[busymom0]

You say:

> it's nowhere near as bad as you think > However, Does it prevent you from living a happy life in China? Does it prevent you from becoming rich and powerful? Does it prevent you from talking shit about the government with your friends? Does it prevent you from pursuing the equivalent of the American Dream in China? No it doesn't. > This is not stalinist russia

This is an extremely naive and ridiculous belief. Depending upon your definition of "happy life", if that involves having to suck up and follow orders given by the government, then sure go ahead. But don't pretend as if China and every other socialist/communist country will let average joes be happy. They have re-education camps for people who don't follow, camps for certain religions, a social credit system blocking millions from traveling/renting and what not.

Not fighting back when things are starting to get worse is exactly how things exaggerate to the point of no return. I would recommend you watch a documentary on how Stalin came to power and how things got worse. Look at Venezuela now vs 20 years ago and you have proof.

[crimsonalucard]

I lived in China. I lived in China and the United States. I know the reality. Naivety is the person who watches documentaries and experiences the world second hand.

I'm assuming you haven't been to China otherwise you wouldn't be saying these things.

[busymom0]

I won't disclose my location here on HN but I have lived in 2 countries (one western and other asian) and I know the contrast. Simple things like porn being banned is enough to prove my point. I have had several AirBnb guests at my place from China who describe the system. But their description came across as "frog in the well".

You cannot claim the following are anywhere close to how things are in US. Or will you claim these are all fake propaganda being spread by western countries? It's almost ironic that defending China's practices yet China doesn't even allow Google and most social media sites in the country without a VPN. If this stuff happens in US, media would be having a field day:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang_re-education_camps

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/china-bans-win...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System

https://www.npr.org/2019/05/07/720608802/reporters-notebook-...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography_in_China

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Websites_blocked_in_mainland_C...

Also, we are not supposed to engage in political debates on HN so I am going to stop here.