Lefty Memes
An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.
Serious posts, news, and discussion go in c/Socialism.
If you are new to socialism, you can ask questions and find resources over on c/Socialism101.
Please don't forget to help keep this community clean by reporting rule violations, updooting good contributions and downdooting those of low-quality!
Rules
0. Only post socialist memes
That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme)
1. Socialist Unity in the form of mutual respect and good faith interactions is enforced here
Try to keep an open mind, other schools of thought may offer points of view and analyses you haven't considered yet. Also: This is not a place for the Idealism vs. Materialism or rather Anarchism vs. Marxism debate(s), for that please visit c/AnarchismVsMarxism.
2. Anti-Imperialism means recognizing capitalist states like Russia and China as such
That means condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.
3. No liberalism, (right-wing) revisionism or reactionaries.
That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).
4. No Bigotry.
The only dangerous minority is the rich.
5. Don't demonize previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.
(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)
6. Don't idolize/glorify previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.
- Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:
- Racism
- Sexism
- Queerphobia
- Ableism
- Classism
- Rape or assault
- Genocide/ethnic cleansing or (mass) deportations
- Fascism
- (National) chauvinism
- Orientalism
- Colonialism or Imperialism (and their neo- counterparts)
- Zionism
- Religious fundamentalism of any kind
view the rest of the comments
This seems very naive to me. In my experience, everyone wants all the money, fuck everyone else. Including my fellow working class. All of them. Every single one.
I see no sides. I see no difference in kind between billionaires, my boss, my co-workers, my neighbours, homeless people, members of the local labour club, you, me or anyone. We're all human beings and we all prioritise our own wellbeing over the wellbeing of others. Cooperation in society and ruthless greed are not mutually exclusive. Humans will cooperate when it's beneficial and also stab their fellow humans in the back, step on them and exploit them when it's beneficial.
That's ridiculous, nobody wants that.
If is there is no allegiance then there can be no traitor.
A class traitor is someone who acts counter to their class-interests. No allegiance required.
Yet you defend a system which fucks you and the rest of the working class over.
So not actually a traitor then, I see.
I've simply pointed out the reality of the situation, I haven't stated any judgement about it.
Linguistics prescriptivism is bullshit.
(x) doubt.
Nice to see your bets so hedged. /s
But even if you were correct: Shouldn't we as a society remove the system which enables people to monopolize power, if it's "human nature" to exploit others?
I don't know what that means.
The moral judgement is irrelevant here. It makes no difference. "We" cannot stop human beings from gaining power over others so the question is moot. Your assumptions are unfounded.
It means claiming that someone "uses a word wrong", referring to a supposed authority on language, rather than acknowledging that a word's usage determines its' meaning
I've not made any moral judgement. I've extrapolated your view of the world and said that I don't want that.
That's simply wrong. There's a ton of historical and anthropological evidence of societal structures that prevent monopolisation of power. Notice that there are way less kings around than a few hundred years ago?
I'm claiming the same things of yours.
I haven't done that. I've pointed out that OP's use of the word "traitor" in their phrase "class traitor" has a different meaning to the ordinary use of the word "traitor". I haven't said their use is wrong.
We're talking at cross purposes. You're talking about "monopolisation" of power but I'm talking about gaining power over others. I don't know what you mean by "monopolisation" of power. (And I don't care because whatever you mean, it's clear that it isn't important.)
But not prevent the acquisition of power over others, or prevent exploitation.
No? Only in name. I find it odd when people talk about feudalism in the past tense. To me it seems like feudalism never ended.
Yes, you have
That's what monopolisation of power means.
Yes, exactly that. That's what democracy's supposed to handle.
There are distinct differences of capitalism and feudalism.
I disagree.
LOL so you believe there is "a ton of historical and anthropological evidence of societal structures that prevent" people gaining power over others? You believe there have been "a ton" of human societies with no exploitation? You have no idea what you're talking about.
LOL
Oh I see! Distinct differences! LOL
Well, you're wrong.
There have been a ton of societies which limited the amount of power individuals could amass.
Yeah. Feudal property relations are totally the same as capitalistic property relations. No difference whatsoever. Pretty much everyone is still a subsistence farmer. /s
LOL
Ah! So now you're changing your tune! Not "preventing" but "limiting". Best of luck, maybe you'll get to reality in the end.
So, amassing of power can't be limited in your opinion?
Why are you asking me that?
Because that's what you're implying.
I'm neither saying nor implying that.
Yes you are:
I see where the confusion lies. Let me rephrase:
"We" cannot prevent power or exploitation so the question is moot.
No one's talking about power itself, but of its' monopolisation.
Why can't that and exploitation be prevented via social structures? Why are you ignoring all the precedents where it was/is already prevented?
You're not making any sense. We're not communicating. Take care.
Got it, you're refusing to engage.
With you only.
So you admit it's personal rather than topical, cool.
LOL
¯\_(ツ)_/¯