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Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008
Communist is not being bandied around like the original term "Communist" i.e. steeped in Marxist/Leninist ideology or a "party member". I still use the term when I speak of 'stomping on the rights of the individual for a "perceived benefit" to the group" mentality. In that respect ... they ARE communist (but since most folks are confused and think of Communist only in the official political party context, tis better to use a different term.)
What is interesting is that these leftists/neo-liberals are embracing the exact ideology as espoused by the classic Marxists .... (a) individual rights are trumped by "the state" (b) no private firearms ownership (c) only the "state" has the monopoly on deadly force (d) power DOES come from the barrel of a gun (mao) and only the enlightened forces of "the state" should have that type of power, (e) redistribution of wealth as a means of maintaining political power, (f) making the masses reliant on "the State" for all their needs, etc. etc. It's the embodiment of "Brave New World" and "1984" (the books) in the real world.
But most guys who throw out the word "commie" don't even think in those terms.
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Maybe I'm biased here, as a kind of recovered ex-liberal whose Mom is still a liberal, but the similarities between neo-liberalism and Marxism seem extremely superficial. About as superficial as comparing conservatives to fascists. Not all liberals even want to ban all guns or self-defense (I know I didn't when I was one, though I realize that's an anecdote). I think liberals can be criticized for thinking that giving the government more money to spend (read: waste) on stupid shit like healthcare is doing any good, but that's kind of a far cry from totalitarian ideas like Marxism.
BTW, interesting story - I spent a week in Northern Ireland with a family whose son was co-workers with a member of the Irish political party Sinn Fein (which is linked with the Irish Republican Army). If you think American liberals are Marxists, you should have talked to this guy. First time I ever came near to blows with a real Marxist (which never even happened to me in college).
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008
It's the embodiment of "Brave New World" and "1984" (the books) in the real world.
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Just so we're clear on something...you do understand that George Orwell was a socialist, right?