Tag Archives: Bob Hall

Still Commies After All These Years – II

photo credit: Greg Autry

 

Many American consumers, business people and politicians are possessed of the whimsical notion that China long ago abandoned Communism for the benefits of liberal capitalism and is pursuing a “progressive” political path of some sort. While, I have previously addressed this, the recent spectacle of the 18th Communist Party Congress seems to call for revisiting it. The Congress was, of course, bathed in Marxist symbolism: everything in red and the hammer and sickle logo on everything from nametags to portfolios.

As action invariably reflects symbolism, the Congress was accompanied by increased media censorship. Ironically, even the phrase “18th Party Congress” was stricken from Internet searches during the event. There was also an exceptionally repressive crackdown on dissidents, many of whom will be jailed for years for suggesting political reforms.

Marxist-Leninist Communism has two important components. One is state control over productive resources and the other is a bizarre and opaque political system. My previous post made the case that , despite the dynamism at the lowest levels, China’s economy remains a centrally controlled, socialism in sheep’s clothing. Watching the news flow out of the Congress is all that is required to see that China’s political structure with its all important Politburo Standing Committee and a military that reports to the party – not the civilian leadership – is 100% pure communist.

As to whether China is “progressing” away from Communism, I’d refer you to the NEW oath that all lawyers in China have been required to take, whereby they pledge allegiance not to the truth or judiciary fairness, but rather to the Communist Party and “the cause of socialism.”:

I swear to faithfully fulfill the sacred mission of legal workers in socialism with Chinese characteristics. I swear my loyalty to the motherland, to the people, to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system, and to protect the dignity of the Constitution and laws. – from The NY Times.

Bob Hall recently pointed out this invaluable snippet of conversation between Mo Xiusong, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Dr. Clark Bowers, member of a U.S. delegation to China:

  • Clark Bowers: Is the long-term goal of the Communist Party of China still world Communism?
  • Mo Xiusong: Yes, of course, that is the reason we exist.  However, the road to Communism may take well over a hundred years and the transition doesn’t have to be violent.
  • Clark Bowers: Is it possible to reach your goal of world Communism while any of the bourgeois or their economic environment still exist?
  • Mo Xiusong: No, that would be against the laws of science.
  • Clark Bowers: As part of your reform, do you even desire to ever allow for anti-Socialist political parties?
  • Mo Xiusong: No, that would be unconstitutional.
  • Clark Bowers: Do you have any desire to change this part of the constitution?
  • Mo Xiusong: No, the people wouldn’t support it.
  • Clark Bowers: Who speaks for the people of China?
  • Mo Xiusong: The Communist Party of China acts on behalf of the workers of China.  We are their mind.
  • Mo Xiusong continues: The historical miscalculations of Gorbachev led to an unbridled chaos that tore the social fabric of the USSR apart.  We opposed a similar destabilization in Tiananmen Square in 1989, and history has vindicated our leadership by the economic and political stability that has followed.

Bob says we can find this charmer in Beating the Unbeatable Foe, by Frederick Schwarz, M.D., (408 – 410)

 

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

 

Greg Autry serves Senior Economist with the American Jobs Alliance and is co-author (with Peter Navarro) of Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – a Global Call to Action. He blogs regularly on the Huffington Post.

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Bob Hall Reviews Death by China Reviews

A guest posting from Bob Hall on our film reviewers:

Everyone, no matter what their circumstances, has more money than time.

(They just don’t know it yet.)

When people tell me about a movie they’ve seen, I always want to know how it was worth their time.  The best movies, I think, can change our lives.  This, I think, must be a good use of time.

Death by China—one of the best movies I’ve ever seen—is a good use of time.

www.deathbychina.com

Know, now, that this is coming from an experienced movie snob.  Back in another life—back when I thought I had time—I could drink coffee and discuss art cinema with the best of them.

(Now that I think about it: I would love to see one of those old Dave Kehr Chicago Reader reviews—on Cassavetes’s Love Streams would be perfect.)

This in mind, I hope it makes sense to hear that Death by China left me more inclined to review the reviewers than to review the film.

The longer you’ve followed the issues, the more you’ll agree with me.  I wouldn’t fault a reviewer for criticizing a film’s lighting or pacing.  This is a specialized part of their paychecks.  But when a movie and director meet a higher purpose: if the critics aren’t up to meeting at the same level, they can get in over their heads—and get their characters tested right quick.

For some lively examples, look at:

www.rottentomatoes.com/m/death_by_china

The Death by China audience rating is currently 80%—not bad, really, considering that Cassavetes’s masterpiece is 88%—but the Death by China critics’ rating is 30%.

This, I will argue, is a clear-cut case of killing the messenger.  Movie critics are specialists who understand movies better than they understand China and trade deficits.  These critics are basically, unwittingly, blaming their ignorance on film director Peter Navarro.  I agree that Death by China is outrageous and extreme, but this is only because our relationship with China is outrageous and extreme.  Navarro understands our relationship with China as well as anybody.  He’s simply presenting the facts and telling a story that needs to be told.  If anything, I’d say he’s still understating things a bit—deliberately, perhaps, in attempt to reach a larger audience.

(Of course, I live with this stuff every day, so I think almost everybody understates the dangers.)

If I were you, I’d go see Death by China as soon as possible and consider it time well invested.  It’s fascinating and informative—even entertaining in its own unpredictable way.

To say this movie has the power to change our lives is to damn with faint praise.  This movie has the power to save the world and the lives of our children.

Mostly, though:

This movie can give us time.

_______________________

follow Bob at: http://www.facebook.com/BobHall2012Campaign 

 

Bob Hall’s Opus

In this thought provoking: Fear-Fallen Children Independent Presidential Candidate Bob Hall has compiled this very extensive and very investing collection of article, thoughts and comments  and continues his one man war on Communist China

Bob notably resists “America’s Shift from Wealth Creation to Wealth Transfer and Surrender”

 

While you may or may not agree with everything Bob has to say, I’m sure you’ll agree we’d be well served by having more politicians who are this honest – particularly about America’s dysfunctional relationship with China. You can find more from Bob at: http://www.facebook.com/BobHall2012Campaign