I mean, USSR, North Korea, China, those are not actually communist nor socialist nor ‘leftist’. They are autocratic dictatorships, no matter their names or how they try and sell themselves. And western conservatives gladly jumped on the bandwagon because it makes it too easy to discredit the ideas of socialism and communism. Whenever you criticize capitalism and the current wealth based social hierarchy, someone just screams “But you want communism, see USSR, socialism baaad!” and completely derails the discussion.
And what the heck does Norway has to do with socialism and how does it and Bernie Sander pollute the word?
99% of leftists’ problem is other leftists, and 99% of their problem is bitching about word choice. Presumably including the word “bitching.”
That is a fair point, and I myself are really holding back to not start a discussion about the term ‘leftist’. But that is easily explained. People on the left side of the spectrum often love to argue. We love having academic discussion, because those lead to new conclusions. And I’d even argue that’s a feature, not a bug. The problem is not the discussion but the communication to those not engaged in the discussion that it’s just academic.
There’s major communities on this instance where your comment would be deleted for that first sentence. Usually while hexbears insist China is the most democratic entity ever, and loudly scoff at the idea a power-consolidating lifetime-appointment unitary executive should ever be compared with a dictator.
The fuck else do you want?
People say “communist” and get jumped for using the magical theoretical ideal that’s obviously never been done.
People say “socialist” and get jumped for polluting the word with Bernie Sanders and Norway and whatnot.
99% of leftists’ problem is other leftists, and 99% of their problem is bitching about word choice. Presumably including the word “bitching.”
I mean, USSR, North Korea, China, those are not actually communist nor socialist nor ‘leftist’. They are autocratic dictatorships, no matter their names or how they try and sell themselves. And western conservatives gladly jumped on the bandwagon because it makes it too easy to discredit the ideas of socialism and communism. Whenever you criticize capitalism and the current wealth based social hierarchy, someone just screams “But you want communism, see USSR, socialism baaad!” and completely derails the discussion. And what the heck does Norway has to do with socialism and how does it and Bernie Sander pollute the word?
That is a fair point, and I myself are really holding back to not start a discussion about the term ‘leftist’. But that is easily explained. People on the left side of the spectrum often love to argue. We love having academic discussion, because those lead to new conclusions. And I’d even argue that’s a feature, not a bug. The problem is not the discussion but the communication to those not engaged in the discussion that it’s just academic.
There’s major communities on this instance where your comment would be deleted for that first sentence. Usually while hexbears insist China is the most democratic entity ever, and loudly scoff at the idea a power-consolidating lifetime-appointment unitary executive should ever be compared with a dictator.