Ask ordinary Beijing people about the annual meeting of the National People's Congress - China's parliament - next month and you get a series of jokes.
'You heard the one about the three hands?' said a clothes vendor, referring to the 3,000 delegates who will attend the NPC, which convenes on March 5.
'One is for clapping, one is for shaking hands and one is to vote to approve the [Communist] Party's decisions.' Or the three fakes? 'The fake statistics, the fake newspaper reports and the fake speeches by the leaders.' For most people, NPC delegates represent the people as much as the People's Daily, the party newspaper, reflects the views of the people - that is to say, not at all.
'The NPC is a theatrical show,' said an unemployed worker. 'No one believes it is a real parliament; the deputies have no power to change the decisions of the leaders. Holding it is a question of face for the party, maybe to impress the foreigners that there is democracy in China.
'I do not know who my deputy is. Was there an election? I have never voted for anyone,' he said.
One taxi driver was even more cynical. 'Are you really asking me about the NPC? Are you serious? No one pays any attention to it. We common people count for nothing at the NPC. They put it on for the foreigners.
'The delegates are chosen by the party, not the people. If they make a fuss and criticise something, they will not be invited back next year, so they keep silent and enjoy a good time in Beijing at the expense of the state.