this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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Lefty Memes

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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

Version without spoilers

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.



  1. Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Marxists believe it is due to Imperialism, also known as Unequal Exchange. Western Capitalist countries export the vast bulk of their poverty to foreign countries with cheaper labor to make a wider proportion of profit, similar to the idea of countries functioning as Bourgeoisie and Proletarian.

Whether you agree with Lenin's analysis of the State and Revolutionary methods, I have yet to find a Leftist that disagrees with his arguments in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.

What we are seeing is an increase in Anti-Western sentiment among the Global South, as conditions deteriorate and expropriation increases. As this revolutionary pressure builds, the weakest links pop, so to speak, weakening Western Hegemony and driving their own Proletariat closer to revolution.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Marxists believe it is due to Imperialism

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "imperialism" here but regardless, what is the solution to imperialism according to Marxists?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I elaborated on it later, it's the concept of exporting the bulk of industrial production to foreign countries to super-exploit for super-profits.

Imperialism defeats itself in much the same way Capitalism does, it increases in severity and exploitation until a boiling point is reached, and the country in the Global South moves towards domestic production and nationalization of their resources and products, rather than serving as an outsourced factory for wealthy Capitalists abroad.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I don't think we're communicating. I asked what Marxists' solution to imperialism is. I can't see any solution in what you've written here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

What do you specifically mean? I just said Imperialism defeats itself, and people in the Global South can act against it by protecting their own production and resources.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

So you're saying Marxists have no solution to imperialism?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They do. Supporting movements in the Global South against Imperialism by the Global North. Looking at the nature of Imperialism dialectically, it appears to be deteriorating as exploitation increases, so these movements are gaining momentum. This is what I mean when I say Imperialism defeats itself, as exploitation increases (as it must to counter the Tendency for the Rate of Profit to Fall), it also increases pressure against itself from those it exploits.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Supporting movements in the Global South against Imperialism

We're not communicating. That's not a "solution" as I understand it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

For the same reason that it's not a carpet as I understand it.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Why is a solution not a solution?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I have been entirely rational. I explained in shorthand, and linked longer texts, and you are intentionally playing coy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I have been entirely rational.

I disagree.

I explained in shorthand

Try explaining in longhand. Then you will have explained. If you explain "in shorthand" then you haven't explained.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Imperialism defeats itself

If imperialism defeats itself why is it still around?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm specifically referring to Capitalism as it turns to Imperialism, also known as Unequal Exchange. A

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I don't follow. You haven't answered my question.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Capitalist Imperialism has been around for about 2 centuries.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You haven't answered my question.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I have.

I disagree.

What's unanswered?

Why imperialism is still around (if it defeats itself).

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Processes take time. Trajectories matter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Processes take time.

And? Still not answered the question.

Trajectories matter.

To what? What trajectories?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Deterioration in Imperialism happens as exploitation increases over time. This process takes many years, but we can track directions.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Still don't understand why imperialism is still around if it defeats itself.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Why is there still water in a boiling pot if water evaporates when boiled?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I don't follow.