Celebrate the People's Revolution!

60 years ago, a dynamic force came to pass in which China became a Police State with a dash of State Property civics. All hail the People's Republic of China!

Time really flies doesn't it. 20th century has managed to change everything! Now, China instead of it being carved up into economic zones is carving up Africa, Latin America and the barren deserts of Australia into economic zones. The same Australia which would not let the Chinese immigrate 100 years ago due to fear of diseases and the 'Yellow Peril' in general. Now, China is pulling Australia out of the Great Recession. The new China has managed to lift 200 million people out of poverty and is now the creditor of the United States. I guess the Chinese people have "Stood Up" to paraphrase Chariman Mao.

But what is China today? Is it what Mao wanted? Yes and no. Mao wanted China to be a peasant/worker paradise whilst being heavily industrialized and a world power. You can't have your cake and eat it too I suppose. China is a Free Market economy with some Mercantilist tendencies which is directed by the state. It's the workshop of the world. A large population of its people still happen to be peasant farmers but everyone has a family member who moved east from say Sichuan or Yunnan to get a job in the big city. Whether it's Chongqing or Shanghai.

One thing that hasn't changed is the fact that China is still a Police State. That would've made Mao happy. However, Communist officials are murmuring about having "limited democracy" to keep up with the newly educated, somewhat globally aware middle class that is slowly being created in the New China. Still 100 million migrant workers and their family are suffering because of the Great Recession, and the disparity between rich capitalists and poor peasants is growing. Such is always the case in Chinese history. However, Chinese power is threatned by it's neighbour to the South....India.

India is 200 million people short than China, but it's economy is growing very quickly compared to the decade before. The two nations fought a war in 1962 but that resolved nothing. Disputes over things such as borders and Tibet raise nationalist fervour. The Indian Ocean, once thought as the Indian Navy's playground is being moved in on by Chinese bases in places like Gwadar in Pakistan and a new naval base in Sri Lanka. It's hard to imagine two economies which were so highly linked going to war but who knows. Maybe India will go the route of China with all the Maoists running around Orissa.

I say celebrate the revolution! The reason being, China has made all our lives cheaper by being willing to make our clothes for Wal-Mart and Target. For giving the US government money allowing lower taxes and more money for the American citizen to spend on Chinese clothes or more debt for that new house up the road. Where would we be without a communist China? Bored, more taxed and wearing the same clothes for $10 more. Let the revolution roll on!