PROMETHEAN ANTAGONIST

Socialists really like the Good Life.

I peruse YouTube videos a lot: podcasts, news, and… cute dogs (not so much cats).

Given the current tensions between Japan and China (specifically the ruling Chinese Communist Party), there have been many videos covering the situation—some taking a clear side and others at least trying to appear neutral.

I’m not neutral. I’m on Japan’s side. I could also say I’m on Australia’s, Taiwan’s, and the Philippines’ side—not because they are all virtuous, but because China is decidedly not virtuous.

When viewing YouTube videos, I sometimes add comments that either approve of or take issue with the content and with the comments of others.

I try not to be overly confrontational, rude, or personal, but I’m reasonably knowledgeable (I majored in history) and I like setting the record straight on controversial issues.

There’s no such thing as a truly free society. Every society has constraints and guidelines that can, at times, contribute to a more just order. That said, some nations are freer than others. I could point out the lack of freedoms in a one-party (or one-man) dictatorship, and defenders of such systems could, with some degree of accuracy, respond that my distinctly freer society isn’t really all that free because of X, Y, and Z.

There are numerous ways to gauge how free a society truly is. Many governments have constitutions that promise all the rights listed in America’s Bill of Rights but fail to deliver on any of them. China, for example, has codified freedom of religion. Tell that to “unlicensed” Christian churches, Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghurs, or Falun Gong practitioners. Some religious practices are not merely outlawed but actively punished. A Christian Bible study group meeting in a private residence is asking for serious trouble.

It’s a separate topic, but it’s interesting to speculate why secular, authoritarian, collectivist systems feel so threatened by people who believe in divinity or a “higher power”—a power higher than the state.

The Chinese Communist Party holds an absolute monopoly on power over China. There are other parties, but they are “other” in name only. No one dares challenge the ruling clique.

While watching YouTube videos regarding the conflict with Japan and the issue of Taiwan’s independence, I’ve noticed many comments written in Chinese (requiring the translation feature). These comments are invariably very pro-China, specifically pro–Communist Party. It occurred to me that China blocks its citizens from using YouTube, so what accounts for all this Chinese traffic? I can reasonably speculate that one of Beijing’s propaganda organs assigns party minions to pollute comment sections with the party line. I could be wrong, but…

I recently got into a couple of back-and-forth exchanges where another commenter was infuriated by my skepticism regarding communist rule over China’s citizens. Two points he made struck me as absurd. First, that the people of China truly love the Communist Party; and second, that the Party is responsible for bringing great prosperity to the people of China by lifting everyone out of poverty.

The flaw in the first argument is obvious: a dictatorship responsible for the deaths of millions of its own people is unlikely to enjoy unanimous support. The second claim ignores the fact that China’s economic growth is due to a variety of factors, not least of which was the West opening trade with China. It is global consumers buying Chinese products that fueled much of China’s growth. Some initial credit can be given to Deng Xiaoping, who—as a pragmatist—chose economic prosperity and world trade over ideological dogma.

It’s absurd to suggest that China’s rise in wealth and power resulted from adherence to Marxist or Maoist ideology—the very dogma that brought chaos and devastation in the late 1950s and during the so-called Cultural Revolution. Hong Kong became wealthy, modern, and free precisely because the communist model was not imposed on it. The same is true of Taiwan. As I often contend, all forms of socialism ultimately get in the way—of prosperity, of success, and of advancement.

It’s quite remarkable that the rulers of China (they are decidedly not public servants) aren’t at least curious as to why Taiwan’s citizens don’t want to be ruled by the same people who killed students in Tiananmen Square—and then worked tirelessly afterward to ensure no one could even know the event occurred.

If the ruthless, domineering thugs of China’s Communist Party were to relinquish power (which, of course, isn’t going to happen), hold free elections, and abandon their desire for revenge against Japan for atrocities committed largely by the long dead, all of Asia—and the world—would enjoy unprecedented advancement.

China and communism: the gift that keeps on giving (sarcasm intended)

Put these evil war pigs at the front of the line.

Everyone is attracted to, repelled by, or indifferent to everything and everyone else. Repulsion is not specifically “hate,” it’s a legitimate stance in a spectrum. Anyone pretending they are somehow above it all is lying.

leftism...absolutely pathetic.

Why would any sane person oppose this?