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I think this war is lost. The word socialism means different things to different people. It all depends on where you stand and what you are looking at. If you a
by testrun 1y ago
I think this war is lost. The word socialism means different things to different people. It all depends on where you stand and what you are looking at. If you are on the far right, most things the government does is socialism. If you are on the far left, everything the government does is to support capitalism. And in between the two everything goes.
- johnecheck 1y agoI frequently say the same thing about the word Capitalism. (Communism too). They're second only to 'god' in terms of historical baggage. If you say 'I like Capitalism', a significant minority will hear 'I love US imperialism and hate nature', despite that almost certainly not being what you meant. Similarly, if you say 'I like Communism', many hear 'I love dictators, gulags, 5 year plans and famine'. A word of advice: if you actually want to have valuable political conversations with people, don't start by identifying yourself with ideology that's arguably responsible for various atrocities and millions of deaths.
- krapp 1y ago> if you actually want to have valuable political conversations with people, don't start by identifying yourself with ideology that's arguably responsible for various atrocities and millions of deaths. So neither capitalism nor communism? What's left, anarchism? I guess they haven't killed that many people.
- kelnos 1y agoThe point is to stop making economic systems a part of your identity. Talk about policies and their effects, not about what bucket you might put them (and yourself) in.
- testrun 1y agoThe reason we use labels (bucket) is to make the conversation easier. Imagine that every time you use a word that you first have to define what it means. My point is that the word 'socialism' has now become meaningless.
- johnecheck 1y agoIndeed, labels aren't useless. But when a label means one thing to one person and a totally different thing to another, it actually becomes an impediment to communication and is best avoided.
- testrun 1y agoThat is my original point.
- imtringued 1y agoCommunists are anti-reformist. They don't believe that anything short of a violent revolution will change anything. Oh and if you like reforms, then you are anti-revolutionary, which means you are reactionary, which means you are a fascist. Yep, that's the standard communist logic.
- petralithic 1y agoSocialism has nothing to do with government. It's an economic system not a governmental one.
- testrun 1y agoProving my point