Samizdat

[The Idler]

Isn't the Soviet phenomenon of samizdat (banned books circulating underground) just handing opponents the moral high ground on the matter of freedom of speech? Popular libertarian blog Samizdata strikes me as one notable example which means samizdat are still used as a criticism of the left in the modern era.

[Dimentio]

Rather, the left should not be associated with the USSR. Besides, its a sign of weakness of the right to always try to paint themselves as persecuted.

[Q]

I never heard of the word before now. Maybe that points to its relevance anno 2009?

[Искра]

Samizdat means "self published", right?
At least in Croatian.

[The Idler]

Samizdata (http://www.samizdata.net/blog/) successfully trade on a name associated with unpopular Soviet policies as an indictment of the left in general.

[blake 3:17]

Totally pro-samizdat. Folks here in the zine, punk, underground, lefty publishing world were very inspired by samizdat publishing. The politics of indie publishing have never been clearly left or right -- they tend towards a general libertarianism and freedom of expression.

This Samizdata looks like a bunch of junk, free markets, free minds, yadda yadda, but I'd support it existing. I tend to think the left is far too rationalist, but if we abandon our attempts at reason and argument what are we left with? Actually going to bookmark their page... I think my anarcho-Trotskyite skin is think enough to handle some rightishness...