Why are tankies against electoralism? Is that part of their push towards authoritarianism?
this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2024
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Tankiejerk
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Dunking on Tankies from a leftist perspective.
A tankie is someone who defends/supports authoritarian or even totalitarian regimes who call themselves "socialist". The term originated from people supporting the 1956 invasion of Hungary by the Soviet Union. Nowadays they are just terminally online, denying genocides, and falling for totalitarian propaganda and calling such regimes "true democracies". remember to censor usernames when necessary.
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Anti-electoralism is common on the left, be it the libertarian or authoritarian parts, though I’ve noticed that people with revolutionary tendencies tend to be the most anti-electoral.
Tankies are usually anti-electoral for the same reason most revolutionary leftists are, be it anarchists or state communists, since they don’t see electoral systems as a means to free the workers and/or other oppressed groups.
Granted, the more libertarian left opposes electoralism for many more reasons beyond seeing it as an invalid means to their end. And everyone here supports some system of self determination and organization, just not your state representative “democracy”
Tankies are 'against electoralism' in the way they're against everything else - ie only when it isn't controlled wholly by their preferred party. They sing the praises of elections in which only the Party's candidates are allowed to run as the peak of democracy.
Democracy can be both a mechanic-- "we have elections", and a philosophy-- "the state responds to and serves public interest."
Ironically, fixation on the mechanic can hinder the philosophy. Winning elections can come through short-term plays that sell long-term outcomes out (for example, low taxes by scrimping on infrastructure and state services) or dueling sabotage to sink the other party's prospects.
God, I hate vatniks.
I don't disagree with the general spirit of the post (E: and I'm pretty sure you aren't the one who made it), but the ableist last point and "brain damage" wojack ruin it. Also fuck electoralism. We can do better.