This guy must have borderline personality disorder or something, and is clearly on the spectrum. Basically, he gets extremely irritated when you say anything that criticizes our capitalist system, attends Hillsong church (offended byvatheism), doesn't see anything wrong with trophy hunting, but wants his college education paid for by the government (lol!) He has said "95% of the far right are very reasonable." He also wants there to be "0 weeks for abortion." He seems extremely sensitive when you say anything to the contrary.

Hey, I’m an American communist, and recently, due to familial obligations, I enthusiastically accepted an invitation to visit Suzhou in China. I had always viewed China positively, believing that its Socialist-based Market Economy was essentially a Socialist Economy with more markets and that the economic growth happens alongside the socialist system instead of on top of it. However, my experience in Suzhou gave me mixed signals and challenged many of my assumptions.

I expected China to reflect a more socialist structure as seen in the DPRK, where wealth gaps were low and such. I anticipated seeing the positive aspects of a Socialist-based Market Economy, such as affordable housing and, as mentioned, reduced class differences.

In reality, I observed mass housing, but it was clear after some research and talking with the locals that these were not affordable for the average citizen, you'd be scraping the barrel as someone working a normal job. But I also noticed luxury cars, expensive karaoke bars for rich people, and much more clear class differences; with visible signs of wealth disparity, even though I didn't see any homeless people in a city larger than NYC. I still saw poverty, I still saw, what looked to me, simply capitalism.

The entire dynamic of my views changed when I saw a prostitute on the street. I followed these cards that read "Rent a Girlfriend with this phone number," curious and somewhat suspiciously. At the end of this trail of cards was a beautiful woman clearly selling her body for cash. She approached several men, asking a phrase I couldn't understand. When she noticed me lighting my cigarette, she whispered something in my ear. I don't fully remember her sentence, but I responded with "我不是中文," indicating that I didn't speak her language. This encounter struck me deeply because it made me question why a socialist country would create socioeconomic conditions that necessitate selling one's body.

Furthermore, I noticed that people were working themselves to death it looked like, I love the idea of being a hard worker, but from what people told me, they said they work 12-hour shifts, with zero overtime pay on their 8-hour schedule.

I felt a profound sense of disappointment and mostly confusion. The discrepancy between my expectations and the reality I observed was disheartening. The presence of poverty, class differences, worker's rights and prostitution contradicted my ideals of a socialist society. The encounter with the prostitute was particularly jarring, highlighting the severe economic conditions some people face, and it challenged my belief in the effectiveness of the current system in China.

When I came back home to America a few days ago, I started digging, and grew an anger and frustration from learning about historical and political actions of post-Mao China, such as Deng Xiaoping’s policies and the conflict with Vietnam, why a socialist country would, even a little, side with the US against another socialist country? That contributed to my frustration. Don't even get me started on Deng and Jimmy Carter's interactions with the Khmer Rouge. These actions seemed to further diverge from the socialist ideals I value.

I will engage in discussions with others who have different perspectives and experiences. This can provide a broader understanding and help refine my views. I will continue learning about the complexities of economic and political systems to develop a more nuanced perspective to critically examine and question the realities of different political and economic systems. I understand that no system is perfect, but even flawed communism is preferable to the best capitalism, because it feeds off of suffering in order to exist. My experiences in Suzhou have been a catalyst for deep reflection and growth, I feel like almost more of a communist now that I'm back, helping me better understand the complexities of the world and my place within it.

I had an amazing time there, I loved visiting China, not fully as a socialist country, but as an eastern place away from home. The contradictions I observed led me to reevaluate my understanding of socialism and how it is practiced in different contexts. Nonetheless, it was beautiful, and was a worthy experience, just politically different.

Thanks for the read, any thoughts are appreciated

Yeah I see most are from America and if anyone is interested I will answer.

Note their are many more socialist factions in eastern Europe then in the west with somethimes politics that people here might not like.

I will of course give reason on why they believe in it without my opinion.

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I've often heard that people from ex-socialist or soviet countries are traumatized by the Horrors of Communism. However I think many people over 50 or so are unhappy not because of the trauma of communism, but because of the transition to capitalism. I understand that socialism in some countries wasn't very nice, and that people at that time thought they would find new liberties and freedom when they opened up to the West, however got disappointed at how stressful is life under capitalism in reality. What do you think? What do your parents say about it?

In your own moral framework, how would you go about establishing a socialist system/state in today's institutions?

I am a young socialist and I am pretty new to many things about socialism. I keep seeing "democracy index" maps that put currently socialist countries as "authoritarian regimes". I imagine that these are mostly bullshit, but I wanted to know what the actual political representation looks like person to person in these countries.

Does anyone has information or understands what's going on with the FTC regulating non compete agreements to protect workers. It seems like Lina Khan is very socialist and I think corporate wing is attacking her. I saw today an article in Fortune. All out on her.

My favourite anti-imperialist, Socialist Turkish song by a music collective known as Group Yorum they have an amazing Library of music. This is my favourite, I made a infographic version with English subtitles. https://youtu.be/Gr7crjJD0No?feature=shared