“And only a fool or a fellow traveler suggests otherwise. “
This kind of argument just stinks.
What you are describing is fascism. That is, state directed private ownership with a military/nationalistic twist. Communism typically disallows private investment, especially from foreign nationals ie US outsourcing.
Democrats?
Beat me to it.
you don't suppose it might be because they're still a bunch of f'in Commies do you? No ethics, no morals, the State remains supreme over the individual? Yeah, that's Communism.
That's the practical reality that Commnuism inevitably brings. The author is noting that those in power in the CCP are using capitalistic economic principles, not communist economic principles, to continue to hold their position. It's a valid and interesting point... made even more intriguing since China refuses to say it openly, and calls their policies "Chinese Socialism", LOL.
I have been delighted to have extended conversations with numerous CCP members (especially over copious amounts of beer), and they are almost universal in their defense of communist economic principles... up until the liquor brings out the truth. They're not stupid. They tell me that Communism hasn't worked anywhere, and it is not the path to a successful nation. However, that's the party in power (by law, as written in their Constitution), and so one can have a better life for their families and heirs simply by pretending. For most, it's an easy choice, especially coming from parents who likely lived hand-to-mouth when they were children.
The CCP knows that they are one large riot away from having their position truly endangered. Tiannenmen Square in 1988 scared them witless, and was the reason they reacted so... poorly. Although we don't hear much about it outside of China, there are near-DAILY riots in China even now. The economic explosion has not reached the rural areas, but news of the lifestyle that Chinese in the cities enjoy certainly has. In a supposedly fair and communal system, this doesn't come as welcome news. With only 2 million soldiers, 25 million non-believing members with paper=thin loyalty (and probably only a cadre of hard-core believers numbering only 200,000), it would only take a coordinated uprising of only 2% of the population to put them in true jeopardy. (2% of 1.3 billion is about 26 million). That's a major reason why China is so suspicious of religion... any organization that can motivate people in numbers represents real danger to their supremacy!
“No ethics, no morals, the State remains supreme over the individual?”
Kind of sounds like DC. :)