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Is the Chinese Communist Party Really 'Communist'?
Townhall ^ | 08/10/2023 | Mark Lewis

Posted on 08/10/2023 8:23:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Labels are useful, though not always totally accurate. The quick, short answer to the question in the title is “no, it’s not,” and I will elucidate further below. The CCP is no more true “communist” than the Democratic Party in America believes in democracy. Calling the CCP “communist” is a misnomer. Just because they have stated a goal—a “communist” society—doesn’t mean they have reached it, or ever want to (and believe me, the CCP doesn’t).

Communism has been attempted often in history but never practiced successfully. As Ronald Regan said, “Communism only works in heaven, where they don’t need it, and in hell, where they already have it.” Indeed, communism is, frankly, impossible because it espouses equality of outcomes, which will never happen.

Despite some conservative claims, neither the CCP or the Democrats are ''communist'' in the true sense of the word. There is no “egalitarianism” in either. The CCP is a totalitarian government with many features of Leftist ideology—control of the economy, censorship and silencing of opposition, dictatorial domination of the people, no respect for human life, etc. These also clearly mark the actions and/or aims of the Democratic Party in America. The CCP and Democrats both believe in Leftist ideology. The Democrats are trying to install it in America but cannot fully do so until they get totalitarian control. But, being Leftists, they WILL do the same things in America that Leftists have done elsewhere, if they ever get the power to do so. If not, why not? A Leftist is a Leftist is a Leftist, no matter what rock he slithers out from under.

Folks, egalitarianism is the great lie of the Left and is one reason it will always fails. People are not “equal.” There should be “equality under the law,” but, otherwise, we all have different abilities, talents, intelligence levels, motivations, etc. Stephen Curry and I are not “equal” on a basketball court and never would be, unless maybe you tied his hands behind his back, broke both his legs, and didn’t let him go across midcourt. Then there might be some sort of “equality of outcome.” But that can only be accomplished by distinctly limiting his freedom. Even Thomas More concluded that “utopia” is impossible without government force. If people are free, they will not be equal. If people are equal, they will not be free. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s “all men are created equal” had nothing to do with economic outcomes.

Try this thought experiment. Give everybody in America $100,000 to start with. Within a month (if everyone is allowed freedom to use their money as they wish), some people will have doubled their money, and some will have lost it all, with varying degrees in between. Some people (Elon Musk) have a talent for making money. Some people (Mark Lewis) have a talent for losing it. We aren’t equal in all matters. The only way my bank account and Elon’s will ever be equal is by forcibly taking his money away and giving it to me. That’s not freedom.

And communism, in practicality, recognizes this. There is always the “nomenklatura”—the elite—who rule and are rich while the masses struggle to survive—those who aren’t shot. Marxist “freedom” and “equality” are the greatest chimeras ever concocted.

China is a Leftist totalitarian government, not a communist one. “Rightist” totalitarian governments, usually military dictatorships, have existed, but China is a “Leftist” one, not “Rightist.” American Democrats are “Leftists”; some of their more starry-eyed idealists might think they want “communism,” but it will never happen, as they would quickly discover. What Democrats want is what the CCP has—totalitarian control of their country, not “communism.” The CCP may talk “communist” or “Marxist” rhetoric, but they have never had it and never will.

The man I worked for in China who stole thousands of dollars from me was a greedy, selfish, immoral, “bourgeois capitalist” in Marxist terms, the supposed enemy of communism. I was the “proletarian,” the worker, Marxism’s hero, and I was robbed. And even the Chinese government (the court when I sued him) decided for the “rightist, capitalist roader,” not the “proletarian worker.” Don’t tell me that China is “communist” or “Marxist.” The government is totalitarian, and distinctly favors “party members.” The “Chinese Communist Party,” like the “Democratic Party” in America, is only a useful label, not an accurate description.

China fled any supposed “communist” intentions after the disasters of Mao Zedong, who actually didn’t apply “communism” universally either, certainly not to himself. And looking at the 20th century, we discover no Marxist society that succeeded, at least by using Marxism, to materially or spiritually advance their people. Indeed, can anyone name one single benefit any Marxist government has given to the world? Marxism teaches that government is a tool of the rich and powerful (the “bourgeoisie”) to oppress the masses (the “proletariat”). Once the great “socialist” revolution takes place, and “communism” arises and ushers in a Golden Age of equality, freedom, and plenty, government will no longer be necessary and will fade into oblivion. Government will disappear in the perfect Marxist Utopia. Can you imagine the CCP ever giving up power in the name of “communism”? THAT is a hoot.

Here is why Marxism fails: when I was teaching history, I would always tell my students that “the greatest resource in the world is not oil, or water, or some natural element. The greatest resource in the world is the human mind set free—to create, explore, innovate.” Set free from economic (not moral) restraints, for there will be no economic freedom for all if there are no moral restraints on human behavior. Capitalism, not socialism, provides—has provided—the economic freedoms that have created human prosperity the past 200+ years. The CCP knows that, and that’s why it is not a “communist” system.

Totalitarian, yes. Communist, no. Don’t confuse labels and rhetoric with reality.


TOPICS: China; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: ccp; china; communism; nonsense
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To: Angelino97

, Freedom is rare. And a mixed economy has nothing to do with the vision of the founding of this republic. All of those nations you listed are indeed some form of fascist


21 posted on 08/10/2023 8:48:33 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
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To: dfwgator

Here’s the funny part, in America and Europe, when the current majority populations become a pronounced minority - when the replacement program is complete - it will become much, much more obvious. The Nazis were impatient short-game Fascism. This is long-game Fascism. And it will end up being much more successful…and much more deadly.


22 posted on 08/10/2023 8:49:37 AM PDT by Scott from the Left Coast (“We should not assume civilization is robust”)
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To: SeekAndFind

Of course it’s Marxist.

Of course it’s communist.

People who claim PRC is not communist and that the Chinese COMMUNIST Party is not communist are idiots who think communism is actually good.


23 posted on 08/10/2023 8:49:49 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: gundog
Actually fascism is communism's successful big brother.

A fascist country can actually feed it's self.

Of course it is also a slave economy so it is not at it's peak but for the most part people are not starving.

Fascism is about the most dangerous thing around. It combines the practicality of business, the power of government, the fervor and sacrifice of religion, the propaganda ability of media and the coldness of science into one big ball that crushes everything in its path.

24 posted on 08/10/2023 8:51:45 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Follow the money. Even if it leads you to someplace horrible it will still lead you to the truth.)
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To: LucienCA13

CCP be economically fascist,
... with Xi’s Han master race complex


25 posted on 08/10/2023 8:52:49 AM PDT by TeleStraightShooter (Spike.S1 *can* get into cell DNA... too many cells = Long Covid/PASC)
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To: SeekAndFind

Totalitarianism in all forms is EVIL!

Forget the label they wear, they are all the same.


26 posted on 08/10/2023 8:53:47 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Despite some conservative claims, neither the CCP or the Democrats are ‘’communist’’ in the true sense of the word.”

This is just a variation on the “no true Communist” fallacy. There are no ideal communists or ideal communism, as the author admits. Therefore, the fact that someone isn’t an ideal communist or that some country doesn’t practice ideal communism does not mean that they are not communists. Otherwise we could never call anyone a communist. Yet communists managed to kill 100 million people in the last century, so they obviously exist, since a non-existent thing cannot exert such demonstrable results on the real world.


27 posted on 08/10/2023 8:54:37 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: dfwgator

You’re clueless.


28 posted on 08/10/2023 8:56:05 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time
Together at last, so to speak. Moreover, Hitler specifically delineated his party from the Marxist socialists because that was "Jewish" socialism while his was "Aryan socialism." This is lost in the tiny sea of "Left and Right" malarkey.

Then in the next sentence Hitler would talk about "Jewish Capitalism".

29 posted on 08/10/2023 8:57:35 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Communism is a lie that helps a new group of people use the blood of others so they can ride in the government limousines and live in the government palace.


30 posted on 08/10/2023 8:57:45 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: Boogieman

“ This is just a variation on the “no true Communist” fallacy.”

Yes.

Moronic and pointless essay.


31 posted on 08/10/2023 8:58:11 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: z3n

“The CCP may talk “communist” or “Marxist” rhetoric, but they have never had it and never will.”

Lol, Mao’s great leap forward was not fascist in nature.
But Yes, CCP turned towards fascism post Mao.


32 posted on 08/10/2023 8:58:28 AM PDT by TeleStraightShooter (Spike.S1 *can* get into cell DNA... too many cells = Long Covid/PASC)
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To: TeleStraightShooter

Communism was basically whatever Mao said it was.


33 posted on 08/10/2023 8:59:10 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind
"Government will disappear in the perfect Marxist Utopia. Can you imagine the CCP ever giving up power in the name of “communism”?"

Another logical mistake the author makes. Yes, Marx and Engels claimed that the end stage of communism would be a stateless "worker's utopia". But they never claimed that all the intermediate steps towards that goal did not also constitute essential elements of communism. Only more dishonest Marxists who came after them have tried to claim that, and the author obviously fell for that bait.

Marx and Engels were quite clear that a total dictatorship by the state was a very much necessary stage of true communism. The fact that communism never proceeds beyond that step is completely predictable, and it serves to debunk the silly utopian theories of Marx and Engels, but it does not mean that states which become stuck at that stage have abandoned their driving ideology.

34 posted on 08/10/2023 8:59:35 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: TeleStraightShooter

National Socialist, with some Communist rhetoric


35 posted on 08/10/2023 9:00:35 AM PDT by omega4412
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To: Angelino97

Indeed, by one measure fascism was completely defeated in 1945, but by another measure, in 2023, fascism is completely victorious.

Quite a Hegelian result.


36 posted on 08/10/2023 9:01:30 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Good thing we’ve got Antifa to protect us.


37 posted on 08/10/2023 9:02:18 AM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: SeekAndFind

How many words for bribe are there in Chinese? That culture could never actually be communist.


38 posted on 08/10/2023 9:03:16 AM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: gundog
As you know, Anti they ain't.

The organizers come from upper class families and the rank and file are recruited out of prisons.

39 posted on 08/10/2023 9:05:35 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Follow the money. Even if it leads you to someplace horrible it will still lead you to the truth.)
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To: ifinnegan

“People who claim PRC is not communist and that the Chinese COMMUNIST Party is not communist are idiots who think communism is actually good.”

No, not all of them. Some of them are well-intentioned people who have just allowed themselves to be duped by people who think communism is actually good.


40 posted on 08/10/2023 9:05:37 AM PDT by Boogieman
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