CCP has long since abandoned actual Marxism, even the totalitarian kind.
Marx would probably be glad to know his work is still known, but bitterly disappointed that his work became used to justify a series of Imperial governments pretending to be Marxists who squared off with Imperial governments pretending to be Adam Smith enthusiasts while both gutted the global south as enthusiastically as possible.
There's a lot to criticize China for, but I don't think they can be said to be "gutting the global south as enthusiastically as possible" even as hyperbole. The main accusation against China in this regard—so-called "debt-trap diplomacy"—is AFAIK strictly hypothetical.
China has not abandoned Marxism, they adjusted from the dogmatism of the Gang of Four to a more classical understanding of Marxism. Claims of imperialism are similarly false. Even if you disagree with China's socialist system, it's factually based on the Marxist understanding of marketization as useful for socializing production, while the commanding heights of the economy remain dominated by the socialist state. Here's a handy diagram:
Adam Smith would have vehemontly disagreed and believed the free market to be the best way of allocating resources, and a permanent institution, not something definitely developing towards centralization as Marx did. When subordinate to the socialist state, this centralizing factor can be leveraged to fold industry as it develops to national monopoly into the public sector.
Contrary to popular opinion, Marx was not against branding or mass production. The only thing Marx could be against for something like this is the implication that it's made via exploitation. Which, I think any product these days even something from "communist" China is clearly unable to avoid that.
Marx didn't even mind some forms of trade and commerce. Especially for luxury goods like cigarettes. He thought the practice would die naturally as we normalized communism but would probably not have balked at something like this.
Would you prefer private companies be doing it? The government is trying to reduce smoking and prices are low enough not to trap addicted people in poverty.
It's not like Phillip Morris does better.
Drug production is such an obvious thing that should be nationalised to remove the profit incentive and introduce a degree of accountability and collective control.
i guess anywhere with legal cigarettes have a level of state sponsored cancer, having it as a nationalised industry would probably aid in keeping things somewhat clean.
17 Comments
FUCKING_CUNO@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 14 pts · 3d
ELI5?
eestileib@sh.itjust.works · 59 pts · 3d
CCP has long since abandoned actual Marxism, even the totalitarian kind.
Marx would probably be glad to know his work is still known, but bitterly disappointed that his work became used to justify a series of Imperial governments pretending to be Marxists who squared off with Imperial governments pretending to be Adam Smith enthusiasts while both gutted the global south as enthusiastically as possible.
NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io · 8 pts · 3d
There's a lot to criticize China for, but I don't think they can be said to be "gutting the global south as enthusiastically as possible" even as hyperbole. The main accusation against China in this regard—so-called "debt-trap diplomacy"—is AFAIK strictly hypothetical.
rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 18 pts · 3d
The least charitable interpretation of the Belt and Road Initiative is that it's an alternative to the IMF
Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 16h
China has not abandoned Marxism, they adjusted from the dogmatism of the Gang of Four to a more classical understanding of Marxism. Claims of imperialism are similarly false. Even if you disagree with China's socialist system, it's factually based on the Marxist understanding of marketization as useful for socializing production, while the commanding heights of the economy remain dominated by the socialist state. Here's a handy diagram:
Adam Smith would have vehemontly disagreed and believed the free market to be the best way of allocating resources, and a permanent institution, not something definitely developing towards centralization as Marx did. When subordinate to the socialist state, this centralizing factor can be leveraged to fold industry as it develops to national monopoly into the public sector.
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 3d
Why would he love it?
Donkter@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 3d
Contrary to popular opinion, Marx was not against branding or mass production. The only thing Marx could be against for something like this is the implication that it's made via exploitation. Which, I think any product these days even something from "communist" China is clearly unable to avoid that.
Marx didn't even mind some forms of trade and commerce. Especially for luxury goods like cigarettes. He thought the practice would die naturally as we normalized communism but would probably not have balked at something like this.
subarctictundra@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3d
I think it might be from China's state-owned tobacco corporation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqCk9APctNk
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 9 pts · 3d
state sponsored cancer 👍
naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 3d
Would you prefer private companies be doing it? The government is trying to reduce smoking and prices are low enough not to trap addicted people in poverty.
It's not like Phillip Morris does better.
Drug production is such an obvious thing that should be nationalised to remove the profit incentive and introduce a degree of accountability and collective control.
Gold_E_Lox@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 3d
i guess anywhere with legal cigarettes have a level of state sponsored cancer, having it as a nationalised industry would probably aid in keeping things somewhat clean.
karn@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 3d
True socialists smoke a pack of Marxloros, the workers choice of cancer!
At least China has cheaper/free healthcare.
Pat_Riot@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 3d
I wonder how they'd compare with American cigarettes. I'd love to try cigarettes from other countries.
swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 3d
I've had Japanese Camels, pretty tasty!
Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 2d
What about their cigarettes?
swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 2d
A great follow up!
Digit@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 3d
Reminds a little of Socrates, when asked what his punishment should be.