History /
Why did communism in Poland fail? [180]
No private companies (technically next to none) and therefore no competition which led to poor services and no reason to work.
China seems to be doing reasonably well, wouldn't you say? Most of their businesses are state owned.
No incentives, did people study for years just to get paid the same as others who didn't? seems unfair to me.
I don't think it worked that way. In fact, today, even though I may have an MBA from a decent university, most probably the guy whose daddy is richer than mine and is better connected will get a better job. Is that fair?
The economy was completely fabricated i.e. had no basis in reality.
Hahaha come one Sean, after what has happened over the last three years or so, I believe most western economies are fabricated.
it didn't allow people freedoms such as of individuality, expression, political criticism, religion and pursuit of personal gain.
And that is the point. Its not even about the freedom of expression. Its about the idea. Even though, I as a citizen in a democracy, may not change or influence the decision of my government, I have the freedom to talk about it. People in the SU and modern day china don't. That makes the system unsustainable over a period of time. But what I find most laughable, is that despite the fact that I have this freedom, it does me very little good. It's just rhetoric. But somehow the idea is more important than the how it actually works.
I base it on trade deficits. It works for the Chinese.
Does it really? considering the wealth distribution sucks? Just because a government has a **** load of money, does it make it a successful country?
Chinese have not been shielded from America.
They actually have to a large extent. I have some chinese friends in my Uni and the stuff they sometimes learn in school about the west is just well...to put it mildly, it's funny.
China is an unusual story. Their huge growth rate and high GDP is nothin surprising though. Considering the size of their population, I'd say it was expected. The China that we have become familiar with is very new China. I think we need to give it time before passing a judgement on it. Once the basics requirements of human beings (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) is fulfilled, then only does a population rise up for the more intangible rights. Till that time comes, and it will take a long time yet, I'd say it would be foolish to judge their success.