Perfect description of Russia and China!
Poor people living there… Being fed lies from their media, and basically being rejected the access to true freedom, like in the "western world"... I hope someday they can free themselves.
I'm literally a westerner in China and all I can tell you is you have no fucking clue what you are talking about.
It's staggering how propagandised westerners are. That you can look at the history you yourself have lived through and proclaim yourself as free is proof of that.
I'm currently in 兴义市。What does your Chinese wife have to say about China? My experience is that Chinese expats who have criticisms of China tend to be from rather wealthy families who have issues with the regulations in China. They move to the west because it's a lot easier to exploit the working class, both in their adopted country, and in the global South.
I find that their sob stories about lack of freedom revolve around their lack of freedom to do whatever the hell they want. My girlfriend's brother fits into this category. A millionaire crypto bro who thinks China is an authoritarian hellhole because it puts limits on his outrageous and unproductive speculation and ambitions to be a landlord. That's ok though, because he's able to exploit as many Western workers as he likes, stealing their labour value and "providing" them housing by buying it all up and selling it back to them at outrageously inflated prices. What freedom.
Ehm..
Exploiting the lower class is easier in China? There is literally a very high youth unemployment rate right now.
Why do you think I take my vacation in China? Because taking a cab from Beijing airport to Beijing center costs like 3-4 EUR.
Foods cheap, stores are always open, vibrant night life, and all because people are working so much.
You do understand that if workers are paid less in China but the cost of living is also lower then the level of exploitation isn’t necessarily greater right?
You can do it here with your words you weird little freak. I'm not sure what doxxing myself will do to enhance your argument other than give you an avenue to harass me.
Don’t just ignore my questions. It’s relevant to the conversation and your perceptions of China.
I’m aware that work hours are long in China. I don’t think that’s a good thing. However, it’s not unique if you take into account China’s level of development.
All in all, the fact remains that for most Chinese people, quality of life has improved significantly within a very short time span. It’s likely why most Chinese people believe their government is democratic because they believe it’s acting in their interests to improve their lives.
For most men in China the age is 60, much lower than the average of 64.2 in the OECD, a club mostly of rich countries. For female civil servants the age is 55; for blue-collar women it is 50.
Those damn retirees probably get a full pension too! Don’t they know it would be much better for the economy if they had a 401k instead?! That way they could lose it by random chance every 15-20 years and work as a Walmart greeter until they die like the invisible hand intended!
Jokes aside, that explains why whenever I go to China there’s always lots of older people hanging out in public parks having a great time. I just hope that can be me one day.
A KGB spy and a CIA agent meet up in a bar for a friendly drink.
"I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says.
"Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them."
The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
Yep. So who right in their mind would live their wealth behind, when Millionaires live like kings in Shanghai, as long as they don't voice their actual opinions?
I mean, I have friends in the CCP. Do you know how fucking brainwashed they get?
My friend's wife joined them… My friend rejected, calling it more like a Religion/Cult.
Chinese people feel both that their country is more democratic, and that democracy is more important than USians do.
And they're right
Because in the US, the average person's support for a policy has NO EFFECT on how likely it is to be passed, whereas the opinions of the ultra-wealthy are basically already law.
So concludes a recent study, external by Princeton University Prof Martin Gilens and Northwestern University Prof Benjamin I Page.
This is not news, you say.
Perhaps, but the two professors have conducted exhaustive research to try to present data-driven support for this conclusion. Here's how they explain it:
Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organised groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.
In English: the wealthy few move policy, while the average American has little power.
Oh… My wife is Chinese, she agrees with me. My child is half Chinese.. So, all I am saying is, that there are Chinese who believe differently. Mostly the ones, who have seen the outside world.
The chart CascadeOfLight posted showed a minority of 17% of Chinese citizens think their country isn’t a democracy. What led you to believe COL didn’t think those people were real? Who exactly are you arguing against here?