this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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Lefty Memes
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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.
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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)
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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.
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as well as condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.
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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).
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The only dangerous minority is the rich.
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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.
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Generally, Leftists believe it can only happen via revolution. The general idea is to organize and build dual power, so that when an inevitable revolution arises, the working class is already organized and can replace the former state.
You're working off the mindset of maintaining Capitalism and piece-by-piece Socializing it, which is not what Leftists generally propose.
I suggest reading Critique of the Gotha Programme, if you're genuinely interested.
I'm an outsider and I don't really know much about Leftist thought. I'm curious what the general belief among Lefists is for why this revolution hasn't happened? (In the capitalist West that is?)
Marxists believe it is due to Imperialism, also known as Unequal Exchange. Western Capitalist countries export the vast bulk of their poverty to foreign countries with cheaper labor to make a wider proportion of profit, similar to the idea of countries functioning as Bourgeoisie and Proletarian.
Whether you agree with Lenin's analysis of the State and Revolutionary methods, I have yet to find a Leftist that disagrees with his arguments in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.
What we are seeing is an increase in Anti-Western sentiment among the Global South, as conditions deteriorate and expropriation increases. As this revolutionary pressure builds, the weakest links pop, so to speak, weakening Western Hegemony and driving their own Proletariat closer to revolution.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "imperialism" here but regardless, what is the solution to imperialism according to Marxists?
I elaborated on it later, it's the concept of exporting the bulk of industrial production to foreign countries to super-exploit for super-profits.
Imperialism defeats itself in much the same way Capitalism does, it increases in severity and exploitation until a boiling point is reached, and the country in the Global South moves towards domestic production and nationalization of their resources and products, rather than serving as an outsourced factory for wealthy Capitalists abroad.
I don't think we're communicating. I asked what Marxists' solution to imperialism is. I can't see any solution in what you've written here.
What do you specifically mean? I just said Imperialism defeats itself, and people in the Global South can act against it by protecting their own production and resources.
So you're saying Marxists have no solution to imperialism?
They do. Supporting movements in the Global South against Imperialism by the Global North. Looking at the nature of Imperialism dialectically, it appears to be deteriorating as exploitation increases, so these movements are gaining momentum. This is what I mean when I say Imperialism defeats itself, as exploitation increases (as it must to counter the Tendency for the Rate of Profit to Fall), it also increases pressure against itself from those it exploits.
We're not communicating. That's not a "solution" as I understand it.
Why not?
For the same reason that it's not a carpet as I understand it.
Why is a solution not a solution?
You're not being rational.
I have been entirely rational. I explained in shorthand, and linked longer texts, and you are intentionally playing coy.
I disagree.
Try explaining in longhand. Then you will have explained. If you explain "in shorthand" then you haven't explained.
If imperialism defeats itself why is it still around?
I'm specifically referring to Capitalism as it turns to Imperialism, also known as Unequal Exchange. A
I don't follow. You haven't answered my question.
Capitalist Imperialism has been around for about 2 centuries.
You haven't answered my question.
I have. What's unanswered?
I disagree.
Why imperialism is still around (if it defeats itself).
Processes take time. Trajectories matter.
And? Still not answered the question.
To what? What trajectories?
Deterioration in Imperialism happens as exploitation increases over time. This process takes many years, but we can track directions.
Still don't understand why imperialism is still around if it defeats itself.
Why is there still water in a boiling pot if water evaporates when boiled?
I don't follow.