Thoughts about north korea

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

It was a surprising news to hear that between 20-30 million people starve to death.
It is sad to learn fact like this do happen just for political reasons. I was impressed.

[Anonymous]

I just finished reading the talking points article that was supplied to us for the last two weeks to make up our posts. I found it humorous, as well as very revealing, when the article talked about the different perspectives North Korea and China had of Kim Jong il's recent visit to China. The article explained that while China claims the visit was unofficial, North Korea developed a stamp to commemorate the occasion. I was also interested to learn that the ties between Beijing and South Korea are much better than those of Beijing and North Korea. China has supported the UN's sanctions on North Korea's continued manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction, and has officially condemned the sinking of the South Korean submarine in contested waters, yet has not condemned North Korea. It seems the one legitimate supporter of North Korea's policies is moving in the other direction. What happens when Kim Jong il can no longer depend on the might of China to support his policies?

[Anonymous]

I make some interesting points and inspire myself to respond to them. I was also interested to learn that after all that China went through in the communist revolution, today the wealthiest 1% of Chinese control 41% of the private wealth. I wonder what Mao would say? One of the best things I have acquired from this course is a much deeper understanding of the concept of communism and labor movements. I recently began referring to myself as much more of a socialist than a capitalist. This being based on the idea that I do not think I should be compensated for going above and beyond as far as my job performance goes. If everyone does his or her job to the best of his or her ability, everyone benefits: socialism. However, recently, I was laid off of my teaching position due to cut backs. I was astonished to learn that although I had been teaching for more than four years at the same school, because my paper work was ... not typical, I was laid off. I wondered why no one ever took into account the fact that I am an awesome teacher who is beloved by students, parents, and administrators. I was laid off due to the criteria that was agreed upon by the state of California and the CTA long before I ever decided to become a teacher. It was dictated long ago, that in the case of an RIF, teachers will be laid off based on seniority, and nothing else. How does this benefit anyone?

[Anonymous]

Again, I make an interesting point. Who does benefit when we no longer take merit into consideration when laying off a group of people? As a teacher I have to say the students don't benefit. And although there are many who would challenge this belief, I do not believe the best among us are benefited either. It is simply the masses who benefit by not having to be challenged by those who are simply more talented. Is that what the Communist Revolution in China was about? The propaganda I ended up seeing suggested that the belief was hard work will create a new society where everyone is the same. But from what I learned during this course it didn't work. Not enough agricultural diversity, from what I understand. And now, decades later, 1% of the population is control of 41% of the private wealth in China, and there is a staggering inequality between wages in urban areas vs. wages in rural areas. As China comes closer and closer to becoming the world's next top dog, does it do so only by adopting capitalistic principals and returns to practices of centuries ago when the majority of Chinese population experienced growth but not development? Can a successful society be run by the laboring class or is Ayn Rand correct when she writes in Atlas Shrugged, "Standing still is not moving forward." Thanks to this class and my layoff, I can now better communicate to my students a deeper understanding of East Asia, social change, and of course Atlas Shrugged.

Yours truly,

Not-Nearly-As-Bitter-As-Sound,

Chris

[Author]

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