Higher Education @ Yale!

[Clusterfrack]

I am not talking about democracy or government structures. I am talking about the economic system. Russia is an authoritarian country but it is not a socialist country. Some economists describe it as state capitalism.

https://www.newsweek.com/most-republ...y-poll-1684317

Then the economic system is more accurately described as a Kleptocracy.

I'd go with Kleptocracy. China and especially Russia have a facade of capitalism, and that facade has some reality to it. Some Chinese and Russian companies are (sort of) publicly traded, and it's possible to make a lot of money in those markets. But they aren't fair markets, and capital doesn't mean the same thing because government and organized crime can cook the books and tip the scales anytime they want to.

[Clusterfrack]

Folks, I got a post report suggesting that this thread be moved to the Politics subforum. I can understand why, but I'm conflicted about whether this is out of bounds for General Discussion.

This thread is discussing communism, capitalism, higher education, and some high-level international issues. To me these seem more in philosophy and economics than politics, so I'm going to leave this thread here unless another Mod decides to move it, or the discussion drifts into Politics with a capital P.

[Caballoflaco]

Kind of on the periphery of this thread, but I really enjoyed this episode of The Rest is History about how China came to its current form of economy.

https://www.audible.com/pd/366-The-A...8-52bfb30eff7b

“Let us advance courageously, to change the backward condition of our country, and turn it into a modern and powerful socialist state!” Deng Xiaoping, a man purged by Mao and his followers twice before becoming leader of China, paved the way for a modern Chinese state and economy, opening the country up to foreign investment and technology, whilst maintaining firm control of the Chinese Communist Party. In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show Professor Rana Mitter, as they look at how China transitioned into the global economic and political powerhouse it is today, Deng Xiaoping’s role in transforming the country, and, of course, Wham! and their 1985 visit…

[cheby]

I'd go with Kleptocracy. China and especially Russia have a facade of capitalism, and that facade has some reality to it. Some Chinese and Russian companies are (sort of) publicly traded, and it's possible to make a lot of money in those markets. But they aren't fair markets, and capital doesn't mean the same thing because government and organized crime can cook the books and tip the scales anytime they want to.

Sure.
However, compared to Soviet Union, Putin's regime is very vegetarian (At least so far). The estimated number of people killed by the Communist governments around the world amounts to more than 94 million. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bl...forced%20labor.) It did not stop those idiots at Yale (One of the most prestigious universities in the World!!!), which is the topic of this discussion. I am pretty sure those bright individuals do not even know about it. Those who do, would probably say the "The real communism was not tried yet"

Almost 20% of the social scientists in America self-identify as Marxists - https://www.academia.org/self-identi...ge-professors/

Frankly, we should be terrified...

Here is antifa in Portland:

[Clusterfrack]

Ok, now I think I need move this into the Politics subforum...

Anyone object?

[cheby]

Ok, now I think I need move this into the Politics subforum...

Anyone object?

I do

[cheby]

Ok. Want to edit your last post and remove the Bern?

done

[Totem Polar]

I've seen every crazy Lefty thing you can imagine on the campus, plus a lot more. Things like full professor who asked IT to put a bigger hard drive in his PC and move the data to the new drive. Big mistake! Drive was full due to child porn.

OT, but: We lost the old chair to my department when it was discovered that he had been ordering child porn using a university credit card.

[camel]

OT, but: We lost the old chair to my department when it was discovered that he had been ordering child porn using a university credit card.

Friend of mine had a manager who did the same thing.

[Skinner Precision, LLC]

It's sad that most students are ignorant about the hammer & sickle and how it's functionally equivalent to the swastika. They have no clue it represents the slaughter of millions and repression of billions.

Unironically, Yale historian Timothy Snyder , wrote an excellent book on the mass murder of central/eastern European peoples by both Nazi and Soviet policies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodlands

14,000,000 people murdered, 1/4 before WWII started.