From: officialflagrant
Communism and Marxism, as ideologies, are presented as systems that, in practice, lead to totalitarian rule, severe human rights abuses, and widespread suffering. The discussion draws heavily on the experiences of a defector from North Korea, highlighting the stark realities of life under such regimes.
North Korea: A Case Study in Totalitarianism
North Korea is described as a prime example of a country governed by Marxist and communist ideologies [01:55:56]. The regime’s ultimate goal is stated as the destruction of America, as the existence of a free society poses an existential threat to its totalitarian rule [03:21:21].
Control and Starvation
Life in North Korea is characterized by extreme hardship and lack of basic necessities. Food is incredibly scarce, leading people to eat insects like grasshoppers, dragonflies, and butterflies, and even rats [06:08:00], [06:12:00], [09:56:00]. The spring season is referred to as “the season of death” due to the extreme scarcity of food [07:02:00]. This deliberate starvation policy is viewed as a means of population control, making it easier for the regime to manage fewer people and prevent them from having the energy to fight back [02:18:21], [02:51:57].
Access to basic amenities is non-existent for most, with no electricity, cars, toys, or even functional bathrooms [02:06:00]. The capital, Pyongyang, is propped up to appear normal, similar to the Capitol in “The Hunger Games,” to create a false perception for outsiders, while the rest of the country suffers [02:48:50], [02:57:00].
Lack of Freedom and Justice
- Political Crimes: Making fun of the leader is a “political crime” that can result in the execution of eight generations of one’s family [01:37:19], [01:43:00]. There are three types of prisons:
- Re-education camps: Less than two-year sentences [01:26:00].
- Labor camps: Over ten-year sentences [01:32:00].
- Political prison camps: Lifetime sentences, with most inmates not surviving more than three months due to forced labor, including cleaning nuclear weapon testing sites [01:34:00], [01:43:00].
- Freedom of Movement: The entire country is described as a “prison camp,” with strict controls on movement, including guards every ten meters along borders, landmines, electrified wire fences, and facial recognition cameras [01:04:00], [01:39:00]. Even within the country, travel requires government authorization and ID, with frequent checkpoints [03:40:00].
- Censorship and Propaganda: Citizens are denied access to the internet or international services, and all phone calls are monitored and jammed by the government [03:47:00]. The Kims have copied the Bible and brainwashed the population with their own theology, and reading the Bible is punishable by execution [02:11:00], [02:16:00]. History, time, and even racial identity are constantly rewritten to glorify the dictators [04:49:00], [04:51:00].
- Social Control: Marriage and jobs are assigned by the state, and citizens have no control over personal choices, even haircuts [01:55:25], [01:55:27], [01:55:29]. There is no concept of sexual harassment or “Me Too” [01:59:57]. Women in the military are constantly raped by officers, and if they get pregnant, they are punished, not the officers [01:59:44], [01:59:53]. Homosexuality is not a concept in North Korea, suggesting that basic human needs must be met before such concepts arise [01:59:14], [01:59:23], [01:59:27].
China’s Role and Global Influence
China is considered North Korea’s only major trading partner and plays a crucial role in propping up the regime, providing essential resources like oil [03:33:00], [03:47:00]. China benefits from North Korea’s existence as it makes China “look good,” deflecting international attention from its own human rights abuses, such as the treatment of Uyghurs [02:57:00], [03:00:00]. Despite China’s economic reforms leaning towards capitalism, control over its people remains strict, with extensive surveillance and checkpoints [03:40:00].
The influence of China extends globally, particularly affecting Western institutions. Hollywood, for example, is reluctant to make movies critical of China due to financial interests in the Chinese market [02:08:07], [02:07:00]. This highlights how countries with such ideologies can leverage their economic power to silence criticism abroad.
The Threat of Wokeness and Ideological Indoctrination
The discussion also touches on what is perceived as a “woke ideology” in America, particularly in universities, which is seen as analogous to Marxist ideology [01:42:06], [01:44:00]. This ideology is criticized for distracting from real threats like China and for demonizing concepts fundamental to free societies, such as capitalism and the American Constitution [01:44:19], [01:44:37].
The idea of “equality of outcomes” is presented as a dangerous Marxist principle taught to young children, contrasting it with the reality of individual differences and effort [01:45:39], [01:46:07]. The pursuit of “free” services like healthcare or education is critiqued as an unrealistic entitlement that ignores the costs and labor involved, comparing it to North Korea’s broken promises of free everything [01:46:49], [01:47:08].
“In North Korea they promised everything free and nothing became free. They did not give us anything” [01:46:43].
The prevalence of such ideologies among young people in America is attributed to boredom and lack of responsibility, suggesting that real-world experience, such as paying taxes or raising children, quickly shifts perspectives away from radical socialist ideals [02:30:51], [02:31:01].
Critiques of Communism and Marxism
The core criticism of communism and Marxism stems from their historical implementation:
- Suppression of Dissent: These ideologies are seen as inherently intolerant of opposing viewpoints, leading to the execution of capitalists and conservatives in regimes where they take hold [01:50:00].
- Lack of Logic and Tolerance: Communism is described as driven by “passion” rather than “logic,” aiming for a “utopia” where everyone is equal, but failing to teach tolerance [01:50:29].
- Crimes Against Humanity: The North Korean regime’s actions are explicitly called a “crime against humanity” and a “modern-day Holocaust” by the UN [01:38:22], [01:41:40], [01:42:00]. This is contrasted with problems in America, which, while real, are not comparable in severity [01:36:11].
- Weaponization of Narratives: There’s a concern that people try to “weaponize” stories of suffering under communist regimes to serve their own political agendas, rather than genuinely caring about the victims [01:50:00], [01:52:00].
“Nobody with real money ever says that this is for children” [02:37:37].
The consistent message is that while the ideals of communism might sound appealing, their real-world application leads to devastating consequences, including starvation, lack of freedom, and mass oppression.