China series, Part 16: Communism

[Prometheus]

If you've been reading my series, you'll notice that I've spoken very little about communism and its practice within the country. That's because it doesn't exist except as the name of the ruling party. But in just 11 days time (in my time zone), the word is going to be at the forefront of all things here in the Middle Kingdom.

The Chinese Communist Party was officially founded on July 1st, 1921. For those of you that can do basic math, that means the 100th anniversary will be next week. Already, cities are gearing up for celebrations. Pink, orange, and purple flowers in parks are being replaced with red ones. Strings of red lights are being hung in trees along every major avenue. There are hammers and sickles everywhere. Students are dutifully practicing the performances and speeches they will give at school next Thursday. There will be fireworks and party leaders, including Xi Jinping will be giving "rousing" speeches exhorting the party and how they will eventually move on from "Market Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" to full-fledged communism... in time.

I'm sure lots of people will cheer and send messages on social media, but it won't be due to belief in the ideology, but merely because they are swept up in the spectacle. That's what such spectacles are for: to reinforce nationalism and remind the people how much they owe to government... to the Party.

And the next day will just be another day for the rank and file... including many of the Party membership. There are around 92 million members of the CCP. That's less than 7% of the total population of China and many of them have only joined because of job requirements: either for hiring or advancement, or simply to get government jobs and partake in some good, old-fashioned graft.

The Chinese people don't show support for the Party for any reason other than they expect the government to take care of them. That's not a "communist thing." It's a cultural thing that pervades every aspect of Chinese life and philosophy: those in power take care of those they wish to dominate lest "Heaven remove its mandate." There's a reason that even the CCP uses a representation of Tiananmen, The Gate of Heavenly Peace in their symbolism: the full phrase from which the name derives is, "receiving the mandate from heaven, and pacifying the dynasty." The CCP is just another emperor whose reign has been ordained and as long as the people are pacified, they will continue to rule.

The CCP does everything in its power to make sure that there is no "turmoil" such as that exhibited 32 years ago. They don't want to lose their Heavenly Mandate. And as long as the people are being lifted out of poverty, have good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and nice houses to live in, the Mandate will continue. This is the knife's edge that the CCP operates on and why the people are given spectacles and other reminders of the CCP's power and "generosity."

I suspect that over the next decade or three, the CCP will slowly lower expectations rather than just come down hard - though the hammer may drop harder in some situations than in others - until the people still have "enough" to keep them pacified but not as much as they once had. We can also expect that "the west" will be vilified more and more as nationalism always requires an enemy.

Nationalism

That's the real enemy. The Chinese are extremely nationalistic regardless of who holds power. Western nations and their citizens may condemn communism in China but they are barking up the wrong tree. Any form of leadership in China will have to be strong and antagonistic towards any entity that is not Chinese. The Kuomintang didn't lose the civil war because they weren't communists. They lost the faith of the people who saw them as being "less Chinese" due to their strong ties to the west and the fact that their graft didn't "trickle down" to allow others to share in it.

The disagreement between the PRC and Taiwan isn't so much about land, oil, and minerals or even about communism versus democracy, but about the Taiwanese not accepting the Will of Heaven.

Even people of Chinese heritage who are citizens of other countries and whose families might not have set foot in China for more than 150 years, are often viewed suspiciously because they are not living under the Will of Heaven. They are not quite Chinese enough. They are "bananas": yellow on the outside but white on the inside. They have forgotten their culture.

But, were those "bananas" to return to China, learn the language, and become members of the CCP, all would be forgiven... but they would still be watched.

[abbey1227]

Jun 21, 2021 4:44:37 GMT Prometheus said:

If you've been reading my series, you'll notice that I've spoken very little about communism and its practice within the country. That's because it doesn't exist except as the name of the ruling party. But in just 11 days time (in my time zone), the word is going to be at the forefront of all things here in the Middle Kingdom.

The Chinese Communist Party was officially founded on July 1st, 1921. For those of you that can do basic math, that means the 100th anniversary will be next week. Already, cities are gearing up for celebrations. Pink, orange, and purple flowers in parks are being replaced with red ones. Strings of red lights are being hung in trees along every major avenue. There are hammers and sickles everywhere. Students are dutifully practicing the performances and speeches they will give at school next Thursday. There will be fireworks and party leaders, including Xi Jinping will be giving "rousing" speeches exhorting the party and how they will eventually move on from "Market Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" to full-fledged communism... in time.

I'm sure lots of people will cheer and send messages on social media, but it won't be due to belief in the ideology, but merely because they are swept up in the spectacle. That's what such spectacles are for: to reinforce nationalism and remind the people how much they owe to government... to the Party.

And the next day will just be another day for the rank and file... including many of the Party membership. There are around 92 million members of the CCP. That's less than 7% of the total population of China and many of them have only joined because of job requirements: either for hiring or advancement, or simply to get government jobs and partake in some good, old-fashioned graft.

The Chinese people don't show support for the Party for any reason other than they expect the government to take care of them. That's not a "communist thing." It's a cultural thing that pervades every aspect of Chinese life and philosophy: those in power take care of those they wish to dominate lest "Heaven remove its mandate." There's a reason that even the CCP uses a representation of Tiananmen, The Gate of Heavenly Peace in their symbolism: the full phrase from which the name derives is, "receiving the mandate from heaven, and pacifying the dynasty." The CCP is just another emperor whose reign has been ordained and as long as the people are pacified, they will continue to rule.

The CCP does everything in its power to make sure that there is no "turmoil" such as that exhibited 32 years ago. They don't want to lose their Heavenly Mandate. And as long as the people are being lifted out of poverty, have good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and nice houses to live in, the Mandate will continue. This is the knife's edge that the CCP operates on and why the people are given spectacles and other reminders of the CCP's power and "generosity."

I suspect that over the next decade or three, the CCP will slowly lower expectations rather than just come down hard - though the hammer may drop harder in some situations than in others - until the people still have "enough" to keep them pacified but not as much as they once had. We can also expect that "the west" will be vilified more and more as nationalism always requires an enemy.

Nationalism

That's the real enemy. The Chinese are extremely nationalistic regardless of who holds power. Western nations and their citizens may condemn communism in China but they are barking up the wrong tree. Any form of leadership in China will have to be strong and antagonistic towards any entity that is not Chinese. The Kuomintang didn't lose the civil war because they weren't communists. They lost the faith of the people who saw them as being "less Chinese" due to their strong ties to the west and the fact that their graft didn't "trickle down" to allow others to share in it.

The disagreement between the PRC and Taiwan isn't so much about land, oil, and minerals or even about communism versus democracy, but about the Taiwanese not accepting the Will of Heaven.

Even people of Chinese heritage who are citizens of other countries and whose families might not have set foot in China for more than 150 years, are often viewed suspiciously because they are not living under the Will of Heaven. They are not quite Chinese enough. They are "bananas": yellow on the outside but white on the inside. They have forgotten their culture.

But, were those "bananas" to return to China, learn the language, and become members of the CCP, all would be forgiven... but they would still be watched.

Filled with all sorts of interesting information.

I still find it odd that some see 'nationalism' as a bigger threat than 'communism'. But we all have our preferences.

[Prometheus]

Jun 30, 2021 9:27:38 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jun 21, 2021 4:44:37 GMT Prometheus said:

If you've been reading my series, you'll notice that I've spoken very little about communism and its practice within the country. That's because it doesn't exist except as the name of the ruling party. But in just 11 days time (in my time zone), the word is going to be at the forefront of all things here in the Middle Kingdom.

The Chinese Communist Party was officially founded on July 1st, 1921. For those of you that can do basic math, that means the 100th anniversary will be next week. Already, cities are gearing up for celebrations. Pink, orange, and purple flowers in parks are being replaced with red ones. Strings of red lights are being hung in trees along every major avenue. There are hammers and sickles everywhere. Students are dutifully practicing the performances and speeches they will give at school next Thursday. There will be fireworks and party leaders, including Xi Jinping will be giving "rousing" speeches exhorting the party and how they will eventually move on from "Market Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" to full-fledged communism... in time.

I'm sure lots of people will cheer and send messages on social media, but it won't be due to belief in the ideology, but merely because they are swept up in the spectacle. That's what such spectacles are for: to reinforce nationalism and remind the people how much they owe to government... to the Party.

And the next day will just be another day for the rank and file... including many of the Party membership. There are around 92 million members of the CCP. That's less than 7% of the total population of China and many of them have only joined because of job requirements: either for hiring or advancement, or simply to get government jobs and partake in some good, old-fashioned graft.

The Chinese people don't show support for the Party for any reason other than they expect the government to take care of them. That's not a "communist thing." It's a cultural thing that pervades every aspect of Chinese life and philosophy: those in power take care of those they wish to dominate lest "Heaven remove its mandate." There's a reason that even the CCP uses a representation of Tiananmen, The Gate of Heavenly Peace in their symbolism: the full phrase from which the name derives is, "receiving the mandate from heaven, and pacifying the dynasty." The CCP is just another emperor whose reign has been ordained and as long as the people are pacified, they will continue to rule.

The CCP does everything in its power to make sure that there is no "turmoil" such as that exhibited 32 years ago. They don't want to lose their Heavenly Mandate. And as long as the people are being lifted out of poverty, have good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and nice houses to live in, the Mandate will continue. This is the knife's edge that the CCP operates on and why the people are given spectacles and other reminders of the CCP's power and "generosity."

I suspect that over the next decade or three, the CCP will slowly lower expectations rather than just come down hard - though the hammer may drop harder in some situations than in others - until the people still have "enough" to keep them pacified but not as much as they once had. We can also expect that "the west" will be vilified more and more as nationalism always requires an enemy.

Nationalism

That's the real enemy. The Chinese are extremely nationalistic regardless of who holds power. Western nations and their citizens may condemn communism in China but they are barking up the wrong tree. Any form of leadership in China will have to be strong and antagonistic towards any entity that is not Chinese. The Kuomintang didn't lose the civil war because they weren't communists. They lost the faith of the people who saw them as being "less Chinese" due to their strong ties to the west and the fact that their graft didn't "trickle down" to allow others to share in it.

The disagreement between the PRC and Taiwan isn't so much about land, oil, and minerals or even about communism versus democracy, but about the Taiwanese not accepting the Will of Heaven.

Even people of Chinese heritage who are citizens of other countries and whose families might not have set foot in China for more than 150 years, are often viewed suspiciously because they are not living under the Will of Heaven. They are not quite Chinese enough. They are "bananas": yellow on the outside but white on the inside. They have forgotten their culture.

But, were those "bananas" to return to China, learn the language, and become members of the CCP, all would be forgiven... but they would still be watched.

Filled with all sorts of interesting information.

I still find it odd that some see 'nationalism' as a bigger threat than 'communism'. But we all have our preferences.

Probably because so many nationalists think they are patriots while all the patriots know that the nationalists are not patriots.

Patriots recognize when there is a problem in their country, openly talk about it and look for a solution.

Nationalists ignore the problems or simply blame them on "those people who hate their own country."

I'm a patriot.

You are a nationalist.

I talk about ways for everyone to benefit.

You talk about how xyz group fucked everything up for everybody.

[abbey1227]

Jun 30, 2021 11:56:31 GMT Prometheus said:

Probably because so many nationalists think they are patriots while all the patriots know that the nationalists are not patriots.

Patriots recognize when there is a problem in their country, openly talk about it and look for a solution.

Nationalists ignore the problems or simply blame them on "those people who hate their own country."

I'm a patriot.

You are a nationalist.

I talk about ways for everyone to benefit.

You talk about how xyz group fucked everything up for everybody.

The Homeless Guy, a pretty big collectivist in his own right........ loved throwing down the line "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

I'd like to think that both terms can be positive.....or misapplied/negative.

What if I don't want people that hate their own country to benefit? What if I don't want people aren't citizens of the country to benefit?

Americans do a pretty great job of fucking things up......they need no more added assistance from others. The two combined are really making a mess of things.

[Prometheus]

Jun 30, 2021 12:47:15 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jun 30, 2021 11:56:31 GMT Prometheus said:

Probably because so many nationalists think they are patriots while all the patriots know that the nationalists are not patriots.

Patriots recognize when there is a problem in their country, openly talk about it and look for a solution.

Nationalists ignore the problems or simply blame them on "those people who hate their own country."

I'm a patriot.

You are a nationalist.

I talk about ways for everyone to benefit.

You talk about how xyz group fucked everything up for everybody.

The Homeless Guy, a pretty big collectivist in his own right........ loved throwing down the line "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

I'd like to think that both terms can be positive.....or misapplied/negative.

What if I don't want people that hate their own country to benefit? What if I don't want people aren't citizens of the country to benefit?

Americans do a pretty great job of fucking things up......they need no more added assistance from others. The two combined are really making a mess of things.

Note the quotation marks.

Being critical of the policies and so on of one's own nation does not mean that that person "hates" their own country. It simply shows that they think their own country can do better and they want it to do better. Sure, there are people whose rhetoric blurs the line but sometimes YOU are extremely critical of the US government. Should I toss out my "nationalist" argument and say that you hate the US since you are so critical of it?

<insert Abbey saying "ANY person in any country blah blah government blah...." here>

It's really simple:

A patriot puts their fellow countrymen before the government while a nationalist puts their government before the people.

I know that you're trying to come up with all sorts of excuses and exceptions but at the end of the day, you want everyone to adopt your views of what America is and how it should be run and very few of those ideas ever address the problems and needs of anyone poorer or less white than you.

"But... but... PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"

It's kind of hard to exercise personal responsibility when you're constantly having to wipe your hands after being handed the shitty end of the stick.

[abbey1227]

Jun 30, 2021 15:57:01 GMT Prometheus said:

Note the quotation marks.

Being critical of the policies and so on of one's own nation does not mean that that person "hates" their own country. It simply shows that they think their own country can do better and they want it to do better. Sure, there are people whose rhetoric blurs the line but sometimes YOU are extremely critical of the US government. Should I toss out my "nationalist" argument and say that you hate the US since you are so critical of it?

<insert Abbey saying "ANY person in any country blah blah government blah...." here>

It's really simple:

A patriot puts their fellow countrymen before the government while a nationalist puts their government before the people.

I know that you're trying to come up with all sorts of excuses and exceptions but at the end of the day, you want everyone to adopt your views of what America is and how it should be run and very few of those ideas ever address the problems and needs of anyone poorer or less white than you.

"But... but... PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"

It's kind of hard to exercise personal responsibility when you're constantly having to wipe your hands after being handed the shitty end of the stick.

And I do precisely that whenever I promote my version of tough love and less Govt.

As a matter of simplicity I put the US as a nation ahead of other nations in a similar manner. I'm sure you mentally skip right over my support for all my fellow Americans there, as well.

Your supported solutions fail again and again.......but I'm the racist asshole for pointing it out and not supporting it?

Keep ignoring the success of those that play within the rules and do succeed here. Even those that are here illegally seem to do better than the typical American now. So it's clear to me it's not the system, but the willingness to play properly within that system.

[Prometheus]

Jul 1, 2021 0:38:49 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jun 30, 2021 15:57:01 GMT Prometheus said:

Note the quotation marks.

Being critical of the policies and so on of one's own nation does not mean that that person "hates" their own country. It simply shows that they think their own country can do better and they want it to do better. Sure, there are people whose rhetoric blurs the line but sometimes YOU are extremely critical of the US government. Should I toss out my "nationalist" argument and say that you hate the US since you are so critical of it?

<insert Abbey saying "ANY person in any country blah blah government blah...." here>

It's really simple:

A patriot puts their fellow countrymen before the government while a nationalist puts their government before the people.

I know that you're trying to come up with all sorts of excuses and exceptions but at the end of the day, you want everyone to adopt your views of what America is and how it should be run and very few of those ideas ever address the problems and needs of anyone poorer or less white than you.

"But... but... PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"

It's kind of hard to exercise personal responsibility when you're constantly having to wipe your hands after being handed the shitty end of the stick.

And I do precisely that whenever I promote my version of tough love and less Govt.

As a matter of simplicity I put the US as a nation ahead of other nations in a similar manner. I'm sure you mentally skip right over my support for all my fellow Americans there, as well.

Your supported solutions fail again and again.......but I'm the racist asshole for pointing it out and not supporting it?

Keep ignoring the success of those that play within the rules and do succeed here. Even those that are here illegally seem to do better than the typical American now. So it's clear to me it's not the system, but the willingness to play properly within that system.

Which of my "solutions" keep failing?

Single-payer UHC which we've never tried but works in other places?

Having a good education system?

You talk about playing within the rules, but you ignore how many of the rules exist simply to keep certain demographics from reaching their full potential.

You point out that some illegals are doing better than the average American and you're not upset by that? You're not upset that the rules are set in opposition to the "average American"?

I don't get you, Abs.

You hate "big government" but want more police.

You hate all these laws but you certainly want at least some people to follow them.

You talk about how you've "earned" everything you have while denying the fact that some people simply never get the chance to earn... and you don't seem to want them to have that chance.

You want people to stop protesting and rioting but you don't want to address the issues so that the protests and riots stop.

You say you want to punish lawbreakers but it seems that you just want to punish people who just want to have a chance to have what you have even as modest as it is.

Crime increases with poverty levels and poverty goes up when access to good education is restricted.

Health issues are highest among the poor.

You say, "There's lots of information out there" but even you admit that you don't always follow it. Why then do you expect others to be better than you when you know they are going to schools where the whole system has failed them?

Why do you want the poor to stay poor?

[abbey1227]

Jul 1, 2021 4:00:49 GMT Prometheus said:

Which of my "solutions" keep failing?

Single-payer UHC which we've never tried but works in other places?

Having a good education system?

You talk about playing within the rules, but you ignore how many of the rules exist simply to keep certain demographics from reaching their full potential.

You point out that some illegals are doing better than the average American and you're not upset by that? You're not upset that the rules are set in opposition to the "average American"?

I don't get you, Abs.

You hate "big government" but want more police.

You hate all these laws but you certainly want at least some people to follow them.

You talk about how you've "earned" everything you have while denying the fact that some people simply never get the chance to earn... and you don't seem to want them to have that chance.

You want people to stop protesting and rioting but you don't want to address the issues so that the protests and riots stop.
You say you want to punish lawbreakers but it seems that you just want to punish people who just want to have a chance to have what you have even as modest as it is.

Crime increases with poverty levels and poverty goes up when access to good education is restricted.

Health issues are highest among the poor.

You say, "There's lots of information out there" but even you admit that you don't always follow it. Why then do you expect others to be better than you when you know they are going to schools where the whole system has failed them?

Why do you want the poor to stay poor?

which? Are ya kidding? Aren't student loans one of the biggest debt threats looming many Americans? second only to healthcare? And that's AFTER they've been passed thru the ever more expensive public educational system.

Single payer may have worked here back in the late 40s and 50s........but it's out of hand now and the ink is out of the bottle. Too late. Now it'd be no different than Medi-Care and other 'entitlement programs'.

There's that race card again. But the Asians are kicking the shit outta everyone? Are we to believe the black people are mentally insufficient to overcome the massive amount of racism in the US?

I'm not upset by illegals showing up everyday Americans.......because, like me, they're showing that IT CAN BE DONE. I'm just upset with the Govt for not doing it's job and in fact, encouraging illegality........because that does actual direct damage to my fellow Americans.

I don't want more police. I'd be fine with less police, just like less military is my preference. Can't have less of either with the Govt wanting to always keep expanding and having more rules and control.

The Golden Rule should be pretty simple to follow for everyone.........but apparently they're not learning that either.

If I don't want the poorest Americans an opportunity to earn a living.......why would I want all Illegals tossed out? So there are more affordable housing options? So there are higher wages offered? So that the programs, even the ones I deeply oppose, would have the resources to offer ONLY to Americans?

Address the issues? Behave like a responsible Golden Rule follower.........and the vast majority of problems with the police magically go away. Stop supporting criminals that do damage to your community daily.......over supporting police, many of whom came from your own community.

I'm sorry...... I don't buy into the Teachers Union's schpeel anymore. While they're not 100% responsible for the terrible outcomes, a tremendous amount of money has been spent and there has been little to no improvement in those areas you claim aren't getting enough help. Crime wasn't always a matter of a particular location or a certain group of people. And poverty alone doesn't mean it's inevitable. If it was, there'd be far more crime in areas where people make pennies/day compared to Americans. OUR poor are rich compared to many areas outside the US.

And again, it's not been kept a secret what is or isn't healthy to eat. I don't buy the argument that it's more expensive to eat healthy either. They're throwing away fruit and vegetables at many grocery stores.

You've mocked me for being a lowly drone, not getting a higher education and for having contempt for so many of my fellow Americans. Well, Ive been around them and watched them do what they do. Didn't you yourself come from a pretty rough area? Endure horrible family luck along the way? And yet somehow, you did make the effort and decisions necessary to improve your lot in life. You even left the 'Land of Milk & Money' in order to secure employment and I'm guessing continue to support your own family. Sure, you're more intelligent than most.......but I don't believe it takes an IQ above 100 to do some very basic things to guarantee long term success in the US.

I want the poor to move up in the world and become more stable. The problem is my own family has shown me how they do everything they can to sabotage themselves over and over and over again. I've seen people on Welfare or more 'successful' people than myself that pull in more $Money on a yearly basis that still end up behind the 8-Ball again and again.

And you think I'm the problem for not being sympathetic enough? Or wanting to throw more money after bad? I don't get you.

[Prometheus]

Jul 1, 2021 12:18:24 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 1, 2021 4:00:49 GMT Prometheus said:

Which of my "solutions" keep failing?

Single-payer UHC which we've never tried but works in other places?

Having a good education system?

You talk about playing within the rules, but you ignore how many of the rules exist simply to keep certain demographics from reaching their full potential.

You point out that some illegals are doing better than the average American and you're not upset by that? You're not upset that the rules are set in opposition to the "average American"?

I don't get you, Abs.

You hate "big government" but want more police.

You hate all these laws but you certainly want at least some people to follow them.

You talk about how you've "earned" everything you have while denying the fact that some people simply never get the chance to earn... and you don't seem to want them to have that chance.

You want people to stop protesting and rioting but you don't want to address the issues so that the protests and riots stop.
You say you want to punish lawbreakers but it seems that you just want to punish people who just want to have a chance to have what you have even as modest as it is.

Crime increases with poverty levels and poverty goes up when access to good education is restricted.

Health issues are highest among the poor.

You say, "There's lots of information out there" but even you admit that you don't always follow it. Why then do you expect others to be better than you when you know they are going to schools where the whole system has failed them?

Why do you want the poor to stay poor?

which? Are ya kidding? Aren't student loans one of the biggest debt threats looming many Americans? second only to healthcare? And that's AFTER they've been passed thru the ever more expensive public educational system.

Single payer may have worked here back in the late 40s and 50s........but it's out of hand now and the ink is out of the bottle. Too late. Now it'd be no different than Medi-Care and other 'entitlement programs'.

There's that race card again. But the Asians are kicking the shit outta everyone? Are we to believe the black people are mentally insufficient to overcome the massive amount of racism in the US?

I'm not upset by illegals showing up everyday Americans.......because, like me, they're showing that IT CAN BE DONE. I'm just upset with the Govt for not doing it's job and in fact, encouraging illegality........because that does actual direct damage to my fellow Americans.

I don't want more police. I'd be fine with less police, just like less military is my preference. Can't have less of either with the Govt wanting to always keep expanding and having more rules and control.

The Golden Rule should be pretty simple to follow for everyone.........but apparently they're not learning that either.

If I don't want the poorest Americans an opportunity to earn a living.......why would I want all Illegals tossed out? So there are more affordable housing options? So there are higher wages offered? So that the programs, even the ones I deeply oppose, would have the resources to offer ONLY to Americans?

Address the issues? Behave like a responsible Golden Rule follower.........and the vast majority of problems with the police magically go away. Stop supporting criminals that do damage to your community daily.......over supporting police, many of whom came from your own community.

I'm sorry...... I don't buy into the Teachers Union's schpeel anymore. While they're not 100% responsible for the terrible outcomes, a tremendous amount of money has been spent and there has been little to no improvement in those areas you claim aren't getting enough help. Crime wasn't always a matter of a particular location or a certain group of people. And poverty alone doesn't mean it's inevitable. If it was, there'd be far more crime in areas where people make pennies/day compared to Americans. OUR poor are rich compared to many areas outside the US.

And again, it's not been kept a secret what is or isn't healthy to eat. I don't buy the argument that it's more expensive to eat healthy either. They're throwing away fruit and vegetables at many grocery stores.

You've mocked me for being a lowly drone, not getting a higher education and for having contempt for so many of my fellow Americans. Well, Ive been around them and watched them do what they do. Didn't you yourself come from a pretty rough area? Endure horrible family luck along the way? And yet somehow, you did make the effort and decisions necessary to improve your lot in life. You even left the 'Land of Milk & Money' in order to secure employment and I'm guessing continue to support your own family. Sure, you're more intelligent than most.......but I don't believe it takes an IQ above 100 to do some very basic things to guarantee long term success in the US.

I want the poor to move up in the world and become more stable. The problem is my own family has shown me how they do everything they can to sabotage themselves over and over and over again. I've seen people on Welfare or more 'successful' people than myself that pull in more $Money on a yearly basis that still end up behind the 8-Ball again and again.

And you think I'm the problem for not being sympathetic enough? Or wanting to throw more money after bad? I don't get you.

1. I'm all for people having to pay back their student loans. I've never said anything different.

2. Medicare is very close to being the same as single-payer UHC and had it not been stopped by Nixon, we'd all be covered by it right now. Medicare costs less and is more efficient than private insurance.

3. The rest is just you babbling so I'm not going to bother trying to decipher it.

[abbey1227]

Jul 2, 2021 3:23:15 GMT Prometheus said:

1. I'm all for people having to pay back their student loans. I've never said anything different.

2. Medicare is very close to being the same as single-payer UHC and had it not been stopped by Nixon, we'd all be covered by it right now. Medicare costs less and is more efficient than private insurance.

3. The rest is just you babbling so I'm not going to bother trying to decipher it.

1. I don't think you're griping nearly enough about the corrupt operation that is Govt and colleges in the US.

2. Nixon? WHA? Usually people just go back as far as Reagan to blame all their ills on. But Tricky Dick is to blame?

I would think many will be relieved to have Trump to blame for all their perpetual problems going forward, since Reagan has been dead awhile, too.

[Prometheus]

Jul 2, 2021 12:11:57 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 2, 2021 3:23:15 GMT Prometheus said:

1. I'm all for people having to pay back their student loans. I've never said anything different.

2. Medicare is very close to being the same as single-payer UHC and had it not been stopped by Nixon, we'd all be covered by it right now. Medicare costs less and is more efficient than private insurance.

3. The rest is just you babbling so I'm not going to bother trying to decipher it.

1. I don't think you're griping nearly enough about the corrupt operation that is Govt and colleges in the US.

2. Nixon? WHA? Usually people just go back as far as Reagan to blame all their ills on. But Tricky Dick is to blame?

I would think many will be relieved to have Trump to blame for all their perpetual problems going forward, since Reagan has been dead awhile, too.

1. “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

2. Yes. Nixon halted the next phase of the Medicare rollout to push the HMO bill. Read a history book. Reagan is to blame for all those American jobs going overseas. All those extra profits were supposed to "trickle down," remember? But then the corporations used that money to win more "hearts and minds" in Congress (and the White House).

[abbey1227]

Jul 2, 2021 13:15:07 GMT Prometheus said:

Jul 2, 2021 12:11:57 GMT abbey1227 said:

1. I don't think you're griping nearly enough about the corrupt operation that is Govt and colleges in the US.

2. Nixon? WHA? Usually people just go back as far as Reagan to blame all their ills on. But Tricky Dick is to blame?

I would think many will be relieved to have Trump to blame for all their perpetual problems going forward, since Reagan has been dead awhile, too.

1. “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

2. Yes. Nixon halted the next phase of the Medicare rollout to push the HMO bill. Read a history book. Reagan is to blame for all those American jobs going overseas. All those extra profits were supposed to "trickle down," remember? But then the corporations used that money to win more "hearts and minds" in Congress (and the White House).

Very weird how Carter, Clinton, Obama and now Biden have failed to correct all of those misdeeds.

[abbey1227]

Jul 2, 2021 3:23:15 GMT Prometheus said:

Jul 1, 2021 12:18:24 GMT abbey1227 said:

I want the poor to move up in the world and become more stable.

3. The rest is just you babbling so I'm not going to bother trying to decipher it.

You'll ignore the parts that clarify my positions that you should be agreeing with.........while you read into the other things with your special glasses that see racism everywhere.

[Prometheus]

Jul 2, 2021 14:19:58 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 2, 2021 13:15:07 GMT Prometheus said:

1. “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

2. Yes. Nixon halted the next phase of the Medicare rollout to push the HMO bill. Read a history book. Reagan is to blame for all those American jobs going overseas. All those extra profits were supposed to "trickle down," remember? But then the corporations used that money to win more "hearts and minds" in Congress (and the White House).

Very weird how Carter, Clinton, Obama and now Biden have failed to correct all of those misdeeds.

Is it weird?

[Prometheus]

Jul 2, 2021 14:27:30 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 2, 2021 3:23:15 GMT Prometheus said:

3. The rest is just you babbling so I'm not going to bother trying to decipher it.

You'll ignore the parts that clarify my positions that you should be agreeing with.........while you read into the other things with your special glasses that see racism everywhere.

I honestly got lost trying to figure out what your tangents were referring to contextually.

I also just didn't feel like responding to your snarky lies... like your last sentence here....

[abbey1227]

Jul 3, 2021 3:43:29 GMT Prometheus said:

Jul 2, 2021 14:27:30 GMT abbey1227 said:

You'll ignore the parts that clarify my positions that you should be agreeing with.........while you read into the other things with your special glasses that see racism everywhere.

I honestly got lost trying to figure out what your tangents were referring to contextually.

I also just didn't feel like responding to your snarky lies... like your last sentence here....

Just latch firmly onto the idea that while I may not give two shits about most of humanity...... the color of their skin doesn't matter to me at all.

I've been educated enough to know underneath that skin, we're ALL pretty much the exact same organisms.

[Prometheus]

Jul 3, 2021 12:07:35 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 3, 2021 3:43:29 GMT Prometheus said:

I honestly got lost trying to figure out what your tangents were referring to contextually.

I also just didn't feel like responding to your snarky lies... like your last sentence here....

Just latch firmly onto the idea that while I may not give two shits about most of humanity...... the color of their skin doesn't matter to me at all.

I've been educated enough to know underneath that skin, we're ALL pretty much the exact same organisms.

Then you really should stop taking shots at only certain segments of humanity.

[abbey1227]

Jul 4, 2021 1:19:56 GMT Prometheus said:

Jul 3, 2021 12:07:35 GMT abbey1227 said:

Then you really should stop taking shots at only certain segments of humanity.

Do I?

Or do you miss all of the shots I take? Stupid and criminal is all the same. NOBODY has cornered that market.

Most of the 'scumbags' I've ever seen in my lifetime are about as pale as me  (Here's where Hugs would insert his one-liner).......several are closely related, even.

[Prometheus]

Jul 4, 2021 12:47:41 GMT abbey1227 said:

Jul 4, 2021 1:19:56 GMT Prometheus said:

Then you really should stop taking shots at only certain segments of humanity.

Do I?

Or do you miss all of the shots I take? Stupid and criminal is all the same. NOBODY has cornered that market.

Most of the 'scumbags' I've ever seen in my lifetime are about as pale as me  (Here's where Hugs would insert his one-liner).......several are closely related, even.

1. Yeah, you do.

2. No, I don't

3. Get Hugs over here to see if he can "win the internet" with one of his one-liners.

[ant-mac]

Jun 21, 2021 4:44:37 GMT Prometheus said:

If you've been reading my series, you'll notice that I've spoken very little about communism and its practice within the country. That's because it doesn't exist except as the name of the ruling party. But in just 11 days time (in my time zone), the word is going to be at the forefront of all things here in the Middle Kingdom.

The Chinese Communist Party was officially founded on July 1st, 1921. For those of you that can do basic math, that means the 100th anniversary will be next week. Already, cities are gearing up for celebrations. Pink, orange, and purple flowers in parks are being replaced with red ones. Strings of red lights are being hung in trees along every major avenue. There are hammers and sickles everywhere. Students are dutifully practicing the performances and speeches they will give at school next Thursday. There will be fireworks and party leaders, including Xi Jinping will be giving "rousing" speeches exhorting the party and how they will eventually move on from "Market Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" to full-fledged communism... in time.

I'm sure lots of people will cheer and send messages on social media, but it won't be due to belief in the ideology, but merely because they are swept up in the spectacle. That's what such spectacles are for: to reinforce nationalism and remind the people how much they owe to government... to the Party.

And the next day will just be another day for the rank and file... including many of the Party membership. There are around 92 million members of the CCP. That's less than 7% of the total population of China and many of them have only joined because of job requirements: either for hiring or advancement, or simply to get government jobs and partake in some good, old-fashioned graft.

The Chinese people don't show support for the Party for any reason other than they expect the government to take care of them. That's not a "communist thing." It's a cultural thing that pervades every aspect of Chinese life and philosophy: those in power take care of those they wish to dominate lest "Heaven remove its mandate." There's a reason that even the CCP uses a representation of Tiananmen, The Gate of Heavenly Peace in their symbolism: the full phrase from which the name derives is, "receiving the mandate from heaven, and pacifying the dynasty." The CCP is just another emperor whose reign has been ordained and as long as the people are pacified, they will continue to rule.

The CCP does everything in its power to make sure that there is no "turmoil" such as that exhibited 32 years ago. They don't want to lose their Heavenly Mandate. And as long as the people are being lifted out of poverty, have good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and nice houses to live in, the Mandate will continue. This is the knife's edge that the CCP operates on and why the people are given spectacles and other reminders of the CCP's power and "generosity."

I suspect that over the next decade or three, the CCP will slowly lower expectations rather than just come down hard - though the hammer may drop harder in some situations than in others - until the people still have "enough" to keep them pacified but not as much as they once had. We can also expect that "the west" will be vilified more and more as nationalism always requires an enemy.

Nationalism

That's the real enemy. The Chinese are extremely nationalistic regardless of who holds power. Western nations and their citizens may condemn communism in China but they are barking up the wrong tree. Any form of leadership in China will have to be strong and antagonistic towards any entity that is not Chinese. The Kuomintang didn't lose the civil war because they weren't communists. They lost the faith of the people who saw them as being "less Chinese" due to their strong ties to the west and the fact that their graft didn't "trickle down" to allow others to share in it.

The disagreement between the PRC and Taiwan isn't so much about land, oil, and minerals or even about communism versus democracy, but about the Taiwanese not accepting the Will of Heaven.

Even people of Chinese heritage who are citizens of other countries and whose families might not have set foot in China for more than 150 years, are often viewed suspiciously because they are not living under the Will of Heaven. They are not quite Chinese enough. They are "bananas": yellow on the outside but white on the inside. They have forgotten their culture.

But, were those "bananas" to return to China, learn the language, and become members of the CCP, all would be forgiven... but they would still be watched.

On V2, Heretic began a thread about an article titled: "Chinese ships have dumped so much poop in the South China Sea, you can see it from space: report"

jammer81386 responded: "And yet it is always capitalism which gets blamed for environmental degradation."

He seems to be under the impression that capitalism and China are two distinct and separate topics with no overlap.

Here is the rest of the posted article if you're interested.

Sewage from more than 200 Chinese vessels in the contested South China Sea waters is threatening marine life.

The damage is so extensive, it can be seen from space, according to Simularity, a US satellite imagery analysis firm.

The Philippines, a claimant to the islands in the waters, said it's in the process of verifying the report.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Raw sewage discharged from more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels around the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea is causing extensive damage to coral reefs, Simularity, a US satellite imagery analysis firm, said Monday.

"The sewage from the anchored ships in the Spratlys is damaging the reefs, and we can see this from space," Simularity founder and CEO Liz Derr said during a digital forum hosted by the Manila think tank Stratbase ADR Institute.

"The hundreds of ships that are anchored there are dumping raw sewage, every day onto the reefs they are occupying," said Derr during the presentation, adding "when the ships don't move, the poop piles up."

The satellite images taken over five years - between May 14, 2016 and June 17, 2021- show a stark contrast in alga growth. Researchers found that 236 Chinese vessels were recorded motionless In the waters during that time period.

Peter Koning, vice president of sales at Simularity, told Insider in an email that it is not normal for vessels to stay motionless for such long periods, and that they have been monitoring the ships for months.

Excess sewage encourages the growth of phytoplankton in the water, which can cause oxygen shortages. Without adequate oxygen supply in the water, coral reefs habitats can die.

"These bacteria consume oxygen that would normally be available to the fish, creating a 'dead zone,'" Simularity said in its report. Coral reefs take up to 10,000 years to form, and barrier reefs and atolls take between 100,000 and 30 million years to fully form.

"This is a catastrophe of epic proportions and we are close to the point of no return," Derr said.

Simularity warned that it's not just coral reefs that are at risk here, but fish stocks in the South China Sea - an important food source for the region.

The Philippines, one of the claimants to the South China Sea, said it is in the process of verifying Simularity's report.

"While we are confirming and verifying these wastes being dumped … We consider such irresponsible acts, if true, to be gravely detrimental to the marine ecology in the area," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, per Reuters.

"China treating us as its toilet is a clear violation of both international and local environmental laws," Philippines Senator Grace Poe said in a statement, reported the Inquirer.

At least five countries lay claim to islands in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In 2016, the International Court of Justice, or The Hague, rejected China's claims in the South China Sea.