US Authoritarianism

Why do you need the obvious explained to you? Why do you think Marxist-Leninists want to seize the state? Because it (somehow) isn't the nexus of power? What would be the point of centralized economic, political and social power if there was no organ through which to hegemonically exercise it?

I want to hear it from your mouth, because so far you've been doing a lot of gesturing and asserting without explaining anything, and when your views conflict with established Leftist theory and history, I want to know why you hold those stances.

Marxists of all sorts wish to seize the Capitalist state as it is the instrument by which Private Property Rights are enforced and protected, and that which validate Class Society in Capitalism. Transferring power from the Bourgeoisie to Democratic institutions and councils is the goal and history of Marxism.

Where does the institutionalized monopoly of violence reside in a hierarchical society, Clyde? On my patio, perhaps?

More random jabs, childish and unproductive.

It's perfectly relevant - this has been the proscribed logic of every (so-called) "AES" so far... and none of them has delivered anything that can be called socialism with a straight face.

Care to explain why democratic states that control industry, rather than wealthy Capitalists, is not Socialism? This is that thing you do, you gesture, assert, add some fiery language, but offer no supporting evidence or analysis to work off of.

As an equivalent, I could say that Donkeys are a type of fish, and that nobody could assert otherwise with a straight face. That would have the same level of rhetorical weight as what you have been doing thus far, even after I have tried to poke and prod you into a defensible position.

The Cuban working class controls nothing. Cuba is not a socialist project - it is a nationalist one, plain and simple. Something isn't "socialist" just because it got help from the USSR. The USSR cared about a lot of things - helping socialism along wasn't one of them. It cared about as much for "spreading socialism" as the US cares about "spreading democracy."

Why is a Democratic Worker State where production is controlled by people directly and their elected representatives not Socialist? What could they do to become Socialist, in your eyes?

I'm not the one whining about "leftist unity" - you are. I see no value in "leftist unity" whatsoever.

I don't see how you plan on achieving any leftist goals by trying to fight with every leftist that attempts to have a productive conversation with you. If your goals are not building up dual power to overtake the system, and instead to yell online and ridicule other leftists, then I would say you're likely doing more harm to leftism than good. At that point, there's very little separating you from a liberal, who also attacks the left and preserves the status quo.