this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
747 points (90.6% liked)
Lefty Memes
4556 readers
718 users here now
An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.
Serious posts, news, and discussion go in c/Socialism.
If you are new to socialism, you can ask questions and find resources over on c/Socialism101.
Please don't forget to help keep this community clean by reporting rule violations, updooting good contributions and downdooting those of low-quality!
Rules
0. Only post socialist memes
That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme)
1. Socialist Unity in the form of mutual respect and good faith interactions is enforced here
Try to keep an open mind, other schools of thought may offer points of view and analyses you haven't considered yet. Also: This is not a place for the Idealism vs. Materialism or rather Anarchism vs. Marxism debate(s), for that please visit c/AnarchismVsMarxism.
2. Anti-Imperialism means recognizing capitalist states like Russia and China as such
That means condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.
3. No liberalism, (right-wing) revisionism or reactionaries.
That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).
4. No Bigotry.
The only dangerous minority is the rich.
5. Don't demonize previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.
(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)
6. Don't idolize/glorify previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.
- Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:
- Racism
- Sexism
- Queerphobia
- Ableism
- Classism
- Rape or assault
- Genocide/ethnic cleansing or (mass) deportations
- Fascism
- (National) chauvinism
- Orientalism
- Colonialism or Imperialism (and their neo- counterparts)
- Zionism
- Religious fundamentalism of any kind
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Yeah, I'm not trying to vomit a bunch of falsehoods at folks to try to make a point by point argument. I don't think I need to write a book to make a point.
You aren't arguing in good faith. You're ignoring facts and history.
Murders don't end in those countries because the revolution is 'finished'. Anytime someone disagrees they have to be disappeared or reeducated.
Is China such a success that they're using hostages in China to threaten folks to keep their social media compliant with CCP ideals?
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/05/china-overseas-students-face-harassment-and-surveillance-in-campaign-of-transnational-repression/
https://rsf.org/en/beaten-death-state-security-rsf-shocked-gruesome-murder-independent-journalist-china https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_August https://www.cato.org/blog/death-cuban-dissidents https://2017-2021.state.gov/chinas-disregard-for-human-rights/
Do you have any argument that doesn't involve a bloodletting of society?
But you have been, as I proved.
Enlighten me. I have posted sources for my claims.
Do they? Is that historically accurate? If by "disagreement" you mean collaboration with the Nazis or the fascist White Army, you're deliberately obfuscating the facts.
China certainly isn't perfect, not by any stretch. Don't confuse support for Marxism for saying every single AES country is perfect in every way. That would be idealism, not Materialism. Overall though, the scope of harm committed by China pales in comparison to US and the rest of the West.
Revolution will happen regardless of how we feel about it. Blaming the oppressed for turning against their oppressors instead of blaming the oppressors for creating the conditions for Revolution in the first place is victim blaming.
Do you condemn Dessalines for the blood in history's most successful Slave Revolt in Haiti?
Oh so we're moving on from the topic of a working example of Marxism then. Why because I posted some links on the topic?
You really went to what-about? I provided sources as to why they aren't examples of working Marxism and you did a what about.
I'm frustrated with trying to have a reasonable debate with people who think that they have the right to tell others what they can or cannot do. I don't pretend I can tell others what to do. I don't think our system is perfect. I'm not about to pretend that a revolution will end up better than where it started. Historically, it's rare. Even when it happens, it doesn't last.
Revolutions are as inevitable as the people who are willing to cooperate to make things better allow. In other words, it's completely evitable.
I think treating folks fairly and not exploiting labor is a good idea. Marxism hasn't led us there historically.
We aren't moving from it, I don't see what cherry-picking has to do with the subject at hand.
No, you provided a single example of the CPC doing something bad in the context of a country with citizen approval of the CPC at 95.6%. It is important to compare the US and other non-Marxist states because your point appears to be that Capitalism is better than Marxism.
What do you mean by saying I have the right to "tell others what they can or cannot do?" That doesn't make any sense, are you arguing against the French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, etc.?
Additionally, Revolution absolutely improved Cuba, Russia, Haiti, China, France, etc. You have to be arguing for fascist slavery, Tsarist Monarchy, colonial slavery, colonial nationalism, and monarchism to be better than what came after. I hope you aren't a fascism or slavery supporter.
Capitalism itself decays over time, conditions get worse. The Capitalist class will not willingly hand over the reigns and improve society via giving up power.
It has.
My argument is that violent revolution doesn't seem to work out as well as advertised, especially with Marxism. The Chinese revolution killed millions of people, many who were innocent. All to end up with an oligarchy ruling over them and fabricating statistics.
Who is cherry picking? Everyone knows that China's economic data is much worse than the official numbers. Just how big are the lies?
Abstract: China's statistics are widely viewed as unreliable...
By Tell others, I mean just that. Marxism may have started out wonderfully ideal. In reality if you express opinions outside of the acceptable party lines - You are silenced or worse. This is true of all of your examples of Marxism.
China From the Report: "The government continued to systematically target human rights defenders..."
Cuba From the Report: "Surveillance and harassment of activists, opponents, journalists and artists continued to be widespread. Arbitrary detention and criminal processes without fair trial guarantees remained common and people deprived of liberty faced harsh prison conditions."
Definitely not telling folks what to do. Definitely Ideals to hold up in arguments.
I'm concerned for America too. I didn't hold them up as an ideal. USA
The French Revolution didn't kill its intended targets. Except for that whole mishap, totally worked out. They punished the wrong people and led to a decent system for a while. (https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/02/01/why-is-france-so-corrupt-fillon-macron-le-pen/)
The American Revolution seems good on paper. It worked for awhile. Citizens United is an issue to me. Admittedly didn't read everything about the Haitian revolution, though slaves(opressed) rising up against their opressors has a bit of schadenfreude in it for me.
Those didn't end up in regimes that are not (at least temporarily) governed by their people.
I disagree that revolution has resulted in the best possible position for Cuba, Russa, China and other Marxist regimes you've held up.
As stated, I'm not for telling people what to do. Doesn't seem as if you asked, but I'm against slave labor, authoritarianism, patriarchies, colonialism, corporotocracy and feudalism. Not all revolutions have ended poorly, they have almost all been very bloody.
Capitalism never died in the places you think Marxism ruled.
Thanks for providing the wonderful shining examples of: Russia(what remains of the USSR), China, & Cuba.
This is false. The Chinese Revolution against the Nationalists was bloody, yes, but was caused by Nationalist oppression. What they have now is a functional state with high approval ratings (and no evidence shown of fabricated approval ratings or oligarchy on your part). They aren't perfect, but they are much better off.
Articles from Salon and Cambridge, both of which include vast and thorough references like English Bankers saying "I don't believe the numbers." Lmao
This happens under Capitalism, to a worse degree.
You're using Amnesty.org as a resource, a far-right think-tank. This doesn't look better for you.
With nothing to support your claims, of course, just your latent chauvanism, where you think you have an "enlightened western brain" rather than letting countries govern themselves.
Except you did defend them against improvements like Marxism.
It was drastically reduced or outright eliminated, and these countries are better for it.
More Amnesty.org links, more western chauvanism, it's clear you'll continue batting for fascists.
Thanks for providing counter examples of how they aren't fabricating data. Since you claim it's only about banks
As noted, I'm against telling people what to do. Fascists and Marxists do that historically. Your response isn't well they're better and they don't do that.
All Vibes, no substance.
I asked you to provide examples of Marxism being a better working system. We haven't gotten there yet. We still have to prove Marxism is a workable improvement over existing systems.
All Vibes, no substance. Where's your source?
Who is Amnesty.org From the Link: They're not just one nationality or think tank. It's a global movement of more than 10 million people which campaigns for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.
Their stated vision: is of a world where those in power keep their promises, respect international law and are held to account.
Your stated vision: Establish a single ruling party to (tell everyone what to do) ensure everyone pays tribute to a single party that makes sweeping rules over everyone, and lies to everyone about what they're actually doing.
They'll become nobles of the in clique who get to exploit the proles for their labor and resources. If you disagree with the in clique, guess you go back to being a lowly worker.
How it is: Where China is now Express too much dissent and you can't even get public transit tickets. Banned from buying tickets
As stated. Not about telling people how they have to do things. Not a nationalist. You're trying to attack me now? We're debating ideas. You accused me of all vibes no substance. I start providing substance and you switch to all vibe. Again I attest, you are arguing in bad faith.
Keep saying fake news. You sound like you work for Trump, a solid fascist. Do you?
I am so glad you provided sources to back up your... Postive Vibes.
That link you didn't provide, it is totally convincing everyone that the humanitarian reports are entirely fabricated.
The reports coming from independent journalists and screen recordings of folks being threatened for expressing dissent. Fake news according to you?