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Was China ever really a communist state? What's communist and isn't needs to be defined by what happens in reality, instead of being defined by comparing it to
by HumanDrivenDev 9y ago
Was China ever really a communist state?
What's communist and isn't needs to be defined by what happens in reality, instead of being defined by comparing it to the kindest interpretation of a utopian ideology. One might also tiresomely argue that Nazi Germany wasn't really fascist, given how radically it departed from Mussolini fantasies of a fascist state, or even Hitlers own fantasies of a thousand year Reich. But we don't, because at this stage it's tiresome. Communism is no different.
- mirimir 9y agoFor both Confucianism and communism, farmers/workers are the core of society. However, communism is, in theory, fundamentally democratic. With collective decision making. Conversely, Confucianism emphasizes loyalty and deference to wise authorities. Which does China most resemble?
- HumanDrivenDev 9y agoAgain what communism is 'in theory' is neither interesting nor relevant to reality. Say what you will about fascists, but at least I've never heard them say "Yeah but Nazi Germany wasn't real National Socialism".
- mirimir 9y agoWell, maybe that's just because there aren't many real fascists around these days. Or rather, that they use other labels, to avoid negative associations. I believe that just about all national governments are in fact kleptocracies. The powerful veil themselves in whatever ideology that's required. There are some idealists, of course. Especially at lower levels. But systems reward those who shed their ideals, and play the game.
- HumanDrivenDev 9y ago> Well, maybe that's just because there aren't many real fascists around these days. Or rather, that they use other labels, to avoid negative associations. Is there any evidence of this? I hear it a lot, but it seems like nothing more then left-wing McCarthyism. What's the far-right version of a pinko?