In Communist China, Red means go!

[bailey_187]

My history teacher said that in China Mao started to get traffic lights changed so that Red means go. I think he heard of QI or whatever it is, so dont know how true it is. How true is it?

[fatboy]

I can't verify this but that would be funny as hell.

[swirling_vortex]

Somehow, I don't think traffic lights are much of a problem for Chinese drivers. :)

-xat-TUpaTo
D36eisnZ3A4

[ls]

Hm, several different sources say different things (some bourgeois, some chinese), the impression I get is that you were allowed to go on a red light, but they changed the law. Although, for legacy reasons they allow people to go on a red light, but that the person crossing has first rights (ie the driver can be prosecuted if they run the person over, even if they are crossing during a green light).

So the answer seems to be yes.

[Tatarin]

That's quite boring. Instead, traffic is supposed to stop at the ($)-light and go on the (:hammersickle:)-light.

[Tablo]

That's quite boring. Instead, traffic is supposed to stop at the ($)-light and go on the (:hammersickle:)-light.
That's awesome. I seriously hope that happens in the future. xD

[DecDoom]

Hm, several different sources say different things (some bourgeois, some chinese), the impression I get is that you were allowed to go on a red light, but they changed the law. Although, for legacy reasons they allow people to go on a red light, but that the person crossing has first rights (ie the driver can be prosecuted if they run the person over, even if they are crossing during a green light).

So the answer seems to be yes.

So... you can pretty much floor it through an intersection, provided there aren't any pedestrians crossing?

Awesome.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

When Mao did this didn't anyone say to him: "Shouldn't we be concentrating on more important things, like working class democracy."

[bailey_187]

When Mao did this didn't anyone say to him: "Shouldn't we be concentrating on more important things, like working class democracy."

When you typed this, didnt you think, i may sound like an idiot?

[Stranger Than Paradise]

When you typed this, didnt you think, i may sound like an idiot?

There are more important things than changing the traffic lights. Much more important things.

[bailey_187]

There are more important things than changing the traffic lights. Much more important things.

And the more important issue (workers democracy) was being addressed:


It became normal practice during the cultural revolution decade to hold a mass meeting in early spring to discuss the production goals and plans of the year" Dong Ping Han The Unknown Cultural Revolution page 121



Commune leaders no longer appointed production team leaders; they were elected by the team members. If the leaders did not do a good job, they would lose their positions at the end of the year. In one county in Shandong, the production team leaders had to be replaced every year.
Dongping Han p. 65

Beginning in late 1967[same times roughly as the traffic light stuff], a new power structure began to replace the old party apparatus in many areas. Mass associations, composed mainly of poor and lower middle peasants, chose people to sit on newly organized village revolutionary committees. These committees exercised day to day leadership in the villages and on the communes.Dongping Han 67-68. For a study of similar transformations in Sichuan Province, see Stephen Endicott, Red Earth; Revolution in a Sichuan Village, 1989

In factories and other workplaces, traditional forms of “one-man management” were dissolved. New “three-in-one” combinations of rank-and-file workers, technicians, and Communist Party members took responsibility for day-to-day management of factories and other types of work. Workers spent time in management and managers spent time working on the shop floor.Stephen Andors, China’s Industrial Revolution (New York: Pantheon, 1977)

The formidable organization of the Chinese Communist Party, built up methodically over the decades, had been suddenly overturned and replaced by a communications and organizational network which embraced millions of ordinary citizens in a decision-making apparatus of their own. In the evenings, thousands of mass meetings occurred simultaneously throughout the capital. There the latest political developments were discussed, analyzed, and acted upon. Nancy and David Milton, The Wind Will Not Subside: Years in Revolutionary China—1964-1969, 1976, p. 148

[RadioRaheem84]

What was the significance of red to mean go? As in Red (Communism) = GO, the future, progress? Am I right? It's probably painfully obvious but I want to be correct.

[bailey_187]

What was the significance of red to mean go? As in Red (Communism) = GO, the future, progress? Am I right? It's probably painfully obvious but I want to be correct.

Yeah your right.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Thank you Bailey187. I don't disagree with most but I don't understand this:


In factories and other workplaces, traditional forms of “one-man management” were dissolved. New “three-in-one” combinations of rank-and-file workers, technicians, and Communist Party members took responsibility for day-to-day management of factories and other types of work. Workers spent time in management and managers spent time working on the shop floor.

Why did Communist Party members take part in management. Why was it not simply the rank and file workers?

[bailey_187]

Thank you Bailey187. I don't disagree with most but I don't understand this:



Why did Communist Party members take part in management. Why was it not simply the rank and file workers?

To ensure quotas etc are fullfilled, so the economic plan can be fullfilled. Given enough time, i am sure that the Party members use of planning would be phased out; even if that wasnt the intention, most Maoists would agree now anyway.

[DenisDenis]

And the more important issue (workers democracy) was being addressed:


It became normal practice during the cultural revolution decade to hold a mass meeting in early spring to discuss the production goals and plans of the year" Dong Ping Han The Unknown Cultural Revolution page 121



Commune leaders no longer appointed production team leaders; they were elected by the team members. If the leaders did not do a good job, they would lose their positions at the end of the year. In one county in Shandong, the production team leaders had to be replaced every year.
Dongping Han p. 65

Beginning in late 1967[same times roughly as the traffic light stuff], a new power structure began to replace the old party apparatus in many areas. Mass associations, composed mainly of poor and lower middle peasants, chose people to sit on newly organized village revolutionary committees. These committees exercised day to day leadership in the villages and on the communes.Dongping Han 67-68. For a study of similar transformations in Sichuan Province, see Stephen Endicott, Red Earth; Revolution in a Sichuan Village, 1989

In factories and other workplaces, traditional forms of “one-man management” were dissolved. New “three-in-one” combinations of rank-and-file workers, technicians, and Communist Party members took responsibility for day-to-day management of factories and other types of work. Workers spent time in management and managers spent time working on the shop floor.Stephen Andors, China’s Industrial Revolution (New York: Pantheon, 1977)

The formidable organization of the Chinese Communist Party, built up methodically over the decades, had been suddenly overturned and replaced by a communications and organizational network which embraced millions of ordinary citizens in a decision-making apparatus of their own. In the evenings, thousands of mass meetings occurred simultaneously throughout the capital. There the latest political developments were discussed, analyzed, and acted upon. Nancy and David Milton, The Wind Will Not Subside: Years in Revolutionary China—1964-1969, 1976, p. 148




That all sounds pretty good to me really! Where did it began to turn? Since when did china become this capitalist state it is now?

[What Would Durruti Do?]

When Reagan brought over a Big Mac.

[RedStarOverChina]

It's not true, and your teacher ought to be sent to the re-education camps.

[Comrade B]

I know that during the Cultural Revolution some Red Guards made this so in some places... which added a bit of confusion to driving...

[Glenn Beck]

When Mao did this didn't anyone say to him: "Shouldn't we be concentrating on more important things, like working class democracy."

What a negative nancy you are. A real buzzkill.