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The term "useful idiot" was invented by conservatives in the West during the Cold War, as a slur against social democrats. Lenin never used it. It didn't even
by DiogenesKynikos 2y ago
The term "useful idiot" was invented by conservatives in the West during the Cold War, as a slur against social democrats.
Lenin never used it. It didn't even exist during his lifetime.
- dash2 2y agoIt was a slur against collaborators with communism, not against social democrats: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2019/08/22/useful-idiot/ https://quoteinvestigator.com/2019/08/22/useful-idiot/
- DiogenesKynikos 2y agoThe slur was originally directed against social democrats by conservatives who accused them of helping communism. Later, the term became a much more general slur used by conservatives against anyone who wasn't sufficiently "tough" against the USSR.