this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2023
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Leftism

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Our goal is to be the one stop shop for leftism here at lemmy.world! We welcome anyone with beliefs ranging from SocDemocracy to Anarchism to post, discuss, and interact with our community. We are a democratic community, and as such, welcome metaposts that seek to amend the rules through consensus. Post articles, videos, questions, analysis and more. As long as it's leftist, it's welcome here!

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i am curious to see what kinds of leftists are here on lemmy

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[–] demesisx 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Zstom6IP 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One of my friends is an Anarcho-Syndicalist.

[–] demesisx 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Now you have two Anarcho-Syndicalist friends. 😁

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[–] eric5949 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'll be honest, don't know how to answer that question but I'd like to be able to. I have a lot of the same beliefs as other people who say they're leftist but sometimes the one or two conservative-ish viewpoints I have bring me into conflict with leftists. Not by my choice, just in my experience some people can't deal if you aren't 100% in lockstep with them.

[–] FinnFooted 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What even are leftists without infighting?

[–] Zstom6IP 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

True that, but there's a difference between debate and disagreement, and unhealthy infighting. and fighting with tankies is not infighting, because they are a threat to the values of the left.

[–] FinnFooted 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry, I was mostly being sarcastic.

In all seriousness, a lot of people on the left think very critically about their beliefs and struggle with accepting others after becoming so thoroughly dedicated to their own. This is something we need to overcome for trivial things, for sure.

But, as you said, tankies are a threat. They call for unity to simply to gather forces to oppress others until they can turn and oppress the same leftists they called to for unity.

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago

you are right on.

[–] Zstom6IP 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

interesting, one thing we have in common is our conflict with other leftists, for me this happens due to my pragmatist perspective.

[–] MiddleWeigh 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I think it would be disingenuous to call myself a leftist. I have beliefs pulled from all over, mostly my own experience. I'd consider myself more a spiritual person than political. I have strong views on social issues like criminal justice, capitalism as a whole, and any type of hate. Any.

I think money and human interaction will never mesh.

I think humans are ultimately flawed to ever have a perfect system. I think atp we are ultimately fkd long term.

All I can do is be kind to people day to day and try to be mindful of my own actions and hopefully that rubs off on others.

I think, as a species, we have a lot of inward reflection to do, as far as how we treat ourselves and others. I'm almost convinced that suffering is just apart of the human experience and is what ultimately makes life what it is. Whether this is just learned behavior is yet to be seen, but we have been playing out this power struggle since the dawn of time, and it is not the way.

I can only try, in my own way, to alleviate that suffering.

It's a slow crawl on the evolutionary ladder, and I'm not quite sure we're capable of making it. And if we do, it will be with a far less populated planet.

That's where I am at, in a nutshell. As far as specific topics, I'd have to take them one at a time as they come, and follow my gut.

[–] FinnFooted 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Out of curiosity, why do you feel it would be disingenuous to call yourself a leftist?

[–] MiddleWeigh 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well I guess I have been proven wrong in that assumption. Lol. Apparently I'm a libertarian socialist, and apparently I really dig Karl Marx. Lol.

I was sort of more stating that I am more of a spiritual being. But thru that I am indeed, very much left. Haha

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

thats quite the evolution there.

[–] MiddleWeigh 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know. Genre was never too important to me, I am just me, I feel what I feel, and sometimes do not have the appropriate words to describe, until I do. (:

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago
[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even if you are not a leftist, you are welcome to discuss and debate leftism freely.

[–] MiddleWeigh 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think for all intents and purposes, I am. I believe we need to look out for one another. I believe in the commonality of the human experience and that we can all get what we want if we work together, leave ego behind, and think of others as an extension of ourselves. And we need to help eachother achieve that perspective.

[–] Zstom6IP 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

you seem at least centre left, and respectable to say the least.

[–] MiddleWeigh 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well thank you. Same to you. (I'm definitely not right, that is for sure)...I suppose I'm some flavor of anarchist with a ground in leftism for the sake of modern politics...or smth lol.

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I respect anarchists, and agree with them on many things.

[–] MiddleWeigh 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yea for sure. It seems a mix of left, anarchism, and autonomy would be the perfect solution, buy sadly that is just never gonna happen...right now at least. I'd like to think that we are just slowly advancing towards it by having these discussions. I was always more a big picture person. I've only recently "activated" in my old, long held, political ideals after a run in with the American criminal justice system, poverty, and addiction and I'm konda figuring out where my ideals truly fit by interacting with my peers. I find that most people on here are at least somewhat intellectual in nature, and I like that.

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

that sounds like libertarian socialism to me.

[–] MiddleWeigh 2 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Hmm. I dunno tbh. I've never even heard that before iirc. So..is that bad? Lol

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[–] Asafum 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I honestly don't know how to label myself, all I know is I'm "left of center" as far as the US goes. I might not even be a "true" leftist. I know I'm not a neoliberal though that's for sure...

I know that in general human nature leads the worst actors to positions of real power so I've never believed that the far end of the spectrum could ever work, but I also know for the same reason the "middle road" so-called centrist position in the US is just conservativism "lite." I won't even touch on the "right/conservativism" as that isn't the question and it's basically monarchy & hierarchy worship.

I think people in general aren't educated enough and are too apathetic to care about the "big picture" and mostly care about what happens in their own life in their own communities so decisions made in respect to what happens on a large scale for an entire country are left to manipulative actors swaying those that don't care to truly understand any particular situation which makes any difficult process of transitioning to a more "leftist" government infinitely more dubious.

I like the idea of worker co-ops as far as labor and "market" is concerned. I don't believe that states can properly attend to the luxury desires of any given population, I think the "greed incentive" of individuals works there. People want a thing and you want money so you make the thing, but I believe governance has a role in ensuring those lead by the greed incentive are kept in check. That leads back to the "worst actors" seeking positions of power and that power is required to keep the greedy in check so I really don't know the ideal way to handle that. The worker co-ops should keep the CEO wrecking a company long term for their short term gain and golden parachute exit out of the equation at least.

As far as anything about equality goes, I think it's stupid that it's even a question. We are all humans living on a ball of rock shooting through the galaxy, we are in the same boat and deserve the same treatment/opportunities as anyone else. Those with a "leg up" monetarily have an "unfair" advantage, but the solution to leveling the playing field is far above my pay grade to know.

I haven't gone into any "deep dives" of the "flavors" of leftism which is probably why I don't know what I am considered, but I'm not sure it matters either as I know to a degree what I believe works or doesn't, I don't think I need a lable.

[–] Zstom6IP 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This is a very thoughtful comment, thank you. also i agree with much of what you said.

[–] Asafum 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks! I didn't think I'd spend my lunch break considering leftism, but it was an interesting question lol

[–] Zstom6IP 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

i hope this community continues to interesting for you.

edit, oops, I said "subreddit" instead of community, I guess its quite obvious that i am a reddit-exile.

[–] polymorphist_neuroid 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I consider myself a progressive: our political systems should work to improve the human condition over the long term, informed by scientific and moral progress tempered by humility.

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[–] TokenBoomer 4 points 1 year ago

I just want want universal healthcare, or council communism. Whichever comes first.

[–] Ragdoll_X 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Libertarian Socialist and generally anti-fascist.

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[–] masquenox 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I tend to fall on the anarchist side of things... though not fully - I think anarchists do have their own problems with orthodox "leftist" ways of thinking.

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