Posted on 03/01/2007 4:05:45 AM PST by shrinkermd
This is a lengthy, comprehensive and well written account of the pros and cons of the Chinese economy. One must read the whole article to grasp its balance and fairness but it begins thusly:
China is securing an ever-bigger share of the world market with the methods of a planned economy. Competitors and economists alike are astounded by the country's seemingly unstoppable march to becoming a global economic superpower. The development has left many wondering: Does communism work after all?
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
China is hardly on any kind of "march to becoming a global economic superpower."
The country's economic "strength" (and I use that term loosely) is almost entirely a function of its massive population. When its GDP is measured on a per-capita basis, China ranks something like #120 in the world -- right down there with other economic superpowers /sarcasm off/ like Botswana.
Well, certainly it does if you ignore the millions upon millions of innocents who pay for it at the cost of their freedom and their very lives.
Ever wonder why Socialism and Communism can't tolerate religion? How about because personal morality might compel you to notice the mountain of skulls next door?
But if you can live with that, be chipper and on your merry way, then Socialism and Communism are for you!
However, for the rest of us with a grip on reality, Socialism and Communism are an abomination and intolerable. Anyone who attempts to inflict them upon us need to be treated in the harshest manner possible, which I won't describe for fear of being banned.
Hmmm. It seems to me that slavery worked in many ways particularly with the plantation system. Fortunately there were other considerations beyond "working".
A re-phrased version is more appropriate.
"If it's working, is it really communism?
No 13 people of any politburo can control an economy of 1.4 billion people.
China's success comes from abandoning communism and adopting a market economy, not the other way around.
Left-wingers continue to grasp at straws when faced with the growing mountain of evidence that leftist economic policies fail every time and market economics work far better than anyone ever suspected every time.
China works in spite of Communism, not because of it.
The evidence is clear, even here in the US. The Chinese have survived - and thrived - due to a culture that keeps the family together. This cohesion, similar to that which binds our military, is China's great strength.
In spite of horrific legal challenges in the US, the Chinese people succeeded. I'm happy and proud to have them as my friends and neighbors.
Imagine how great China would be with a Constitutional Republic, a Supreme Court, separation of powers, and private property.
Then, it would really be marching to greatness.
Of course, China would also break up into a dozen independent countries, and pose no threat to Asia or the world.
How I long for that day.
What is going on in China (economically) is not Communism. Chairman Mao would turn over in his mausoleum if he knew what his heirs had done to the country by introducing capitalistic reforms.
Sorry but China put Communism in the past and is now a fascist state.
Sure Communism works if there is a huge free market capitalist country that is so rich it uses the Communist nation to produce its manufactured goods because Communist nations don't have worker rights laws and the capitalist country can get those goods at a cheap price. Communism works if it was once a capitalist country in which the Communists take over and nationalize all the productive industries and bleed them dry of any productivity.
China is a exception in the communism thing. It works in China because the alternatives do not. Before communism, China would see millions die of flood, famine and pestilence on a fairly regular basis (nearly annually). Since communism (i.e., totalitarian communism) the annual floods, famines and other calamities have been mitigated because the government can just decree that aid goes to the stricken areas to relieve the situation. Is anyone actually free? Well, NO. Do they die by the millions, well no also.
Communism works in China because the alternatives don't. No other reason. It wouldn't work here, because we would rather die than lose our freedoms.
I was just about to post this exact sentiment. China is communist in name only. It's a fascist regime that's one part Wild West capitalism, and two parts police state. There's almost nothing socialist or communist about China. America is 10x as socialist, as far as public programs go.
Excellent summation of the evils and failures of Communism. I agree with your assessment of the treatment of anyone who attempts to inflict it on us, too. Which I also will not describe openly for fear of being banned.
Ha, the Communists even managed to screw that up by creating a generation with 20 million more boys than girls.
This generation is just now reaching adulthood, and it will be interesting to see if they can find something for them to do other than raising a family.
I agree, that's a fairly close characterisation. China owes it's internal stability in very large parts to the deeply ingrained confucianism of old. Respect your parents, elders, ancestors and, most importantly, your rulers. Democracy, Communism, Monarchy or Depsotism doesn't really matter.
Also, to characterise China as a communism/planned economy is, I feel, not entirely accurate anymore. The Chinese "planned economy" of today is more like a very large-scale seed-financing fund. State-controlled banks will give large loans to no interest to start new companies or expand existing ones, especially in the manufacturing sector. If the company does well, the government will simply write off the load, at no cost to the company. If the company does badly, the government will simply let them default on the loan. Essentially, the Chinese government gives "free money" to Chinese companies.
How do they pay for this, you ask. Well, they pay for it by having a HUGE trade-surplus towards the US in particular combined with a large protion of their population living in 3d world conditions with no benefits from the central government. In essence, Wall-Mart is paying for the Chinese "miracle"
How millions are in prison factories producing goods for the state?
I have a moron friend who told me after his 10 year stint in college that Communism must come after Capitalism in order to work. I told him Communism is a virus that attaches to a healthy Capitalist host and kills it.
Europeans no longer value freedom. They value security and appetite. And the next suckle at the government teat.
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