All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[PwrdOn]

So Rosa, please point out to us a real world Communist country that has been better for it's people than democratic countries? Explain why Communism is a better model than the Democratic Socialism Europe favors (and we have to a more limited extent)

Yeah but the Western democracies are successful because of colonization and exploitation, not because of our system of government. Sure, the American model has been good for SOME Americans but it has caused untold levels of misery across the rest of the world. A more relevant comparison is between countries in the global south that have had socialist governments and those that have tried to adopt liberal democracies. In almost every instance, these "democratic" governments devolve into corruption, crime, ethnic conflict, and general public misery, with most of the "development" really just allowing Western firms to come in and strip mine the country of its natural resources while completely ignoring the needs of the people. In 1950, democratic India had a larger economy than communist China, today China is poised to become the world's largest economy and its people are largely content with their lives despite the lack of personal freedoms, whereas India's continued stagnation has brought a repressive ethno-nationalist regime to power that has only succeeded in making life there even worse. Or look at Vietnam, which endured decades of war and isolation and yet is positioned to become a manufacturing powerhouse, compared to the neighbors in southeast Asia like the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. which despite decades of favorable relations with the West yet can't seem to fulfill the most basic functions of a government.

[Ragged Maw]

'The Confederacy of California': life in the valley where Robert Fuller was found hanged

I’d suggest the FBI get sent over there with fine-toothed combs in tow. As a seafood-lover, I’m sure I know a fishy scent when it reaches my nostrils. Even if there’s no blatant smoking gun, probable cause still seems enough to warrant this sort of examination.

[4saken1]

You quoted someone who was a famous supporter of the Soviet Union, Castro's Cuba and Jim Jones! Without a single word of a caveat.

C'mon! Unlike all of those other countries, I'm sure we would do Communism right. We get everything right!

[The no face guy]

The article wasn't about Republicans VS Democrats, but about Biden (wisely, in my opinion) ignoring a group of Democrats overrepresented on social media.

I realize that, the article wrote that some Democrats feared a rerun of Nixon's 1968, which is why they were not siding the cohort in social media. I agree with this position, Biden just needs to run the gauntlet down the middle. Taking a position too far to the left in this situation would only help enable the Trump narrative.

[PaulBullion]

Kentucky is now reporting about 40% of its results in the Democratic Senate Primary. Charles Booker has a lead of 2.1% over Amy McGrath - a mere lead of 1,680 ballots. We are still awaiting results from 1/3 of the state’s counties and mail-in votes, which may benefit McGrath.

https://twitter.com/bsschiller/statu...588985857?s=20

[shooshoomanjoe]

Yeah but the Western democracies are successful because of colonization and exploitation, not because of our system of government. Sure, the American model has been good for SOME Americans but it has caused untold levels of misery across the rest of the world. A more relevant comparison is between countries in the global south that have had socialist governments and those that have tried to adopt liberal democracies. In almost every instance, these "democratic" governments devolve into corruption, crime, ethnic conflict, and general public misery, with most of the "development" really just allowing Western firms to come in and strip mine the country of its natural resources while completely ignoring the needs of the people. In 1950, democratic India had a larger economy than communist China, today China is poised to become the world's largest economy and its people are largely content with their lives despite the lack of personal freedoms, whereas India's continued stagnation has brought a repressive ethno-nationalist regime to power that has only succeeded in making life there even worse. Or look at Vietnam, which endured decades of war and isolation and yet is positioned to become a manufacturing powerhouse, compared to the neighbors in southeast Asia like the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. which despite decades of favorable relations with the West yet can't seem to fulfill the most basic functions of a government.

Yea I doubt many people will agree with you that China and Vietnam are successful commie nations. Yes the elite rule and thrive in capitalist counties. They also rule and thrive in communist countries. The only difference is that the elites in capitalist countries throw more crumbs at the serfs than the communist elites do.

[CaptainEurope]

I think this "Russian Bounty Money" story would have been the biggest scandal of a Jeb Bush presidency.

I'm wondering if it was ONLY American soldiers, or if Russians paid for German troops etc. too?

[Gray Lensman]

Yea I doubt many people will agree with you that China and Vietnam are successful commie nations. Yes the elite rule and thrive in capitalist counties. They also rule and thrive in communist countries. The only difference is that the elites in capitalist countries throw more crumbs at the serfs than the communist elites do.

There have also been more crumbs to throw in capitalist countries than in communist ones.

But I would looooove to hear PwrdOn tell me all about the colonies Finland has exploited in order to get their wealth.

[Ragged Maw]

Yea I doubt many people will agree with you that China and Vietnam are successful commie nations. Yes the elite rule and thrive in capitalist counties. They also rule and thrive in communist countries. The only difference is that the elites in capitalist countries throw more crumbs at the serfs than the communist elites do.

Also, with China specifically, I remember that little issue with them treating the Uyghurs as “spare parts”. Wonder if that’s been resolved.

EDIT: Though, I guess if we’re strictly talking national economy, the China so far looks like they’re doing pretty good for themselves.

[The Cool Thatguy]

I think this "Russian Bounty Money" story would have been the biggest scandal of a Jeb Bush presidency.

I'm wondering if it was ONLY American soldiers, or if Russians paid for German troops etc. too?

Just NATO troops, I imagine

[PwrdOn]

There have also been more crumbs to throw in capitalist countries than in communist ones.

But I would looooove to hear PwrdOn tell me all about the colonies Finland has exploited in order to get their wealth.

Well you know they did side with the Nazis during the war, I'm sure they had good reasons for doing that though.

[shooshoomanjoe]

Well you know they did side with the Nazis during the war, I'm sure they had good reasons for doing that though.

Wasn't the reason for this because they were warring with the Soviets?

[The Cool Thatguy]

Also, with China specifically, I remember that little issue with them treating the Uyghurs as “spare parts”. Wonder if that’s been resolved.

EDIT: Though, I guess if we’re strictly talking national economy, the China so far looks like they’re doing pretty good for themselves.

If it's terrible, and China, chances are low.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Wasn't the reason for this because they were warring with the Soviets?

Pretty much. Did the Nazis actually help fight off the Russians, or did they just send supplies?

[Tendrin]

Wasn't the reason for this because they were warring with the Soviets?

Not exactly. Finland was invaded by Soviet Russia in what was called the Winter War. Soviet aggression towards Finland was *incredibly* costly to the Soviets and a peace treaty was signed within 4-5 months of the start of the conflict. When Nazi Germany invaded the Soviets, Finnish troops participated in Barbarossa as an attempt to reclaim lost Finnish territory that the Soviets had demanded in what's called 'the continuation war'.

Ultimately, we know how all that shook out for the Nazis, but Finland began managed to survive through what became popualrly known as 'Finlandization' as a foreign policy towards it's very powerful neighbors.