This reads like a cautionary tale of socialism, which is indeed true, but where is the cautionary tale about late stage capitalism? The entire reason people even consider socialism is because they are tired of late stage capitalism: private equity cannibalizing local businesses and communities to maximize profit, the wealthy bending the rules to benefit their industries (read: crypto), the financialization of real estate pushing housing out of reach for large swaths of people.
I am not saying socialism is the answer, but to me the (legitimate) criticism of socialism needs to be balanced with the (also legitimate) criticism of capitalism, which is arguably more relevant today as we actually live in a capitalist society, not a communist one.
If you're trying to establish a moral equivalence between free markets in a liberal democracy and a despotic regime that killed 25% of its population, you're not doing a very good job. Whataboutism is a dodge.
There are many forms of Socialism like that practiced in Sweden or Cuba, et al . Do you equate Sweden with Pot Pol? Or universal health care with prison camps, or free public education through college with repression?
Sorry, I don’t understand the point of your comment. Sweden is not a socialist country - it’s a rich liberal democracy with a free market economy, which funds a generous welfare state. Cuba is a totalitarian state with very little economic and political freedom - a country that went from being one of the most prosperous Latin American countries to one of the poorest, thanks to Castro and socialism.
"Late stage capitalism" is not a monolith, it looks different from country to country. The most successful and egalitarian societies have been able to create a sufficiently benign balance between capitalist dynamics and counterbalancing measures. To do this governments had to establish broad based democratic trust in their competence, accountability and transparency, and continually maintain that trust. Without that....
"You still see this among affluent socialists today, who cosplay poverty in an attempt to manipulate actual poor people into supporting their twisted ideology."
Isn't this all part of their Luxury Belief system... cosplaying any opportunistic victim identity to provide them cover for their privilege and continued pursuit of more?
"subjects of a communist regime are so conditioned to tell lies, that telling one more lie in the face of fabricated accusations is no big deal." Sounds like the Transgenderism Ideology: "I'm a woman. Refer to me as SHE/HER. Affirmed my lie. I have a female penis. Otherwise you will be accused of transphobia, lose your friends, your job, your reputation." Etc, etc.
In the case of the Cambodian horror we must never forget what catapulted the population into a terrified, broken state, ripe for manipulation and intimidation after years of American bombing and aerial spraying of chemical weapons like agents orange.
The bombing campaign, including the use of B-52s, resulted in significant casualties among Cambodian civilians and contributed to the destabilization of the country, ultimately aiding the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Am interested in further thoughts about these destructive purification rituals directed so much towards the in-group, from your evolutionary perspective.
It is not exactly 'hierarchy in the forrest' and it is also hard to see solely as in-group status games or in-group panic in the face of outside threat. The similarity with witch hunts is clear, as is the power of ideological capture and utopian ideas. This means that the in-group threat is no longer based in observable behavior and rule breaking, but can now hide inside peoples minds. So the focus shifts to signs of micro-deviance, or lacking those, a better-safe-than-sorry approach. Of course utopian goals get further and further away the harder you push, but these purification rituals appear to be built in from the start, cf. cancel culture. Is the power of the panic maybe related to the dissociation between internalized ideas and any constructive pathway, which leaves only a destructive outlet and some 'rising from ashes' mythology?
When I read just the title, I thought it was a feminist complaint, possibly related to the 63 year old woman in the NYT complaining about a lack of manly men, paired on X with a tweet where she ostracizes anybody who didn’t get a jab in COVID times.
All utopias fail because humans are imperfect. The National Socialists of Hitler, or the International Socialists, Communists, of Stalin, Mao, & Pol Pot always find their theories fail with real people. So many real people, innocent of real crime, are punished because the leader’s theory is being falsified so the leader looks for sabotage.
Our ally, Stalin, was worse than Hitler to his own people, tho dying in freezing cold gulag is less efficient death than murdered by gas.
Intellectual support for socialism is definitely a luxury belief of those, often with high IQ, who are envious of those that make better business deals and become more financially successful. Sort of like Obama noting that nobody needs to make more than $250,000 . Reducing the inequality by taking more from the rich is usually negative to society, and doesn’t help the poor to be not-poor, to be middle class. But it feels emotionally superior to professors who have chosen higher status, lower paid academic work, rather than money grubbing in a business with real customers and a clear product.
The USA was fighting communism in Vietnam, the kind of system which led to the Holodomor starvation & gulags in the USSR, and multi-millions killed in each of Mao’s big killings, The Great Leap Forward (‘58) and Cultural Revolution from 1966.
US Democrats stopped Pres. Ford from supporting S. Vietnam in the ‘75 attack, which violated the ‘73 Paris Peace Accords. So commies won and unified Vietnam, rather than N & S like Korea.
Commie Pol Pot also won in ‘75 and started what was the title of a great film
The Killing Fields.
Socialism always, at some point, conflicts with individual human rights, and especially with private property. Where usually individualism is better, there are hyper individualist issues in lifestyle choices which make society sub-optimal, like irresponsible drug use or irresponsible sex & unwed parenthood. The irresponsibility is shown by others in society paying for the bad outcome of the choice made.
We should talk a LOT more about Stalin, Mao, & Pol Pot, than Hitler.
This is a great graphic novel version of an illustrator whose parents had to escape. It’s dramatic but written and depicted at a level that is fine for fifth graders and above. I actually love the unique art design as well. “Year of the Rabbit” by Tian Veasna https://a.co/d/4PYcZdi
Typically, movie reviews provide the writer’s opinions on the movie that allow the reader to assess whether he should spend his time and money viewing the film. You have provided a vivid background of the settings and good descriptions of the primary characters. I cannot determine though if the film itself is any good.
Alex, not everything is a haircut. You were able to capitalize on the opportunity of Comments to make your points. Now, consider your side even and pay the barber.
Good to read on the day that Marxist-Islamists are demonstrating in Times Square. Would that they could all be made to read it.
This reads like a cautionary tale of socialism, which is indeed true, but where is the cautionary tale about late stage capitalism? The entire reason people even consider socialism is because they are tired of late stage capitalism: private equity cannibalizing local businesses and communities to maximize profit, the wealthy bending the rules to benefit their industries (read: crypto), the financialization of real estate pushing housing out of reach for large swaths of people.
I am not saying socialism is the answer, but to me the (legitimate) criticism of socialism needs to be balanced with the (also legitimate) criticism of capitalism, which is arguably more relevant today as we actually live in a capitalist society, not a communist one.
If you're trying to establish a moral equivalence between free markets in a liberal democracy and a despotic regime that killed 25% of its population, you're not doing a very good job. Whataboutism is a dodge.
There are many forms of Socialism like that practiced in Sweden or Cuba, et al . Do you equate Sweden with Pot Pol? Or universal health care with prison camps, or free public education through college with repression?
Sorry, I don’t understand the point of your comment. Sweden is not a socialist country - it’s a rich liberal democracy with a free market economy, which funds a generous welfare state. Cuba is a totalitarian state with very little economic and political freedom - a country that went from being one of the most prosperous Latin American countries to one of the poorest, thanks to Castro and socialism.
"Late stage capitalism" is not a monolith, it looks different from country to country. The most successful and egalitarian societies have been able to create a sufficiently benign balance between capitalist dynamics and counterbalancing measures. To do this governments had to establish broad based democratic trust in their competence, accountability and transparency, and continually maintain that trust. Without that....
"You still see this among affluent socialists today, who cosplay poverty in an attempt to manipulate actual poor people into supporting their twisted ideology."
Isn't this all part of their Luxury Belief system... cosplaying any opportunistic victim identity to provide them cover for their privilege and continued pursuit of more?
Pol Pot was never held accountable for his actions. He died a natural death at 73.
"subjects of a communist regime are so conditioned to tell lies, that telling one more lie in the face of fabricated accusations is no big deal." Sounds like the Transgenderism Ideology: "I'm a woman. Refer to me as SHE/HER. Affirmed my lie. I have a female penis. Otherwise you will be accused of transphobia, lose your friends, your job, your reputation." Etc, etc.
In the case of the Cambodian horror we must never forget what catapulted the population into a terrified, broken state, ripe for manipulation and intimidation after years of American bombing and aerial spraying of chemical weapons like agents orange.
The bombing campaign, including the use of B-52s, resulted in significant casualties among Cambodian civilians and contributed to the destabilization of the country, ultimately aiding the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Ideologues and fanatics know best. Why argue? The dream of earthly utopia still rings true in the world. Sad.
Am interested in further thoughts about these destructive purification rituals directed so much towards the in-group, from your evolutionary perspective.
It is not exactly 'hierarchy in the forrest' and it is also hard to see solely as in-group status games or in-group panic in the face of outside threat. The similarity with witch hunts is clear, as is the power of ideological capture and utopian ideas. This means that the in-group threat is no longer based in observable behavior and rule breaking, but can now hide inside peoples minds. So the focus shifts to signs of micro-deviance, or lacking those, a better-safe-than-sorry approach. Of course utopian goals get further and further away the harder you push, but these purification rituals appear to be built in from the start, cf. cancel culture. Is the power of the panic maybe related to the dissociation between internalized ideas and any constructive pathway, which leaves only a destructive outlet and some 'rising from ashes' mythology?
When I read just the title, I thought it was a feminist complaint, possibly related to the 63 year old woman in the NYT complaining about a lack of manly men, paired on X with a tweet where she ostracizes anybody who didn’t get a jab in COVID times.
All utopias fail because humans are imperfect. The National Socialists of Hitler, or the International Socialists, Communists, of Stalin, Mao, & Pol Pot always find their theories fail with real people. So many real people, innocent of real crime, are punished because the leader’s theory is being falsified so the leader looks for sabotage.
Our ally, Stalin, was worse than Hitler to his own people, tho dying in freezing cold gulag is less efficient death than murdered by gas.
Intellectual support for socialism is definitely a luxury belief of those, often with high IQ, who are envious of those that make better business deals and become more financially successful. Sort of like Obama noting that nobody needs to make more than $250,000 . Reducing the inequality by taking more from the rich is usually negative to society, and doesn’t help the poor to be not-poor, to be middle class. But it feels emotionally superior to professors who have chosen higher status, lower paid academic work, rather than money grubbing in a business with real customers and a clear product.
The USA was fighting communism in Vietnam, the kind of system which led to the Holodomor starvation & gulags in the USSR, and multi-millions killed in each of Mao’s big killings, The Great Leap Forward (‘58) and Cultural Revolution from 1966.
US Democrats stopped Pres. Ford from supporting S. Vietnam in the ‘75 attack, which violated the ‘73 Paris Peace Accords. So commies won and unified Vietnam, rather than N & S like Korea.
Commie Pol Pot also won in ‘75 and started what was the title of a great film
The Killing Fields.
Socialism always, at some point, conflicts with individual human rights, and especially with private property. Where usually individualism is better, there are hyper individualist issues in lifestyle choices which make society sub-optimal, like irresponsible drug use or irresponsible sex & unwed parenthood. The irresponsibility is shown by others in society paying for the bad outcome of the choice made.
We should talk a LOT more about Stalin, Mao, & Pol Pot, than Hitler.
One of your best articles. This should be required reading for every kid heading off to college.
Where can this film be found for viewing?
I saw it at Film at Lincoln Center in NYC. It's a foreign film so may be hard to find screenings outside of large metro areas.
It might be available on Amazon Prime depending on your region (https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Meeting-with-Pol-Pot/0LRPJ0RR5BRCL67JMKWNHKDTCQ)
There was also the acclaimed movie from 1984 titled The Killing Fields ...
This is a great graphic novel version of an illustrator whose parents had to escape. It’s dramatic but written and depicted at a level that is fine for fifth graders and above. I actually love the unique art design as well. “Year of the Rabbit” by Tian Veasna https://a.co/d/4PYcZdi
Typically, movie reviews provide the writer’s opinions on the movie that allow the reader to assess whether he should spend his time and money viewing the film. You have provided a vivid background of the settings and good descriptions of the primary characters. I cannot determine though if the film itself is any good.
Alex, not everything is a haircut. You were able to capitalize on the opportunity of Comments to make your points. Now, consider your side even and pay the barber.
Ah to have a few moments alone w Noam Chomsky
Excellent essay, though you misspelled the title of Ngor‘s book. It is “SurvivOR of the Killing Fields,” not “SurviVAL of ….”
No I didn't.
Well, I think you're right. Amazon has this cover and title of the book in paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Killing-Fields-Haing-Ngor/dp/1841197939/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nv79URgBVVLSieyQE_cne0bInudHl452hi23_v6n5D0PENol5bkHJMVph97lFsB-h0beylnpGRD-8B_Jmm6sPXSeJ6wJtkF4Jmyo6YXorTV8W7o4X8AZLHPxdOZkXLcXOolEXrXRVq6eFUFsLL5q2VrixouaCmkplPenS4ydu05ezYx2GaZTp3gQJRtI4mUUHtbZU5_IaGLDWeCLZdcK14cCLbmSCz4z4XI8d4mIJts.Rx-_DQRUfZcYLuSwPdQ0lDFqQlzZUC61u7U7qD47YRs&qid=1750627189&sr=8-1
But has this cover and title of the hardcover edition:
https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Killing-Fields-Haing-Ngor/dp/070113187X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nv79URgBVVLSieyQE_cne0bInudHl452hi23_v6n5D0PENol5bkHJMVph97lFsB-h0beylnpGRD-8B_Jmm6sPXSeJ6wJtkF4Jmyo6YXorTV8W7o4X8AZLHPxdOZkXLcXOolEXrXRVq6eFUFsLL5q2VrixouaCmkplPenS4ydu05ezYx2GaZTp3gQJRtI4mUUHtbZU5_IaGLDWeCLZdcK14cCLbmSCz4z4XI8d4mIJts.Rx-_DQRUfZcYLuSwPdQ0lDFqQlzZUC61u7U7qD47YRs&qid=1750627189&sr=8-1
Since I don't own this book—though I just ordered it—and you obviously do, I must defer. My apologies.