• Maeve@kbin.earth
    12·
    3 days ago

    even though any big countries that have ever tried communism have seen it collapse into nightmares and suffering that makes the US’s dystopian bullshit look like paradise on earth

    How many of those attempts weren’t sabotaged by the US? Are you familiar with Greg Palast’s work?

    • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.catEnglish
      61·
      3 days ago

      How many of those attempts weren’t sabotaged by the US?

      Most of them?

      The US didn’t sabotage Communist China or the USSR that I know of. They’ve sabotaged some more vulnerable countries for pursuing basically any variety of self-determination, including communism, socialism, nationalism, democracy, or basically anything other than getting held upside down and shaken by the US. Some they’re still doing it to that still despite the sabotage manage to have better educational and medical systems than the US does (Cuba). But mostly what I was thinking of was China, the USSR, and all the little nightmare republics all over Eastern Europe where the pattern “communists take power” “people start dying by the millions and happiness ends” was consistent and universal enough that I think it is safe to say it is a pattern.

      Are you familiar with Greg Palast’s work?

      I have given Greg Palast’s books to family members for Christmas. I’m also familiar with John Perkins and Smedley Butler. Like I say, nothing I am attempting to say is in any way undone by pointing out any of the many extremely accurate criticisms of the United States.

      • Maeve@kbin.earth
        11·
        3 days ago

        Perestroika immediately comes to mind. I’m sure there are things I’m not thinking of just now, but my belly is full and I’m sleepy. Thanks for your reply.

        • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.catEnglish
          3·
          3 days ago

          Yeah, all good. Did we have anything to do with Perestroika? I thought that was communism failing, and then Gorbachev trying to change communism, and the new thing being even worse. Not a ringing endorsement for communism unless I am missing something.

          Of course, just wait, it’s easily possible that in about 6 months we will have USSR-scale shortages and tyranny in the United States, and people can point to that as an example of capitalism fucking up, in turn. Like I say and like I think HelixDab was saying, I don’t think there is a system that will protect you.