• Lad
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    fedilink
    105 months ago

    There’s something very amusing about the nominally communist China beating the capitalist powerhouse USA at its own game.

    • @UnderpantsWeevil
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      35 months ago

      Large professional centrally planned economies do a better job of managing scarce resources than a pack of ill-informed and uncoordinated Wall Street Lemmings.

      • @WildPalmTree
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        45 months ago

        Sometimes. And when they dont, there is no one to stop them. It’s the age old problem of a wise despot. Just dressed in different clothes.

        • @UnderpantsWeevil
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          05 months ago

          It’s the age old problem of a wise despot.

          When you’re governing wisely, there is no need to be despotic. Conflicts and contradictions necessitate a large militant police state to keep the lower class in line. But when you’ve got generous surpluses and a rising quality of life, people are generally happy and easy to govern.

          • @WildPalmTree
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            25 months ago

            Despot means you have absolute power. It doesn’t mean you use it badly. It just means you have the potential to.

            • @UnderpantsWeevil
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              -15 months ago

              Despot means you have absolute power.

              Traditionally in a cruel or oppressive manner.

              The wise leader doesn’t need to inflict cruelty, because they have the public’s trust.

                • @UnderpantsWeevil
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                  05 months ago

                  Then people grow unhappy and begin to rebel. And they either pave a new, wiser path or double down by resorting to cruelty.

                  • @WildPalmTree
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                    05 months ago

                    Exactly. Which is why a despot is not wanted. Much better with a small revolution every now and again; i.e., an election.