Based on catastrophic past failures, Why does anyone believe in Socialism?

[Thelonious]

Communism, Socialism, Fascism, Statism, or whatever you want to call it (those terms are all synonymous to me)

Sounds like you have had a very proper FOX News education in political ideologies.

[Fourth Internationalist]

I... I don't even know how you can have political beliefs with your level of education on politics...

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I... I don't even know how you can have political beliefs with your level of education on politics...

Being misinformed and ignorant, blinded by propaganda, isn't a crime; the reactionary and revolutionary uneducated can still hold beliefs which run counter to our. True they are based more on lies than truth but not possessing much in the way of all-around political education science doesn't mean they cannot hold a opinion.

[znk666]

I think it is pure fact that every time Communism, Socialism, Fascism, Statism, or whatever you want to call it (those terms are all synonymous to me)

I know you probably just heard this on fox news and assumed it's a fact,but do you have any actual reason to put Communism and Socialism on the same side of the political spectrum as Fascism?

[Einkarl]

Anarcho-Capitalism eh? Isn't that like "dry water" or "hot ice"? Capitalism cannot exist without the state.

[LewisRedmond]

I'm not trying to start a fight. I am honestly curious. I admit my bias as a hard core government hating anarcho-capitalist. I am ready to be insulted and called names, it won't bother me. I've just got to ask this question.

I think it is pure fact that every time Communism, Socialism, Fascism, Statism, or whatever you want to call it (those terms are all synonymous to me) has been tried on a national level, it has always ended in massive starvation, destruction, death, and misery.

For example: The USSR, Mao's China, North Korea, Khmer Rouge Cambodia, Nazi Germany, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia in the 70's, Cuba, etc.

In addition, nations that flirt with Leftist policies but don't get as violent as the above examples, always see decreases in production and wealth, and increases in unemployment and various social ills. For example, Europe, the USA since 1913, Venezuela, Argentina, etc.

Given the historical track record of complete human catastrophe that Leftism has brought about everywhere it has been implemented, why do people still believe in it? I hope I don't sound like a jerk, but I want to ask this humbly. Why do you leftists believe in this stuff that seems to me to be so completely absurd and damaging to humanity?

My point of view is losing. Last November 51% of Americans that voted went to the polls and pulled the lever for Socialism. That is why I need to know the answer to this question. Either my worldview is all wrong and I need to become a Socialist, or there is some human pathology that causes people to believe in an ideology that will inevitably kill them.

While not entirely the same, there are some similarities in all those 'isms. Fascists and Socialists hated each other back in the day because they were usually going after the same constituency. All fascism really was, was a nationalist form of socialism with some other minor differences.

[Blake's Baby]

No it wasn't, that's a ridiculous analysis.

The 'National Socialists' deliberately added the term 'Socialist' to their party name in order to attract disaffected left-wing voters. They weren't in any sense 'socialist'. It was an advertising gimmick.

[Komrad]

Godless Utopian!

Thank you for the link to the introductory learning readings! I'm going to start reading.

[Komrad]

Godless Utopian,
I started reading. I'm starting from the top. Marxism-Leninism-etc. Just finished Chapter 1 of a Lenin work. It's not easy reading, but it's fun.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Godless Utopian,
I started reading. I'm starting from the top. Marxism-Leninism-etc. Just finished Chapter 1 of a Lenin work. It's not easy reading, but it's fun.

Great to hear. It is challenging materials but rich in theory. If you have any questions just hit me up or post.

[#FF0000]

Godless Utopian,
I started reading. I'm starting from the top. Marxism-Leninism-etc. Just finished Chapter 1 of a Lenin work. It's not easy reading, but it's fun.

Well neat. Good to see you're still around. What are you reading by him?