The system also limited the people's knowledge of the outside world. Most people lived in small rural villages and knew only what Communist leaders told them. The Communist party did not encourage education, because it feared the people would get ideas. Perhaps the greatest limitation is that Communism squashes personal autonomy. The theory is to work together for the common good, not the individual.
Communism limits farmers from competing with their neighbors and working harder to get ahead.
However under Deng Xiaoping, the Second Revolution strived to move away from Mao's legacy in terms of economics. The Chinese had equal opportunity to prosper without redistributing profits. Individuals could work for themselves and not the community. This huge step toward capitalism signaled Communism's chances for survival are numbered. Beginning with the Second Revolution and continuing through Jiang Zemin, a definite middle class emerged in China.