Posted on 04/23/2024 8:47:21 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Rainer Zitelmann's book, How Nations Escape Poverty, is particularly interesting for American veterans who served as G.I.s in Vietnam or for those who may have lost their fathers or family members in the conflict.
The irony of history is that the communists initially won — however, upon establishing their socialist regime across Vietnam, they came to realize what a huge mistake they had made. Today, young Vietnamese in particular admire the USA and capitalism, as Zitelmann’s book shows. He asked the Vietnamese which economic systems they admire and which they reject. According to the survey data, people in Vietnam have a strong preference for the economic systems in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, while hardly anyone approves of North Korea. And among the younger generation in Vietnam, the USA is in second place.
What made America the most successful and greatest country in history? Two things: first, capitalism (the belief in the superiority of the market economy and entrepreneurship) and second, the American spirit — i.e., the belief that you are responsible for your own life and can achieve anything through good ideas and hard work.
In recent years, these two convictions have weakened. A growing number of young Americans, in particular, have come to doubt the superiority of capitalism. This is a failure of our school system and our universities. Many young Americans simply do not know enough about the history of socialism and capitalism.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
This cannot be said often enough.
it is individualism v collectivism
if the individual is primary
the country prospers
if the state is primary
the country suffers
or their definitions and the implications thereof.
in the end, they’re both about power.
incidentally, it’s said that Viet Nam is sitting on a whole bunch of oil.
We need to prime the pump. Move Chicom supporting businesses there.
Give them the $4 billion Kissinger promised.
The Vietnam of today is still communist, period. The mainland Chinese government of today is still communist, period. The differences is they both realized the communist method of running an economy simply did not work. They are now both a blend of communism, with it’s firm control over the people, and a capitalist economy. With this the peoples of both are generally happier than they were under communist totalitarian regimes such as the USSR and Mao’s China.
China’s goal is to take over our country, that has never changed. Vietnam IMO is much softer and see’s China as an enemy more so than the US. In a coming pacific war, I see the possibility of Vietnam actually being an ally of ours in a Chinese war.
The excerpt doesn’t actually say what became of communism in Vietnam. Young people “preferring” something in a poll means nothing. Are the communists still in charge, with just a veneer of capitalism, like in China?
(incidentally, it’s said that Viet Nam is sitting on a whole bunch of oil.)
It is. I dated a girl who’s brother is a tool pusher on an oil rig there offshore. He’s been drilling there for over 20 years and making a killing.
yes it is fascism
just like china
I travel regularly to Vietnam for business
People there, certainly in the south anyway, are quite pro-American. 15 years ago in Saigon and environs, I would regularly have local men come up to me, telling me they served in such-and-such a place, and would recite names of American units and commanders. Many fewer now, probably because they are getting old and not “out and about” as much.
Vietnam quickly morphed into a “standard” authoritarian “oriental” regime. Its structure is communist, but its ideology is party control, social stability, nationalism and economic growth.
IMHO, Vietnam communism never went through an extreme “cultural revolution” phase that Russia and China did. Culture, religion and society were never put through the meat-grinder of Russia in the 1930s and China in the 1960s. Thus people were able to quickly return to “normal” lives once the Soviet Union fell.
Final note - I have never seen more openly devout Catholics/Christians than in South Vietnam. I visited a Catholic Church in Buonmethuot in the central highlands and saw what must have been 2000 people attending an ordinary Sunday mass. Parishoners filled the church and the crowed spilled out to the front lawn and courtyard.
“The Vietnam of today is still communist, period. The mainland Chinese government of today is still communist, period. The differences is they both realized the communist method of running an economy simply did not work. They are now both a blend of communism, with it’s firm control over the people, and a capitalist economy. “
They are fascist, by definition.
“What became of communism in Vietnam?”
Let me ask the tag in the back of my shirt that says “Made in Vietnam”.
Vietnam, good retirement location?
Definitely affordable.
Vietnam is authoritarian, like Singapore.
The Vietnamese Communist Party is still in control.
Many have retired there for an affordable and peaceful life.
They made a deal to basically allow people economic freedom, as long as they don’t ‘rock the boat’.
Who’s whose hoos?
Haha!
Spellcheck grammar gag of the day!!!
I’m seeing more and more stuff “made in vietnam”
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