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.
Many more articles, as well as audio and video podcasts, on my substack: mklewis929.substack.com. Free signup. Read my western novels, Whitewater , River Bend, Return to River Bend, and Allie’s Dilemma all available on Amazon. You can follow me on Twitter: @thailandmkl. And rumble: lewandcou
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