We Lost the Battle for the Republican Party’s Soul Long Ago

[ousdahl]

I think communism can be considered a sort of political or sociopolitical theory, as much as economic.

a lot of the tweeter commies, at least, are quick to express their ideological opposition to both fascism and capitalism alike.

I'll go out on a limb and guess there were and are more commie types among Antifa, than there are mainstream libs.

And perhaps capitalism as sort of an application of fascist theory to economics, at least in the sense they both result in some concentration of power.

and communism is a rejection of the classism that is a feature of both capitalism and fascism.

Or maybe I'm wrong. I'm too ADD to actually study this shit. Bear in mind, I mostly just look at memes.

[Cascadia]

Communism is an economic theory. Fascism is a political theory. Communists would be calling their nemesis capitalists.

This is too complicated for illy

[Deleted User 863]

Communism is an economic theory. Fascism is a political theory. Communists would be calling their nemesis capitalists.

This is too complicated for illy

It may be too complicated, but that statement is also incorrect. So there's that.

Communism is a political AND economic system. And social system if we want to be very technical.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

I assume you realize theories and systems are different. That being the case, is it possible you can both be correct?

[Deleted User 863]

Communism is both politcal and economic.

System. Theory. Doesn't matter the wording.

[ousdahl]

just thinking more about this, perhaps there is more nuance or technicality to exactly what ideology is the the 180 opposite of communism. I think it's fascism on some more political level; and capitalism on some more economic level. But when so much of economics is the political policies that establish the systems, I dunno quite where the line can precisely be drawn.

But the whole left - commies, socialists, anarchists, the types of folks who don't necessarily identify as some label but just don't think other folks should have to starve or freeze to death, etc. - is so disorganized and dysfunctional and more prone to bickering amongst one another than they are to actually organizing and getting shit done.

There's a lot of allegations suggesting our own gummint tries like hell to make sure any kind of left remains dysfunctionally bickering amongst themselves rather than effectively organizing and getting shit done, but let's not go full Qusdahl just yet. It's not like it's Labor Day or anything.

but my point is, nowadays it seems it's the types of folks under some umbrella of "leftism" who are thee most outwardly opposed to fascism.

Most other ideologies, even mainstream American ideologies, seem less concerned, or even OK with it.

And yea, leftists fookin HATE capitalism, while most other ideologies remain ok with it, if not positively giddy about it.

[TDub]

less government the better, regardless of the system

[ousdahl]

bro you might dig anarchism.

[TDub]

im not for anarchy either

[ousdahl]

I didn't say anarchy.

If we're gonna split hairs on some textbook definition level, that would be some absence of authority. That seems like it might align with your "less gummint the better," tho.

Anarchism is more like the ideology of abolishment of hierarchical gummint authority in favor of voluntary participation in society and robust networks of mutual aid. Horizontal communities, rather than vertical.

Basically, it's like libertarianism, if libertarianism glorified neighborly generosity as much as it glorifies self-centered independence.

but it's, surprisingly, way more complex than you'd expect. Maybe Qusdahl has a meme that could explain it best…

[ousdahl]

I'll just leave this one here too

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

In today's edition of your can't make this shit up....
The moral of his story is "be happy with what you got". Ok, what they "got" is Raphael Warnock. Voting for Walker would be saying they are NOT happy with what they got.

[Deleted User 863]

Maybe the Bull was gay?

[japhy]

There used to be a history professor at KU back in the early 80's, don't recall his name. He taught world history: French Revolution to modern times. He had one of the best explanations I had ever heard of communism. He held that communism was best described as a religion. Because it strived to achieve an unachievable utopian society. It was like most religions, a set of rules and a plan to get to a heaven/nirvana. In communism's "bible", heaven would be created here on earth.

It's downfall being that people are not and will never be "perfect" and will never act solely in the interest of society and not themselves.

It's the same reason why the United States will never be a "Christian" nation. Most of us, and that includes the "Christian Nationalist" adherents, do not want to live or behave like Christ.




And here's the rub. God called me to save a town. But it's gonna take some money.

Is this a good time to talk about more tax cuts for me?

[ousdahl]

strong post, Japhy!

yeah people are not and will never be perfect and will never act solely in the interest of society and not themselves.

but that seems like more of an argument to establish systems to offset that selfishness, not an argument to tacitly double down on some status quo that enables that selfishness to pursue exploitation.

and if communism is so unachievable on its own, then how come imperial capitalism works so damn hard to make sure it doesn't achieve anything anyway?

Are there any examples of "communism" or something similar that was simply left to its own damn devices, without Merica trying like hell to sabotage the effort, whether through war, coups, "free market" embargoes, propaganda, or some other "bad by any other country but it's good when Merica does it" sort of shenanigans?

This could even apply to both state-sponsored communism, and also to indigenous communities that did just fine sharing resources and taking care of one another until one day some assholes showed up on boats and said, "actually, you all work in gold mines now. Better get digging or we'll cut off your head!"

there is a certain niche subset of ideology - let's just call it "Christian leftism" - who sees the Bible as some OG far left propaganda; a communist manifesto 1.0 of sorts. Cuz at the end of the day, values like "feed the hungry" and "welcome the stranger" and "give power to the powerless" somehow got smeared as commie spambot shit that is far, far, way too far radical for America; as if it's some kooky Marxist shit, even though it's just been the Gospels all along.

Even the kooky Marxist shit is not that kooky after all. It's just some critical analysis of capitalist economic systems. But no capitalist wants the rubes actually understanding how capitalism works. How would the capitalists be able to exploit everything otherwise? Next thing you'd know, they might even have to pretend they're acting in the interests of society!

(and take it from me, that Marx shit is booooooring! You ever really try to sit down and read page after page meticulously analyzing the 19th century market price of yarn? That's why Qusdahl prefers memes now)

But I do have to agree with you on one thing - indeed, no one wants to behave like Christ...ESPECIALLY not the Christians!

[TDub]

I think you should live in a commune and see how you like it.

[Cascadia]

This is some of your best work Ousdahl, be prepared for 3-5 pages of meltdowns to follow. Should be an entertaining day.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Time for a moment of Gutter's insane take on life.....
Religion and politics - two things that will always exist and two things that I feel are the greatest downfalls in terms of unity on this planet.
I don't know if the bible says God demands that we all love our cousins (according to the Christian bible we are all cousins - right?) but I find it hard to believe God would want humans to be so divided. Unless he/she/it is/was an asshole and this is a form of entertainment for him/her/it.

[ousdahl]

the funny about the Bible is, it's translations of translations of oral traditions after the fact. (ever play the phone game?)

So who knows whether terms like "cousins" translate to biological cousins like we understand it, or whether it was some more generic term like "brother" or "neighbor" or "comrade" or something.

but as least as it pertains to Christianity specifically - it's hardly an extension of the ministry and social movement of Christ aka Jesus of Nazareth; and it is far more so the state-sponsored, state-established, state-imposed, politicizied religion of Constantine.

[ousdahl]

I think you should live in a commune and see how you like it.

I don't disagree!

man, really tempted to share my Sunflower House story again lol