Someone who has personal experience of communism

[glennds]

That gentleman's experience with communism is undeniable and I'm certainly in no position to criticize him.

According to Wikipedia, there are only four truly communist countries in the world; China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam.

Last year I spent some time in Vietnam, partly in Hanoi and partly spread out among a handful of places in the countryside including the town of Sa Pa, very close to the Chinese border. I don't know if there are different flavors of communism, but if there are, Vietnam is a good flavor. I say this insofar as during my time there I never experienced any of scary things that come to mind when we think about communism. For example, there was no visible or excessive police presence. Even in the countryside, I never heard of anyone being stopped and interrogated by police. There is a vibrant business climate, and an especially active small entrepreneur environment (rapidly growing in the fin tech area).
The people are lovely, beyond friendly. The only authoritarianism I might point to would be the grumpy guy in the booth at immigration when I arrived at the airport, but I would be quick to say no more grumpy than our American immigration officials, and far less grumpy than our American TSA agents.

This is not a "don't fear communism" post. I am no promoter of communism. But I am also saying Vietnam is a fantastic place despite being communist, and I would encourage anyone to visit.

BTW, I visited China in 2018 and while it was a good time, there was no shortage of police and there was an ever present feeling of authority everywhere I went. All Google products are banned so don't plan on accessing YouTube, Gmail, Chrome or Google Maps. Visitors are highly restricted in what they can and cannot do. Radically different than Vietnam though both are "communist". Not sure what to make of it all.

[Libertarian666]

That gentleman's experience with communism is undeniable and I'm certainly in no position to criticize him.

According to Wikipedia, there are only four truly communist countries in the world; China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam.

Last year I spent some time in Vietnam, partly in Hanoi and partly spread out among a handful of places in the countryside including the town of Sa Pa, very close to the Chinese border. I don't know if there are different flavors of communism, but if there are, Vietnam is a good flavor. I say this insofar as during my time there I never experienced any of scary things that come to mind when we think about communism. For example, there was no visible or excessive police presence. Even in the countryside, I never heard of anyone being stopped and interrogated by police. There is a vibrant business climate, and an especially active small entrepreneur environment (rapidly growing in the fin tech area).
The people are lovely, beyond friendly. The only authoritarianism I might point to would be the grumpy guy in the booth at immigration when I arrived at the airport, but I would be quick to say no more grumpy than our American immigration officials, and far less grumpy than our American TSA agents.

This is not a "don't fear communism" post. I am no promoter of communism. But I am also saying Vietnam is a fantastic place despite being communist, and I would encourage anyone to visit.

BTW, I visited China in 2018 and while it was a good time, there was no shortage of police and there was an ever present feeling of authority everywhere I went. All Google products are banned so don't plan on accessing YouTube, Gmail, Chrome or Google Maps. Visitors are highly restricted in what they can and cannot do. Radically different than Vietnam though both are "communist". Not sure what to make of it all.

1. Wikipedia articles on political issues can be safely assumed to be propaganda, not fact.
2. Cuba is definitely communist and is a horrid place to live, which is why people risk their lives to leave to come to the US.
3. Communism is incompatible with the notion of entrepreneurship, so I'm not sure how Vietnam could be considered communist.

[pp4me]

3. Communism is incompatible with the notion of entrepreneurship, so I'm not sure how Vietnam could be considered communist.

I've read that all major businesses are owned and controlled by the government but if you want to set up shop as a street vendor you are more free to do it than in the U.S.A. where the police will shut down a kid's lemonade stand for operating without a license.

[Libertarian666]

3. Communism is incompatible with the notion of entrepreneurship, so I'm not sure how Vietnam could be considered communist.

I've read that all major businesses are owned and controlled by the government but if you want to set up shop as a street vendor you are more free to do it than in the U.S.A. where the police will shut down a kid's lemonade stand for operating without a license.

Then that isn't real communism.
Maybe it's "democratic socialism". I don't know; you'd have to ask Comrade Sanders.

[I Shrugged]

I run into people who grew up in Eastern Europe.
They are usually pretty unkind to communists. How easily each new generation falls for the same bad ideas. What's more amazing is how smart people, say Bernie Sanders, can have had it in plain view their whole lives, and still be enamored with making it work.

Now, I realize Bernie is (probably) no longer a communist. But he's not far off. Like all the others, he wants a better version. Because the only reason it hasn't worked is that the right people weren't in charge.

[glennds]

1. Wikipedia articles on political issues can be safely assumed to be propaganda, not fact.
2. Cuba is definitely communist and is a horrid place to live, which is why people risk their lives to leave to come to the US.
3. Communism is incompatible with the notion of entrepreneurship, so I'm not sure how Vietnam could be considered communist.

1. Okay, if you say so.
2. Agree 90%, from what I have always heard. Haven't been there myself, so I would agree 100% if and when I confirm for myself.
3. Well, consult whatever sources you like. I just consulted five and 5 for 5 say Vietnam is a one party communist state as a fact, not opinion. I recall it was enough of an issue for the US to go to war over it, ultimately defeated which is why it is now a one party communist state. It will be harder to find a source that says Vietnam is not communist, but you might find one.

Go there for yourself, and independent of any news source, you will see that entrepreneurship and private industry is thriving. Plus you'll have a great time. I met two expats, one American and one British, both of whom settled there to start businesses. Or Google "Entrepreneurship in Vietnam" and select the hits you trust. You'll get plenty.

[Libertarian666]

1. Wikipedia articles on political issues can be safely assumed to be propaganda, not fact.
2. Cuba is definitely communist and is a horrid place to live, which is why people risk their lives to leave to come to the US.
3. Communism is incompatible with the notion of entrepreneurship, so I'm not sure how Vietnam could be considered communist.

1. Okay, if you say so.
2. Agree 90%, from what I have always heard. Haven't been there myself, so I would agree 100% if and when I confirm for myself.
3. Well, consult whatever sources you like. I just consulted five and 5 for 5 say Vietnam is a one party communist state as a fact, not opinion. I recall it was enough of an issue for the US to go to war over it, ultimately defeated which is why it is now a one party communist state. It will be harder to find a source that says Vietnam is not communist, but you might find one.

Go there for yourself, and independent of any news source, you will see that entrepreneurship and private industry is thriving. Plus you'll have a great time. I met two expats, one American and one British, both of whom settled there to start businesses. Or Google "Entrepreneurship in Vietnam" and select the hits you trust. You'll get plenty.

1. Okay.
2. There's a reason that people build rafts out of trash and use them to escape Cuba. It's not because it's a good place to live.
3. I don't know what definition of communism your sources are using. Here's one that comports with my understanding, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism:

"Definition of communism

1a : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
b : a theory advocating elimination of private property"

Obviously "a theory" can't describe a country.
So that leaves us with 1a. Entrepreneurship is incompatible with that definition, as entrepreneurs by definition must own their means of production which can't make them "available to all as needed".