Socialism is not commonly a word I would associate with China yet the BBC seem to be using it. This association is bad press for socialism in the UK. Socialism is a set of ideas based upon economic principles to ensure economic fairness. Socialism is therefore just a set of economic principles. In China, by contrast, the state own everything – well all the infrastructure of the Country. China is not a model for Socialism. Socialism in its purely economic interpretation would not seek to erase democracy or political debate. In China there is no political debate tolerated – it is a One Party System and as such it is undemocratic. This is really just Communism or Totalitarianism going under the guise of being socialist. There is no dissent and no contrary opinion allowed and those that do are dealt with severely and not tolerated. People in the UK should not base their ideas or opinions about socialism on what is happening in China at the present time.