China: CCP extends control of Chinese private sector

[Wondering Beard]

Theyrehave been taking notes for decades.

fify

[RoyGBiv]

Don't look at the action, look for the reason.

Growing wealth leads to growing demand for freedom.

This is an authoritarian government reaction.

Will be interesting to see where it goes. WAY too early for it to turn bloody, IMHO.

[DDTSGM]

Perceptive view, me thinks.

[Hot Sauce]

Don't look at the action, look for the reason.

Growing wealth leads to growing demand for freedom.

That's was the hope and theory, but in practice that has not happened in China.

[RoyGBiv]

That's was the hope and theory, but in practice that has not happened in China.

Give it time. Perhaps a lifetime or two.

It's inevitable.

[TAZ]

Don't look at the action, look for the reason.

Growing wealth leads to growing demand for freedom.

This is an authoritarian government reaction.

Will be interesting to see where it goes. WAY too early for it to turn bloody, IMHO.

My initial thoughts were:

1. Covid slowdown and folks finding alternative sources of supply are having an effect that needs to be dealt with. The CCP needs to insure their slaves are the cheapest so folks flock back.

2. The wealthy are getting too big for their britches and the CCP needs to make sure folks understand where they stand in the pecking order.

But I’m not too familiar with how things really work there, so it’s all WAG.

[Baldanders]

So basically, perfecting fascism.

The Nazis were much more about "working with loyal businesses" (up to the point of providing slave labor) than tight control of the individual businesses. And they saw industry as the backbone of a strong military and nation.

Whereas the CCP sees the battle between companies over the market as THE STRUGGLE to be won. By companies they ultimately control.

It does a disservice to the CCP to think they are no more sophisticated than 30s-40s era fascists. Hell, fascists had to tone down the anti-capitalist rhetoric to come to power. The CCP does not fear it's capitalists--except for fearing they will flee with their money.

[Baldanders]

Give it time. Perhaps a lifetime or two.

It's inevitable.

The idea that capitalism inevitably led to democracy used to be big. I used to buy it.

Now, I think democracy leads to more productive capitalism, but capitalism probably has no effect on promoting democracy, in and of itself.

I hope increased affluence leads to more desire for political autonomy, but I worry that Huxley was 100% right in his scathing criticism of American Utopianism in Brave New World. The only idea we have moved past that he lampooned is eugenics.

What if bread and circuses is enough? And there are so many fancy breads and circuses these days.

[TGS]

Now, I think democracy leads to more productive capitalism, but capitalism probably has no effect on promoting democracy, in and of itself.

I think that by 2020 and all the examples to date, this should be self-evident and inarguable. There's plenty of places out there that exercise capitalism but have remained incapable of adopting democracy. The only way it isn't if one holds the same viewpoint as communists and the failure of communism, and says, "Oh, but that wasn't real communism, nobody has actually tried real communism yet..."

[Baldanders]

I think that by 2020 and all the examples to date, this should be self-evident and inarguable. There's plenty of places out there that exercise capitalism but have remained incapable of adopting democracy. The only way it isn't if one holds the same viewpoint as communists and the failure of communism, and says, "Oh, but that wasn't real communism, nobody has actually tried real communism yet..."

Well, if we genetically engineer in eusocial behavior, maybe it would work.....but, ick! ☹