What's it like living in communist China?

[Guy]

I've seen how the government censors certain websites from being displayed on Google before, but what are some other ways that living in China is different than living in the US? Is there absolutely no freedom of speech or press? How do they manage to have a capitalist society? If there is a website or video that someone can direct me to that would help my understanding, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Ellie-n]

China has the best dumplings! Here's a good article (not about dumplings), but I don't know any websites.

http://www.nyinquirer.com/nyinquirer/200...ommun.html

[QuantumTheorist]

Well, one misconception that you have is that Capitalism is somehow connected to social freedoms. They are not really connected at all. Just keep that in mind. I'll look around for references to help though in the meantime.

[mhp_wizo_93_418]

I would suggest that you attempt to speak with someone that has escaped. -... .... they don't have a capitalist society, they have communism / socialism, although some want to hide what it really is by calling it 'state capitalism' just remember that calling the sky orange doesn't make it so. -... ....

[Blu]

They don't have a capitalist society. Most of the businesses that are allowed to compete in free markets are owned by the government in part or in totality. Outside companies that are allowed to set up shop there have to give the government a portion of control (ownership).

The simple fact of the matter is, you don't miss what you never had. Most of the population has never known freedom, so the trivial amount of increased freedom that they have realized since Tian'anmen Square is essentially a gift that they do not care to risk.

[Vickie Hoo]

I have some research about China's cultural and politics.
now China is one country, two systems, the socialist system in mainland China, the capitalist system in Hong Kong, Macao.
In China, the one-party dictatorship, there is no American so-called freedom of speech, only relative freedom.
However, the Chinese Communist Party really is good, the current Chinese economy is very active and international status is increasingly high .

[Sageandscholar]

I lived in Shanghai for a year and frequently visit Shenzhen and Guangzhou for business. There are some political restrictions but they barely impact most people (not saying they are right - just that they didn't impact me).
But China is far from communist. Income tax rates are higher than the USA but on a par with many other Western countries. Private enterprise is actively encouraged. Foreign media is allowed and present - but as you said some censorship remains.

[Sarcastictrip801]

well I heard a story about a Chines woman fell out a window from the 7th floor of a building butt she was saved by landing in a pile of sh** that was being removed from the building that she fell from , the sewage from the people that lived in the building was stored in the basement of the Building the day the woman fell just happened to be the day they were transporting the poo , so it sound like people live like animals in a barn


If I could remember where the story came from I would add a link

[TT]

I don't think Living in China is diverse from living in USA too much.
1.In business,there are only small differences.Private company cannot control state-owned companies of weapons,oil,electricity,railway,telecommunications due to national security.But they can invest in these fields.Other fields are all open to private and foreign business.

2.in politics,it is totally different.but China System is different from USSR commie system.It is socialism system,combined with parliament and ccp.The president is voted by parliament,the laws are made by parliament. CCP only works in policy making.All big policy should be approved by parliament. Parliament members are voted step by step.First people vote for district parliament,then district parliament vote for members of city parliament,then city parliament vote for province parliament,then province parliament vote the center parliament.The center parliament vote for the president of China and make laws of China.
In villages,people vote their officers directly like in USA.

3Daily life.The same with American people.Work for money everyday,buy houses and cars.young man go to bars sometimes.All the same,

4Freedom.Speech is free,u can say what ever u want,no one cares,just your speech sometimes cannot get on the newspaper,but u can say whatever u want,u won't get in jail for what u say.Coz everyone is cursing the officer everyday.But in some websites,your comments may be deleted by the editor,but sometimes it won't,depend on which website u comment on.Some webs are quite free to comment coz it is private-owned website,someone is not coz it is state-owned.

5.The unfree things are publishing,some websites,porn and press.When u publish your paper on newspapers,or u publish books,or u make a movie,it has to be censored.However,they are free in Hongkong,so some people publish their works in hongkong,and people can buy those through internet.
Some webs are baned including facebook,youtube,twitter and some porn webs，This is what we hate most.We have to download some software to view these.I donlt know why those officers ban this,really s h i t.
Porn and playboy are illegal in China,selling porns is a crime.but still,who cares,everyone downloads some or buy some in black market.

there are some merits living in China than living in USA.1Living cost is much lower,especialy food and service.2not so many kinds of tax.

[B C]

All the Government has to do is yank the chain.

Have you ever seen a dog mis-behave? And the owner is displeased? Well the people are the dogs, and guess what? The government is the owner!


Seriously, your unable to opening practice religion, no more then 1 child; if another child is born he or she doesnt exist in the eyes of the government (no education, healthcare etc) and the parents have to pay a whopping fine. You cant start your own business and EVERYONE if they have a job is working for the government, any protesting you end up in jail, almost everything is censored on the internet. The press is 100% controlled by government and again no freedom of speech.