Something a bit off topic before everyone starts gorging on the potential Pelosi visit.

In talks with several mainland folks recently, it struck me that everyone, unprompted, mentioned that people think that Xi is an absolute nutter; is destroying the economy; that zero-covid is a joke; and the "shame it's Abe" talk was much more intense offline. This is over a WeChat "international" call.

I'm wondering, what you guys think of that? Does it really matter? Would it have any effect on Xi? Is there a tangible pressure for Xi to get himself straight? Would it affect the Politburo SC shuffles in Oct?

Or the people in the people's republic, even the higher stratas, the well-off and the educated, have absolutely no agency in 2022?