It is China's underlying civic culture that will reveal how the Chinese address particular policy issues and how China is likely to develop in the future.

Volatile high-tech stocks are more suitable for older investors.

Is there a profitable haven for the dollars of investors who don't have the time or inclination to study individual stocks?