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submitted 1 year ago by RandAlThor@lemmy.ca to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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[-] Zuzak@hexbear.net 91 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Famines were extremely common before the CPC came to power. Most Chinese people lived in extreme poverty, and life expectancy was less than 35, with no significant improvement under the KMT. In between Mao coming to power and his death, life expectancy in China nearly doubled. Today, average life expectancy in China has exceeded that of the US, a feat that would've been unimaginable back then.

It's true that Mao made misteps (which the CPC readily admits), but those specific, dramatic events have been disproportionately elevated to obscure the more general trend, which has been drastic improvements in the lives of the people of China.

Of course, in addition to minimizing the frequency and severity of famines in pre-industrial China, your history books likely did not place the same level of blame on the British for the intentional famines which Ireland and India were subjected to, in which Britain did not only refuse to provide aid to their colonial subjects (often on the express basis that it would motivate people to work harder), but also did not cease their plundering - in both cases, food was exported out of the country while the people starved.

[-] Frank@hexbear.net 37 points 1 year ago

I read somewhere that Mao's family was considered well off for peasants because they could afford eggs a few times a year. I have no idea if there's any truth to that.

[-] NPa@hexbear.net 36 points 1 year ago

They had to go hat in hand to the Egg Monopoly Lady every year to ask for a single egg for their New Years Celebration.

[-] Fox@pawb.social -5 points 1 year ago

What about what about what about

[-] Zuzak@hexbear.net 80 points 1 year ago

You're right, what does it matter that every Chinese person gets to live twice as long as they used to, if the process of getting there wasn't perfect?

Your carefully researched and insightful rebuttal has convinced me. I hate massive increases in life expectancy now. Clearly, we have no choice but to abandon communism no-choice

[-] Starlet@hexbear.net 77 points 1 year ago

It's not whataboutism when you bring up Hitler, though, of course

[-] brain_in_a_box@hexbear.net 69 points 1 year ago

What's the matter? Suddenly not so keen to compare death counts now that your Holocaust denial has been exposed?

[-] Fox@pawb.social -4 points 1 year ago

I'm amazed you haven't passed out yet from oxygen deprivation

[-] Flaps@hexbear.net 63 points 1 year ago

You have people taking time to give context and explain things to you and this is your reaction? Lmao dickweed get a load of PIGPOOPBALLS

[-] Fox@pawb.social -4 points 1 year ago

LMAO my entry level wumao troll, you think I am actually seeing your links links as images, go outside 🤣

[-] silent_water@hexbear.net 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

idk man the only person I see going what about is you

EDIT: OHHHH you're a fascist. hog out or log out.

this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
520 points (92.8% liked)

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