In the movie Spaceballs, the evil empire led by President Skroob (Mel Brooks) and Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) has literally destroyed their planet’s air supply. To feel better, they open up cans of “Perri-air” packaging air from Planet Druidia.

Well, it turns out that real life Communism is now emulating the movies, incredibly enough. In China they’re buying bottled air from Canada.

Says The Telegraph about Vitality Air, the firm making good money doing this:

The company’s China representative, Harrison Wang, says their customers are mainly affluent Chinese women who buy for their families or give away as gifts. But he says senior homes and even high end night clubs have also stocked up on their product. “In China fresh air is a luxury, something so precious,” says Mr Wang.

This is the failure of Communism. Just as the Soviet Union literally destroyed the Aral Sea, so too are the Chicoms destroying the air of their own country. It’s unhealthy to live in China, because you can’t breathe, and the people are in such pain, are so desperate, that they’re buying bottled air in order to feel a little bit better.

I bring up a comedy movie for a quick laugh, but a serious look at this situation shows what kind of a heartbreaking situation it is, for people forced to live under socialist regimes.