'Four Comprehensives' are not just slogans

Modern America's savviest prophet, Don McLean (American Pie), patriotic and positive, said, "I really don't like the term the 'American Dream' - the problem with my country is that people really do dream too much and now they're getting a very rude awakening."

In contrast, the recent launch of the "Four Comprehensives" - comprehensive prosperity, reform, law and party discipline - will put the Chinese Dream on the road to reality.

President Xi Jinping alluded to classic literature in his launch of this coordinated attack, pairing reform and law as "two wings of a bird, a pair of wagon wheels" because they so obviously complement each other. It may be appropriate then to say the set of "Four Comprehensives" is like a four - wheeled vehicle.

Analysis of what is already being done in the four areas shows astounding results. Party discipline, rule of law and reforms have come together in the campaign against corruption to put the skids under the acquiring of ill-gotten gains.

While it is the netting of "tigers", or high-level officials, that has made the headlines, the repercussions have shuddered down to bribe-tainted businesses that have been mentioned in court cases. For instance, Macao gambling's losing streak shows what comprehensiveness means.

Only with the comprehensive deepening of reform, as well as the law and party discipline, can a fairer society be established.