North Korea second happiest country in the world, China's #1

[The Rich Port]

Jesus Christ...

It's like something Stephen Colbert would come up with.

[Esoterias]

Can they even be considered happy, factoring in that they're brain washed?

[The Rich Port]

Can they even be considered happy, factoring in that they're brain washed?

Absolutely fucking not, which is the mind-blowing part: why would they publish this?

It's... It's just dizzying how much of a joke this is.

China, conducting a survey, found that it was the happiest nation in the world... And that NORTH KOREA, where the government abuses it's citizens and it's power on a daily basis, was #2

[AustriaHungaryBohemia]

@Tokyoni:
Democracy is... ah, why bother. Get yourself over to the workers' socialist paradise. Why haven't you moved there yet, anyway?

[The Rich Port]

@Tokyoni:
Democracy is... ah, why bother. Get yourself over to the workers' socialist paradise. Why haven't you moved there yet, anyway?

I get the feeling he already does.

[Jericho Republic]

I refuse to recognize that China and North Korea are the two most happiest countries on Earth.

[Tokyoni]

And now I feel a headache coming on... >_<

And North Korea supports intellectuals how? Can you name even one important North Korean intellectual, or a significant contribution of that country to the humanities?

Kim Il Sung, who's written literally hundreds of books on many matters of political theory, philosophy, the arts, wrote the five revolutionary operas, The Flower Girl (considered to be a classical film by many), The Arirang Festival, advancement of study in the field of phages (with applications in fighting off numerous diseases which plague humanity). All this for a relatively small nation with few resources at its disposal, that's been in a state of war with the most funded military on earth for all of its existence.

As opposed to North Korea, where some fatso is honoured as the "Dear Leader" by birthright? Where there is a literal cult of personality?

How mature. Calling someone a "fatass" was a cutting edge insult, when? First grade?

And no, Kim Jong-Il was elected to power via parliamentary democracy in five year terms, as his father had been. It's not "birthright" anymore than George W. Bush, the son of George H. W. Bush, being elected President of the United States.

As opposed to North Korea with its "Military First" ideology and its tendency to invest all of its scarce resources in new military toys?

They are in a defensive war to protect their homeland from attack... by America. The DPRk has not engaged in a single large scale hostile military action against any other nation since 1953. The United States can hardly say the same.

Furthermore, even with this being the case, education is still seen as vitally important within society, one part of their culture the United States would certainly do well to learn from.

While any kind of religion (even the "uplifting" ones) except for leader worship is severely repressed in North Korea?

Blatantly false. Kim Il-Sung praised Buddhist monks during the Korean War - and many sought refuge in the North against the barbarities of that madman Rhee against Buddhists. The Cheondoists, a native Korean religion, that too came under fire in Rhee's regime, compose 13% of the North Korean population, as well as their own party, the Cheondoist Chongu Party, which is one of the three parties represented in the North Korean parliament. There are a good number of Christians as well in the nation, and freedom of worship for them, as Billy Graham himself (a fellow KFA member, as I understand it. ^_^ ) indicates: http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage. ... cleid=1502

True. In North Korea it's "The Party, The Party, The Party". Big difference.

Which is an apparatus which empowers the common person to effect change in society and thus empower himself. Yes, I'd rather think that to be rather higher than mindless hedonism.

You mean, like the enormous wealth disparity between a starving peasant and the "Dear Leader"?

Ahh, more fatass jokes. Lovely.

Anyhow, North Koreans have guaranteed access to healthcare, education at a post-secondary level, and housing, all provided for them by the state. More than many Americans can say.

Even if we leave aside certain rumours about a 2000 - strong "pleasure corps" being run by the North Korean government... the North Korean regime exerts no pressure to conform? If anything, the opposite is true.

Rumors, exactly that, nothing more. Spread without evidence by those with an agenda. I'd not place much faith in such things.

Juche as an ideology is about self-reliance. Self-reliance. Such a high level of consciousness that an individual human being reaches his full potential. The issue is, however, that the vast majority of human beings cannot reach such on their own, for a number of reasons. Firstly, outside of an ordered society, there will be fewer resources for them to utilize, and thus they would accomplish less, and thus not reach their highest potential. If the society they live in exploits their labor, then too will they never reach their potential. And most centrally, the majority of human beings cannot, on their own reach such consciousness without the guidance of those few who on their own have derived such enlightenment. It is an ideology of betterment of one's self and the world as a whole. Everything that defines us as human beings, separate from other animals.

An unfair comparison. North Korea does not HAVE racial minorities.

Well, fine. Returning to my point, however, I find it curious that North Korea is criticized for having ... prisons, when every nation on earth employs such. And the United States has both in total numbers and per capita the highest incarcerated population on the planet.

While in North Korea people are discriminated against for their political views.

Not really. Political views themselves exist within one's mind. It'd be effectively impossible to discriminate against someone based on such, unless such views were coupled with indicative actions. Actions which have the effect of harming others in society.

Endless vapid hymns of praise for the "Dear Leader" are so much more uplifting.

Mansudae Art Troupe, one of the more well known North Korean bands, both outside and inside the nation produces music much in the style of the great classical music of Western world before its fall from cultural glory. A style of music that has been scientifically proven to have correlation with intelligence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hx78HDw8Jw

"Objective" meaning "yours", right?

Objective meaning a matter of reality. Can you name a more consumerist, anti-intellectual culture than that of America? I rather think you'd be hard-pressed to do so.

Of course, the ones who do get honoured are a dead guy

So there is no one you honor for their contributions to humanity who has passed? Only those yet living can be honored?

and an obese movie addict. So, no dice for lofty ideals, I guess.

Ahh, more childish ad hominems. How lovely.

Hitler's mustache looks weird. Adam Smith was a drunken fatass. There, I've just pwned fascism and capitalism by such "logic".

In painting, it's mostly "socialist realism", which was invented in the Stalinist era - hardly pre - industrial, even for Russia.

In painting, it's a similar style, but rather different application thereof. There's definitely a distinctively Korean feel to it, though yes, it does draw inspiration from the art of the USSR - another progressive, pro-intellectual society.

As per the point regarding the Industrial Revolution - you misunderstand my point. My point is not so much that "old things are best". Far from it really. My point is simply being very wary of the harmful effects this mass consumerist culture, which really originated with the Industrial Revolution, has upon society.

Poor North Korea. How could it have survived with only the support of China and the Soviet Union?

Poor South Korea. How could it have survived with only the support of the United States and UN?

Poor America. How could it have survived with only the support of France?

What, exactly is the point in all of this? That a nation should not have allies?

He also had a good - for nothing son. You may have heard of him. He humbly watches movies all day and has very humble parades in honour of his great humility. Humbly.

More pointless ad hominems. Ugggh.... *Takes another swig of makkoli, courtesy of the KFA*

The Parades are to honor the DPRK military, particularly the veterans of the Korean War. Those putting their lives on the line to protect their homeland from attack.

Point. North Koreans do not even get the semblance of democracy.

Umm, yes they do... Theirs is a five year term parliamentary democracy, with three parties having seats on parliament. Political membership is open and encouraged in the KWP, and thus anyone interested in doing so, theoretically, could run, and achieve any level of power in their society. As well as strong grassroots direct democracy for local political offices.

Philosopher kings? Really? Name one important North Korean philosopher.

Kim Il Sung. Written countless works on philosophy.

And this "Juche" stuff is Stalinism. Plain and simple.

Except for the whole opposing Stalin's foreign policy, and promotion of national culture seen as at the forefront bits...

Not very original, really, since Stalinism is warmed over Lenininsm. Which is warmed over Marxism.

Sort of... Marxism-Leninism is a more advanced, scientific form of Marxism, based on decades of more data, I would posit.

Hail to the great minds of the free world, who refuse to raise anyone to the status of god because they know human fallibility!

When I call the people "my gods", I do not believe such absurdities as them possessing supernatural powers or being infallible. I simply believe that they, as conscious, worthy, fellow human beings, deserve my support. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and thus it is every individual's duty to promote the needs of society. That then is my "religion", to strive to benefit the people.

And death to all who pretentiously and "provocatively" pretend to support one of the worst dictators of the modern world because they did not enjoy "Survivor"! (I am not going to parody your last phrase, since the grammar is its own parody)

It has absolutely nothing to do with my preferences in television per se, and absolutely everything to do with opposing this anti-intellectual, hyper-consumerist, egoist culture I find myself in. I've always found it quite alienating and dehumanizing.

P. S. Your post is much more enjoyable when you imagine it read in a bored, nasal voice by some pale guy holding a glass of red wine.

And yours is much more enjoyable when you imagine it read in a lazy drawl by some sunburned guy in a wifebeater drinking moonshine. What's your point?

[The Rich Port]

I refuse to recognize that China and North Korea are the two most happiest countries on Earth.

Understandable, seeing as how THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PRODUCED THE STUDY.

Forgive me, I'm still stricken by the stupidity of this.

[Tokyoni]

Fucking hypocrite, you making outrageous, dehumanizing and obviously bullshit generalizations about 300 million fucking people and have the audacity to call them dehumanizing, lazy, disgusting and anti-intellectual. I can't fucking stay on this forum when you're allowed to get away with this insane bullshit. Every single post you ever make is so fucking wrong and absolutely contradictory not only to all rigorous academia, economics and history, but also common sense.

edit: welcome to my ignore list. Congratulations, you're the first person in nearly 6 years who has managed to be so obnoxious and manifestly wrong about everything so as to make it on that list.

Way to not read (I do suppose that this might be indicative of the education system within this nation).

I stated, many, many times, that I was merely discussing the culture in aggregate. There are, thankfully for the sanity of those like myself, certain exceptions to the general trends of anti-intellectualism and consumerism. But as an aggregate, I'm not really happy with American culture. I did not call all Americans such, or even blame Americans as a whole (as I believe culture to be generated by the substructure who control the superstructure), I simply said that American culture, as a whole, is not something that is edifying to the further development of mankind as an intellectual, social being.

Granted, like the proverbial child with his fingers in his ears, you're not even going to bother to listen to those who disagree with you. And then I'm the hypocrite. Whatever. I suppose since you've ignored me, in which case you cannot see this, any further attempts at dialog with you would be pointless, so I may as well reciprocate.

[Jericho Republic]

And now I feel a headache coming on... >_<

*reads post*

You're not the only one.. >_>

[Tokyoni]

I refuse to recognize that China and North Korea are the two most happiest countries on Earth.

Understandable, seeing as how THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PRODUCED THE STUDY.

Forgive me, I'm still stricken by the stupidity of this.

And as if most of the organizations assessing "human rights" that rank the United States so highly aren't based right in the U of fucking SA?

[Jericho Republic]

Understandable, seeing as how THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PRODUCED THE STUDY.

Forgive me, I'm still stricken by the stupidity of this.

And as if most of the organizations assessing "human rights" that rank the United States so highly aren't based right in the U of fucking SA?

Big difference in that the US does not massacre protesters of the government and actually allows free media.

[Jericho Republic]

But as an aggregate, I'm not really happy with American culture. I did not call all Americans such, or even blame Americans as a whole (as I believe culture to be generated by the substructure who control the superstructure), I simply said that American culture, as a whole, is not something that is edifying to the further development of mankind as an intellectual, social being.

As far as I'm concerned, American culture in aggregate is the most dehumanizing, vapid, anti-intellectual, lazy, disgusting, animalistic culture I think the world has ever seen. Certainly there are the rare, thankful exceptions to this, but I think that American culture is for the advancement of the human consciousness much akin to a deadly poison.

Bolded is pretty much implying that almost all Americans are how you described American culture.

[Great New Albion]

I blame the propoganda machine. Ignorance is bliss.

[Tokyoni]

And as if most of the organizations assessing "human rights" that rank the United States so highly aren't based right in the U of fucking SA?

Big difference in that the US does not massacre protesters of the government and actually allows free media.

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Happening to a number of people I known in real life. Whose only "crimes" are criticizing the US government.

And "free"? Dominated by corporatist interests I would think to say.

[The Rich Port]

Understandable, seeing as how THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PRODUCED THE STUDY.

Forgive me, I'm still stricken by the stupidity of this.

And as if most of the organizations assessing "human rights" that rank the United States so highly aren't based right in the U of fucking SA?

Yeah, but at least people in the "U of SA" are allowed to dislike the "U of SA". Hence why there aren't any studies that say the U.S. is the happiest place on Earth.

That would be lying and absurd propaganda, without proof.

[Tokyoni]

But as an aggregate, I'm not really happy with American culture. I did not call all Americans such, or even blame Americans as a whole (as I believe culture to be generated by the substructure who control the superstructure), I simply said that American culture, as a whole, is not something that is edifying to the further development of mankind as an intellectual, social being.

As far as I'm concerned, American culture in aggregate is the most dehumanizing, vapid, anti-intellectual, lazy, disgusting, animalistic culture I think the world has ever seen. Certainly there are the rare, thankful exceptions to this, but I think that American culture is for the advancement of the human consciousness much akin to a deadly poison.

Bolded is pretty much implying that almost all Americans are how you described American culture.

In my experience, in my twenty-one sixteen (sorry, forgot about five years of my life for a second there... makkoli is damn good stuff I guess. xD) years of living in this country, I've met in real life, precious few "fellow" Americans who care more for intellectual pursuits and bettering of one's self than this culture of mindless consumerism. Even in my years here at one of the supposedly more prestigious universities in this country, that still seems to be the case. So it's just a matter of my own observation and experiences.

[Jagalonia]

This seems extremely biased to me....Like The asian version of faux.

[Jericho Republic]

In my experience, in my twenty-one years of living in this country, I've met in real life, precious few "fellow" Americans who care more for intellectual pursuits and bettering of one's self than this culture of mindless consumerism. Even in my years here at one of the supposedly more prestigious universities in this country, that still seems to be the case. So it's just a matter of my own observation and experiences.

That wasn't the point of my post. You said that you weren't calling all Americans how you described our culture, but you basically were. Just throwing in that there are a few rare circumstances in which that isn't the case doesn't make it any better.

[Tokyoni]

And as if most of the organizations assessing "human rights" that rank the United States so highly aren't based right in the U of fucking SA?

Yeah, but at least people in the "U of SA" are allowed to dislike the "U of SA". Hence why there aren't any studies that say the U.S. is the happiest place on Earth.

That would be lying and absurd propaganda, without proof.

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Happening as we speak to a number of people I know whose only "crimes" were criticizing the policies of the US government.

[Jericho Republic]

Yeah, but at least people in the "U of SA" are allowed to dislike the "U of SA". Hence why there aren't any studies that say the U.S. is the happiest place on Earth.

That would be lying and absurd propaganda, without proof.

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Happening as we speak to a number of people I know whose only "crimes" were criticizing the policies of the US government.

Do that in China or North Korea and you are either shot on sight or sent to a camp.

[Tokyoni]

In my experience, in my twenty-one years of living in this country, I've met in real life, precious few "fellow" Americans who care more for intellectual pursuits and bettering of one's self than this culture of mindless consumerism. Even in my years here at one of the supposedly more prestigious universities in this country, that still seems to be the case. So it's just a matter of my own observation and experiences.

That wasn't the point of my post. You said that you weren't calling all Americans how you described our culture, but you basically were. Just throwing in that there are a few rare circumstances in which that isn't the case doesn't make it any better.

I also stated, in the original post, that I felt that presumably most of the posters on this site - by the very fact of being here, and thus expressing interest in such topics that most Americans wouldn't give two shits about in lieu of the latest football game or Jersey Shore episode - are probably by definition the exception to such a rule.

But yes, in my experience, most Americans (thankfully not all) are quite non-intellectual drones of consumerism. I'm not happy about the fact, but it seems to be the fact.

[The Rich Port]

Yeah, but at least people in the "U of SA" are allowed to dislike the "U of SA". Hence why there aren't any studies that say the U.S. is the happiest place on Earth.

That would be lying and absurd propaganda, without proof.

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Happening as we speak to a number of people I know whose only "crimes" were criticizing the policies of the US government.

So... What you're saying is that people in the U.S. get shot?

So?

People in China get shot, too. It's absurd to say they're the happiest country on Earth. End of story.

Hell, it's absurd to say EITHER are the happiest countries on Earth.

[Tokyoni]

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Happening as we speak to a number of people I know whose only "crimes" were criticizing the policies of the US government.

Do that in China or North Korea and you are either shot on sight or sent to a camp.

"Shot on sight"? There's precious little evidence for that aside from a few incidents of individual soldiers acting without orders from their superiors. North Korea is a nation of laws and a constitution guaranteeing process of law not some barbarian encampment.

And yes, criminals are sent to prison, as in any nation. The difference being that North Korea wants peace, so anti-war advocates would be welcome there.

[Mpya Mwanzo]

umm north korea is ranked like that because if people said they weren't happy then they would be here.