• arcterus@piefed.blahaj.zone
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    26 days ago

    I mean, he’s right? A (questionably) socialist dictator is still a dictator. Maduro was given the ability to rule by decree like a decade ago, and, like Trump, basically has control over every major part of the government.

    Of course, as he says, that doesn’t justify arbitrarily killing people or the long-term embargo on Cuba that has economically crippled the country.

    • Eldritch@piefed.world
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      26 days ago

      You really just have to look at it through the oversimplified lens of the Marxist Linanist. If the West does it, it is bad. If anyone else does it, it is good. All the whining about reading theory, that is honestly as deep as it gets.

      Capitalism, when the party does it is good actually. Suppression, imprisonment, and slaughter of the proletariat? If you did it in the name of the party, it’s no vice.

  • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
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    26 days ago

    Oh shit, a balanced, nuanced take on a complex issue. Quick, get the Americans out of of here, they won’t be able to handle this.

  • peoplebeproblems@midwest.social
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    26 days ago

    You mean the democratic socialist, an inherently anti-authoritarian party, is calling out authoritarians?

    Is it going to be news when he condems Xixing Ping and Putin and Netanyahu, and the Iranian Shah, and Saudi Royal family, and well you get the picture.

    Fuck authority that doesn’t earn it.

  • ol_capt_joe@piefed.ee
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    26 days ago

    Hoping to read more of his thoughts on how to actually solve the problem, instead the authors were just using a Mamdani interview quote to plug their podcast: gonna do 45 episodes per year with whoever we can find to join the debate.

    Ugh, do I have to do everything myself? Honey, watch the kids, I’m gonna go build a strong middle class in the ‘global south’.

  • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
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    26 days ago

    For decades, many left-leaning writers and speakers in the United States have felt obliged to establish their credibility by indulging in anticommunist and anti-Soviet genuflection, seemingly unable to give a talk or write an article or book review on whatever political subject without injecting some anti-Red sideswipe. The intent was, and still is, to distance themselves from the Marxist-Leninist Left.

    Adam Hochschild, a liberal writer and publisher, warned those on the Left who might be lackadaisical about condemning existing communist societies that they “weaken their credibility” (Guardian, 5/23/84). In other words, to be credible opponents of the cold war, we first had to join in cold war condemnations of communist societies. Ronald Radosh urged that the peace movement purge itself of communists so that it not be accused of being communist (Guardian, 3/16/83). If I understand Radosh: To save ourselves from anticommunist witchhunts, we should ourselves become witchhunters.

    Purging the Left of communists became a longstanding practice, having injurious effects on various progressive causes. For instance, in 1949 some twelve unions were ousted from the CIO because they had Reds in their leadership. The purge reduced CIO membership by some 1.7 million and seriously weakened its recruitment drives and political clout. In the late 1940s, to avoid being “smeared” as Reds, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), a supposedly progressive group, became one of the most vocally anticommunist organizations.

    The strategy did not work. ADA and others on the Left were still attacked for being communist or soft on communism by those on the Right. Then and now, many on the Left have failed to realize that those who fight for social change on behalf of the less-privileged elements of society will be Red-baited by conservative elites whether they are communists or not. For ruling interests, it makes little difference whether their wealth and power is challenged by “communist subversives” or “loyal American liberals.” All are lumped together as more or less equally abhorrent.

    Michael Parenti, Blackshirts and Reds, 1997.

      • Eldritch@piefed.world
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        25 days ago

        I agree, however you might want to have a talk with your server admins and much of the user base about that.

        • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
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          25 days ago

          You misunderstand, it’s only imperialism when it comes from the imperial region of NATO. Otherwise it’s sparkling self defense.

          • Eldritch@piefed.world
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            25 days ago

            I know, right? It’s so weird to see that sentiment coming from a server where support of imperialist nations is mandated. The Soviets conquered and annexed their neighbors multiple times over the 20th century. They didn’t go to Afghanistan for summer camp in the 80s either. Nor did the US help Afghanistan out of the goodness of their hearts. China is practically repeating a lot of the United States machinations from the mid 20th century as well with their belt and road initiative too.

            But, as we all know. Imperialism for a certain crowd is just a dogwhistle for “the west”

    • Amnesigenic@lemmy.ml
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      25 days ago

      If they’re doing state department volunteer work they’re not left of anything, fucking duh

      • ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world
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        25 days ago

        Sometimes people just spout the same exact bullshit you’ve heard a thousand times before, and only get hold of new opinions every blue moon. Especially the far-right, which now tries to use disdain towards artists to covertly push censorship while pretending to care about “freedom of speech” (read: ability of saying slurs without any negative consequences).

  • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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    26 days ago

    yes those dirty brown people in south america can’t do socialism right when its being sieged by the US!

    how telling of mr. mamdani.

      • Eldritch@piefed.world
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        26 days ago

        They’re a Leninist. Hypocrisy is their super power. The only thing that maters to them is that he attacked the party/dictator. Which is the only unforgivable sin. Every problem with their governments is always somehow the West’s fault. And they are infallible. Zero nuance or irony.

        Yes the US has a history of meddling in south America and blockading Cuba. And yes that’s wrong. But blaming that for all their problems is ridiculous. The Cuban government imprisoning those sharing western media that makes it through the blockade etc. Isn’t because of the blockade. It’s because the government is authoritarian. And if those they control get narratives outside the governments approved ones. It makes them harder to control. It’s why Western media narratives are suddenly starting to much closer mimic those of leninist and other dictatorial governments.

      • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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        26 days ago

        i did.

        the US didn’t “make it worse”. the US is the one creating these bad conditions, and it’s about to make things worse for south america.

      • PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au
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        26 days ago

        They’re really trying to figure out reasons to dislike the guy. For some reason, the “leftists” on lemmy.ml hate when a left American politician starts achieving success, and try to tear them down and lie about what a terrible person they are. It’s one of their favorite things; they relentlessly criticize AOC and Mamdani in a way they never would froth at the mouth about Chuck Schumer or anybody who is actually doing real damage.

          • PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au
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            26 days ago

            Hey, how about Graham Platner’s secret Nazi sympathies? We know he has them, because of the tattoo! I haven’t heard that one for a while.

            • Amnesigenic@lemmy.ml
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              25 days ago

              Not really a secret lol, and if you haven’t heard it recently it’s because you chose not to listen

            • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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              26 days ago

              you mean the fascist jackboot who worked in the abu ghraib concentration camp?

              tell me again what makes that guy a leftist. and what makes you not a fascist for supporting it?

              • PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au
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                26 days ago

                A new one! What makes you say that he worked in Abu Ghraib? I did a quick search, and all I can find is a YouTube video by “BadEmpanada.”

                • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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                  26 days ago

                  an old one! what makes you think an empire’s jackboot with a nazi tattoo is not a fascist?

                  all i can find is the nazi saying he is not a nazi.

      • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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        26 days ago

        you are at least aware venezuela and cuba are in the gutter because of US blockades, not their leadership, right?

        • belluck@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          26 days ago

          US blockades are responsible for their financial crises, not for them arresting journalists and dissenters. Also, the quote in the screenshot explicitly states that the US only made things worse.

          • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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            26 days ago

            should we not arrest far-right traitors and criminals against humanity? i WISH they where shutting fascists up as hard as libs think they do.

            is that why you guys let trump run for president (and win) twice?

            • belluck@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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              26 days ago

              Yeah, we should. Never said anything against that. Also never let Trump run for president, as I am not American, nor am I a liberal.

              • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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                26 days ago

                you are arguing like you are both. the last thing we need is more imperialist war, or any more cia talking points from unsuspecting libs.

                i understand why he would adopt the bothsides viewpoint, but it disgustingly hinges on the impending doom the us will bring to the venezuelan people with “maduro” and “democracy” as an obvious excuse. an old one at that.

                like they care about anything but oil and other natural resources. a “socialist” saying this precisely now is a red flag.

                • belluck@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                  25 days ago

                  He literally says US interventionism hasn’t done any good. How are you interpreting this as him wanting to intervene in their affairs?
                  You can criticize a government without wanting to overthrow them.

      • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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        25 days ago

        I feel sorry for anyone on .ml personally. Their legacy of hate, division, and bootlicking is enormous. I think people sometimes join not realizing how toxic they are.

        • Eldritch@piefed.world
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          25 days ago

          They definitely do unfortunately. There’s a lot of inertia there still. People on places like Reddit still recommending people join there like it’s 2019.And there are no alternatives.