Actually, this town has more than enough room for the two of us
He/him or they/them, doesn’t matter too much
For real, especially trying to get across Lenin’s analysis of Imperialism, or the necessity of Revolution, both of which are far touchier subjects than “Marx good” on the Fediverse.
Marx has been blunted and made tame and by those who haven’t read him.
This meme isn’t saying Socialism will not prevail. Rather, it’s saying that even though Socialists can’t individually beat Capitalism right now, as Capitalism decays Socialists increase in number and Capitalists weaken in strength, making Socialist victory more probable over time.
The Communist Manifesto isn’t what I’m talking about. The CM is a worker pamphlet, not an explanation of Marxism. The Principles of Communism is a much better introductory work, and for Marx himself, Wage Labor and Capital as well as Value, Price and Profit are excellent texts describing Capitalism. I would also add Socialism: Utopian and Scientific for an introduction to Historical Materialism, and the failures of Utopian Socialists like the Owenites.
Lenin is absolutely worth reading, he was the leader of the first genuine Marxist state, and his contributions to Marxist theory are critical. Specifically, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism furthers Marx’s analysis into the modern era of Monopoly Capitalism, aka Imperialism, which Marx was only alive to see the very beginnings of before he passed away.
Those commenters have no idea what they are talking about. You are always stronger aligned with your fellow workers.
Don’t unions really restrict your salary growth in fields where there’s actual potential for it?
Nope.
I’m in software engineering and I reckon a whole bunch of people would be unhappy if their salary was in a direct relationship with their years of experience.
Why would increasing your bargaining power lower your wages?
Syndicalism is nice, but without a solid analysis of Imperialism it risks taking on a Nationalist character if you’re in the Imperial Core. Additionally, if you’re in a de-industrialized nation like the United States, worker organization is more difficult along union lines, which is partially why Unions have historically struggled in the United States in recent years.
100% agree on reading theory and joining an org, just wanted to add some caveats.
Read Marx, especially if you don’t think you need to.
The point of the meme is that as Capitalism deteriorates, and it must deteriorate, more Workers become aligned with Leftists and at some point there will be a shift from quantitative to qualitative, ie at some level there will be a dramatic change, like the boiling point of water.
23 pages? What are you referring to? Either way, what Marx analyzed is still relevant, even in his day overproduction led to crisis. Lenin took his analysis further once Monopoly Capitalism became the standard, but the same principles apply.
Read Marx, everyone, especially people that don’t think they need to.
I didn’t claim only fascists were sent to gulags, the vast majority of political prisoners were fascists.
The idea of a “Jewish Genocide” by the Soviets is Double Genocide Theory. That’s why I said you’re free to correct your statements. Yes, the Soviets did some bad things, but you’re carrying water for fascists by defending them as “political prisoners” and claiming a Jewish genocide.
As a US citizen, the DNC and GOP ultimately serve the same donors and are aligned.
You claimed the USSR was murdering jews and non-Russians en-masse, not hard to see that you were calling to Double Genocide Theory from that. If you want to correct your statements you can.
You cannot realistically do that when half the working class thinks that that are the beneficiaries of capitalism.
I mean, they are. The US Proletariat is among the Labor Aristocracy, they benefit from Imperialism dramatically. The fall of Imperialism will drive the US Proletariat to revolution.
The question of Reform vs Revolution is already answered, Marxists believe Revolution is the only way to bring about Socialism, which is correct.
It absolutely was propaganda because the capitalist class perpetuated the lie that progressive policies would hurt the country. Neoliberals, through the use of rhetoric in the media, helped popularize the idea of the infallible free market – that was propaganda.
It was propaganda, yes. It did not “brainwash” the masses, if the material conditions weren’t fit it wouldn’t have done anything.
Nation states don’t have to staunchly be strictly capitalist or communist; social democracies do work, with the caveat that citizens have to be well-informed and act as stewards to protect and exercise their electoral rights in shaping a nation.
Social Democracy doesn’t work, the Nordics are seeing erosion of worker power and safety nets, and they depend on Imperialism to fund their safety nets.
I’m well aware of Historical Materialism. My contention to your larger point, in short, was that the way forward has to be meticulous and measured. Accelerating the downfall of the system in place will have a real, disastrous impact on the lives of the existing working class. We cannot destroy lives on the promise that it will get better. Class consciousness is step 1, but we’re not even there yet.
It will not get better without Revolution.
If you are a woman, POC or queer, it is usually really easy to choose a lesser evil here (or idk, a neo-nazi, as I framed this as why a non-voter might also help the democrats). Most people can choose a lesser evil, and they help the greater one by not voting/voting 3rd party. If you literally can’t see a difference, that’s fine, but this is the reason why most people are better of not voting 3rd party right now.
I’m queer, so is my partner. I’m also a Communist. Trump hates me openly, sure, and Kamala does nothing to stop it.
Yup, they can make that decision. Maybe they think appealing to the block of Republicans is easier, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they do considering that’s where their money is and how much they need to change to appeal to the left.
Then we know American electoralism doesn’t matter anyways and we need a revolution.
So, you don’t know how it would help. Either the Democrats stay in Power and won’t change, or the Republicans gain power and nothing will change until 2028 (or later, depending how project 2025 comes along). Hoping that they may change on Palestine is foolish. You are correct about the support, it should never be unconditional.
I already told you, you’re just ignoring it.
Since you said support shouldn’t be unconditional, where’s your line in the sand? Genocide apparently is fine for you.
Of course it was because of the material conditions at the time and because the capitalist class felt threatened by the rise of communism and felt a need to combat it. It was still propaganda though and it has irreparably damaged the American psyche.
Again, I encourage you to reject the “brainwashing” narrative. The conditions came before the ideas.
Btw, the material conditions at the time were not all hunk-dory either. There was massive wealth disparity between “white” Americans and African -Americans. Minorities were still fighting widespread discrimination which prevented them the enjoy the same freedoms and prosperity as the rest of America.
Absolutely correct, material conditions don’t mean equal prosperity. How familiar are you with Historical Materialism?
Excellent thread. Even suggesting Lenin has good ideas can get you immediate ire, because what he wrote is accurate and practicible.