Posted on 08/28/2019 7:11:42 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
'They’ve done a lot of things for their people'
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) declared that communist China has done more to alleviate poverty than any country in history during a Tuesday appearance on HILL TV’s Rising.
Granting that it is unfortunate that China is "moving" toward authoritarianism instead of democratic governance, the presidential candidate argued its record on poverty is the best in the world.
"China is a country that is moving, unfortunately, in a more authoritarian way in a number of directions," Sanders said. "But what we have to say about China in fairness to China and its leadership is, if I’m not mistaken, they have made more progress in addressing extreme poverty than any country in the history of civilization. So they’ve done a lot of things for their people."
Sanders had just finished denouncing "far-right authoritarian leaders" such as President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both elected leaders of liberal democratic nations, when he was asked about China at the 10:27 mark of the episode. HILL TV host Krystal Ball asked Sanders about his prior statement that normalizing trade relations with China would be devastating for America.
"Their economy now is struggling but I think it is absolutely possible for us to have a positive working relationship with China," Sanders said. He argued the problem with Chinese trade is that it benefits the wealthy too much, since companies can outsource labor to China where wages are lower.
He did not address how China’s communist government has oppressed religious people and minorities, putting at least one million Uighur Muslims in concentration camps while instituting one of the most comprehensive surveillance states in history. In China, the Communist Party requires all religions to pledge ultimate loyalty to President Xi Jinping, who is atop a one-party system that does not allow political opposition.
While Sanders did say trade with China is potentially bad for workers because of labor competition, he did not address China's violations of trade rules, such as intellectual property theft. As a socialist, Sanders has been a vocal opponent of free trade for decades.
But Sanders said he would "take a stand" against the Communist Party’s designs for Hong Kong, a former province of the British Empire that is now part of China but has special status.
"You gotta make a very strong statement that we in the United States—this is certainly not the case with Donald Trump—but historically at least, and under a Bernie Sanders presidency, we stand for democracy and we stand for human rights and we will do everything that we can to prevent oppressive governments from forcefully denying people their democratic rights."
Hongkongers have freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, but the police have brutally suppressed recent protests, and many are concerned China will use the military to put down political dissent in the city.
Living standards in China are inferior to those of its democratic neighbors Japan and South Korea, but their economy has grown in recent years as it has instituted more capitalist structures in its economy. Contrary to what Sanders said, it has not been "moving" toward authoritarian government, but rather has long had it. Its founding leader Mao Zedong was responsible for an estimated 35-45 million deaths in the 20th century, and even after he died, political dissent was suppressed repeatedly, most notably at Tiananmen Square.
In China, information is rigidly controlled regarding topics such as Tiananmen and Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
Oh, and we didn't massacre tens of millions of people to do it.
You have to admit it’s hard to be poor when you’re dead.
By starving and murdering 100 million or more of the excess population?
No.
Bernie actually said that?
Looks like he leaned too far to the left and his brain fell out again.
The problem with what the old SOB says is that so many Americans are so ignorant of history that they believe him.
What an idiot. Ignorant moron.
Still loves Mao from the 60’s idolatry of the new left and counterculture.
China is not moving towards authoritarian, they’ve always been totalitarian since the Communist Red Chinese took over in 1949.
Dead people are the poorest people in the world and Burny can not help them but they still might vote for him or the demonicrats.
Bernie is welcome to buy a one way ticket to his dream utopia anytime, maybe he can take The Squad with him.
By performing millions of involuntary abortions and sterilizations on its criticizes?
sanders is an absolute nitwit . What wealthy loser. This commie waste should do the only honorable thing...tonight.
I suppose if you also see breadlines....then that’s a good thing too, Bernie?
Exactly. Capitalism has helped more people out of poverty than any other system on earth. China’s economy relies on coercion and slave labor.
Mao’s “final solution” to China’s problems is not one Sanders wants to have a honest discussion.
Here I thought Biden was the dumbest. Close second but barely ahead of Warren and Harris.
Breadline Bernie the Babbling Bolshie.
China did that after they abandoned Socialist economics.
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