I’ve been speaking with other more informed communists and they’ve told me that none actually exist. Is this true?
China, Laos, and Vietnam: now notoriously capitalists. Workers work 12+ hours with no protection in horrible factory conditions. Suicide rates are so high that suicide nets are installed. The air is so polluted millions die from lung cancer, especially factory workers w/out basic masks. Corporations dominate
North Korea: Undemocratically ruled by the Kim dynasty. Jong un indulges lavishly at the expense of his citizens, ordering millions in fine wine and trips from Denis Rodman. They might be the most socialist though, as Juche seems to otherwise be democratic.
Cuba: Sanctions have taken a massive toll, but even taking that into account the country still has its own problems. They have massive food shortages and inventory probs and aren’t self sufficient after 60+ years. Why couldn’t they’ve use machinery imported from the Soviet Union to develop their agriculture and fishery? The Soviets supported them heavily. They seem to be incredibly mismanaged or corrupt
Hey, I own a corporation in Vietnam. I had no idea I dominated anything.
The economic police verify I comply with the permitted activities on my business license, issued in accordance with the 5-year plan before last. If I’m doing something other than that, I get shut down (that’s not a problem though, I plan to continue complying).
My employees certainly have legal protections. Heck, they have government health insurance (which is mandatory for me to pay for, and offers OK protection, and honestly I’m quite happy it’s a thing that exists). I have never seen a ‘suicide net’. There’s no at-will employment : I can’t just randomly fire people, I need to provide cause, and it has to be sufficient.
The air quality in HCMC an Ha Noi is not great these days, but other than those two cities, is pretty good overall. I would classify it as ‘moderately bad’ in those 2 places. I drive through it on motorcycle on one of the worst routes in HCMC (D1 to Nha Be). It’s not my favorite thing about life in the city, but it’s also clearly not the main cause of lung cancer – that would still be cigarette smoking by a longshot.
8 years ago, I would have called the air quality here ‘good’, it’s a fairly recent problem.
Anyway, it’s not paradise but it’s no hellhole either. Ask me anything you would like to know!
I’m also in Vietnam and just yesterday got brutally dominated by a Vietnamese corporation! The owners of a small food stall, a young couple, made me such an insanely crazy delicious hủ tíu, i almost fell of my chair.
my taste buds? DOMINATED!
my hunger? DOMINATED!
my knowledge of what hủ tíu actually can be? ANNIHILATED!
and now I’m infested with
communismcapitalism and will probably go back there tonight…If you like hủ tiếu, there’s a place behind the hindu-looking temple across from Takashimaya that’s quite decent and well-regarded (this is in HCMC). They use reasonably fresh squid.
To get there, take the road off Pasteur that’s to your right when facing the temple. Before all the sketchy bars (avoid these) begin, there’s an alley. Go down this alley until you reach it.
Oh that reminds me, speaking of being infested, remember to take your de-worming pills every 4-6 months.
Lot of people forget to do that here, but it’s sort of a good idea.
which ones? can you maybe give me the name?
I usually get Mebendazole. It’s about VND 10.000 at most pharmacies.
It comes in chocolate and fruit flavor. I recommend fruit.
Communism is when small businesses
nah, domination of corporations is when millions of people owning their own small businesses.
Communism is when capitalism
Economic liberalization is a defense against the kind of economic warfare that Cuba has been subjected to. Those are really the only two options: play ball with capitalism to some extent, or get strangled by sanctions.
Communism is when not communism
communism involves the abolition of the government. If you want to know what America does to communist movements undefended by government look at Indonesia in 1965–66
I’ve just spent a week in your city. What an experience. It’s truly one of the world’s great cities.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I own a small company in Australia. It doesn’t sound so different. Although if we dig in, I’m sure it is.
Thanks again!
Oh yeah, local tax/legal compliance stuff is a bit of a hassle as a foreigner. I bet that’s easier in Australia. The accounting system is weird, although that’s being fixed.
25% of running a company anywhere though seems to be chasing unpaid invoices :P
Sounds like you live in a nice social democracy!
I do get reminded to vote all the time via text message, but am not a citizen yet, so can’t actually do so :P