Questions to find out if people are liberal or communist?

[☭World Views]

What are some questions you can ask people who want to join the movement towards proletariat internationalism to make sure they are truly leftists and not Democrat liberals?

I can thing of one,

1. What do you think of Obama's platform and the effects it will have on the working class?


What others?

[cb9's_unity]

Probably the best question is "Do you support proletarian internationalism?". If they say yes then they are not a liberal.

At the very worst anyone who says yes must be at least a left social democrat. Anyone else who says yes is almost certainly a socialist.

[Искра]

social democrats = liberals

Ask about private property and then about revolutionary violence ;)

[KommunistKornish]

heres one to ask if they understand
"do you support China and/or North Korea as true "communists" if they say no then they are somewhat understanding of Communism and are closer to us than most and can be pursuaded to join our cause.

[yuon]

social democrats = liberals

Ask about private property and then about revolutionary violence ;)

Liberals are right-wing. Social democrats are slightly left-wing.

They are not the same bloody thing!

Liberals believe in capitalism (whether heavily regulated or not), while social democrats believe in government top-down pseudo-socialism.

They are not the same bloody thing!
---

How to tell the difference between a liberal and a communist? Ask them about capitalism. Ask them if they think it's OK if someone owns six houses. Ask them if they support the notion of a state.

Any true communist will object to the present US governmental system, and wish to change it rather radically (indeed, to abolish it).

[Niccolò Rossi]

Liberals believe in capitalism (whether heavily regulated or not), while social democrats believe in government top-down pseudo-socialism.

They are not the same bloody thing!

Ugh, that is actually 'the same bloody thing!' Unless you are seriously suggesting that 'top-down pseudo-socialism' is anything other than 'capitalism (whether heavily regulated or not)'...

[yuon]

Ugh, that is actually 'the same bloody thing!' Unless you are seriously suggesting that 'top-down pseudo-socialism' is anything other than 'capitalism (whether heavily regulated or not)'...

See, I've had this education that taught me that liberals are small-government types (Locke, Mill and so on). Then, some folks in the US started calling themselves liberal, and they wanted government intervention to create more of an equality of opportunity sort of system. But still, they are right-wingers all the way.

The social-democrats, on the other hand, come from a different background. They've always traditionally wanted real (state) socialism. It's just that in the last three decades, many of the social democratic parties have shifted right. (I would suggest that you shouldn't call, for example, the Labor party in Australia social-democratic any more.)


The difference between the welfare liberals and social democrats is mainly one of underlying philosophy. The liberals desire freedom, and the social democrats desire some level of equality. The liberals still believe in capitalism, while, traditionally, the social democrats have distrusted and have been sceptical of it.
http://www.revleft.com/vb/general-definition-liberal-t116289/index.html?t=116289


Anyway, "top-down pseudo-socialism" of the sort seen in Cuba (for example), isn't exactly capitalist is it? (Though, I admit, not social-democratic in the "western" tradition either.)

[revolution inaction]

Anyway, "top-down pseudo-socialism" of the sort seen in Cuba (for example), isn't exactly capitalist is it? (Though, I admit, not social-democratic in the "western" tradition either.)

thats exactly what it is.

[Aesop]

One simple question you could ask is 'What do you think of capitalism'?

If they are modern liberals (third wayist such as Obama and Blair) they will probably acknowledge that there needs to be government intervention in order to protect the 'deserving poor'.

If they are neo-liberals/conservatives then they might just say 'capitalism is the best economic system' etc etc.

If you speak to a genuine communist the sort of response you should get would be 'capitalism is a system which exploits people and alienates them' or on similar lines.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

How many times have you threatened to shank someone over a kronstad debate if its more then eleven its a lefty.

[proudcomrade]

I think that yuon might be conflating different countries' definition of liberal; in the USA, the small-gov't. fanatics are typically the libertarians.

"Do you support the idea of a state?" is not an apt litmus test for all Communists. We are not all anarchists; and before the final stateless phase of world communism can happen, transitions need to occur that include states, currency and centralized planning and regulation. This is basic Marx; it should go without saying. And quit picking on the Chinese.

[Niccolò Rossi]

See, I've had this education that taught me that liberals are small-government types (Locke, Mill and so on). Then, some folks in the US started calling themselves liberal, and they wanted government intervention to create more of an equality of opportunity sort of system. But still, they are right-wingers all the way.

The social-democrats, on the other hand, come from a different background. They've always traditionally wanted real (state) socialism. It's just that in the last three decades, many of the social democratic parties have shifted right. (I would suggest that you shouldn't call, for example, the Labor party in Australia social-democratic any more.)

This is not relevant to my post which you quoted.


Anyway, "top-down pseudo-socialism" of the sort seen in Cuba (for example), isn't exactly capitalist is it? (Though, I admit, not social-democratic in the "western" tradition either.)

As RG notes, yes, it actually is. I don't know how a so-called anarchist can hold any other line. Of course their are the 'state socialism' types or the 'third system' theories, but these are utterly incoherent in my opinion. If "top-down pseudo-socialism" is not socialism, and not capitalism, prey tell, what is it?

To the OP; I don't understand the point of this thread, I think there is a pretty big difference between a liberal (or for that matter a social democrat) and a communist. Why would you need a question to tell you which is which?

[gorillafuck]

"Are you a communist?"

[New Tet]

What are some questions you can ask people who want to join the movement towards proletariat internationalism to make sure they are truly leftists and not Democrat liberals?

I can thing of one,

1. What do you think of Obama's platform and the effects it will have on the working class?


What others?

"Is everyone in your family as good looking as you?"

[spiltteeth]

Ask them about Hugo Chavez.

[Durruti's Ghost]

"So...what do you think about the means of production being controlled by people other than the workers?"

[Il Medico]

How many times have you threatened to shank someone over a kronstad debate if its more then eleven its a lefty.
Actually Joe, I think that is just you.

[spiltteeth]

Actually Joe, I think that is just you.

Yea Joe. I don't threaten. I just shank 'em. Then, when the look of fear and horror comes over them as life slowly ebbs out of the gushing wound, I say, "Hey! SHANK'S for all the memories!" And we l a u g h !!!

good fun

[Olerud]

are you liberal or communist?

No shit it's really that easy ! :)

[bailey_187]

heres one to ask if they understand
"do you support China and/or North Korea as true "communists" if they say no then they are somewhat understanding of Communism and are closer to us than most and can be pursuaded to join our cause.

And you are in the CPB? My god..

I thought the CPB was at least "OK"

[Angry Young Man]

Ugh, that is actually 'the same bloody thing!' Unless you are seriously suggesting that 'top-down pseudo-socialism' is anything other than 'capitalism (whether heavily regulated or not)'...

I would have thanked.

Ooh try this one - in your eye, which is more important: Palestine or Tibet?

[Schrödinger's Cat]

social democrats = liberals

Ask about private property and then about revolutionary violence ;)

I've got to say some of the almost fetish like appeal for violence held by certain "leftists" gives liberals the upper hand in that conversation.