By Andrew L. Jaffee

What in China has been “egalitarian” under communist rule? The 50-80 million dead bodies racked up by Mao, Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying, etc? Did Marx envision communists getting rich by experimenting with capitalism — all while maintaining central control in the hands of a few? The concept of the democratic soviet (workers’ council) has been long forgotten in favor of making plastic chochkees for Walmart. The Chinese communist-billionaire-kulaks have expropriated land owned by the proletariat, established stock markets, and built trading relationships with the Great Satan’s evil corporations, like Ford, GM, and Google — and, of course, gunned downed a few protestors here and there. Chinese “communism” is far from being egalitarian, or consistent. The BBC, safe in the capitalist UK, isn’t even consistent about China’s inconsistencies, let alone its own sophist inconsistencies. I would venture to say that many of the BBC’s staff own private property, even though they wouldn’t admit to being un-”egalitarian.” Here’s a loaded statement from the Beeb, implying that private property rights are not “egalitarian:”

China has unveiled a landmark law that will boost the protection of private property rights.

This is the first piece of legislation in the Communist country to cover an individual’s right to own assets.

Analysts say the move is an important step away from Chinese egalitarianism and towards a market economy.

The bill will also reportedly boost protection against land seizures, which have become a major source of unrest among farmers in rural areas.