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They're Never Happy (lemmy.world)
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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Except lots of cancers now have cures, and there are vaccines for others, so no it isn't.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago

Yes, and there have been successful Socialist revolutions, you're only weakening your point.

Do you believe the remaining cancers will never be cured because they currently aren't?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Successful ones? Which country is currently a socialist one? Where do the workers control the means of production?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 months ago

The PRC, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and a few others are currently Socialist and run along Marxist lines.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

The workers do not control the means of production in any of those nations. You're just lying now.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 months ago

What do you think Marxism is? When you say "workers controlling the Means of Production," what specific vision are you talking about, where majority publicly owned and planned economies are not Socialist?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Well for one thing, such countries don't have billionaires and and a stock exchange with private corporations like in Vietnam, China and, I am guessing if I looked, in the other countries you listed too.

If a handful of people or just one person owns a bunch of factories, a few individuals control the means of production. And do it to gain capital.

Someone remind me what an economy is called when there's an elite group of wealthy people who get rich off of their capital gains...

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Well for one thing, such countries don't have billionaires and and a stock exchange with private corporations like in Vietnam, China and, I am guessing if I looked, in the other countries you listed too.

Marx never once said that Communism could be established through fiat, by decree instead of degree. Engels, in writing The Principles of Communism, makes it quite clear why this cannot be:

Will it be possible for private property to be abolished at one stroke?

No, no more than existing forces of production can at one stroke be multiplied to the extent necessary for the creation of a communal society. In all probability, the proletarian revolution will transform existing society gradually and will be able to abolish private property only when the means of production are available in sufficient quantity.

Marx describes the process of private industry forming monopolist syndicates ripe for public planning in Manifesto of the Communist Party:

The essential conditions for the existence and for the sway of the bourgeois class is the formation and augmentation of capital; the condition for capital is wage-labour. Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the labourers. The advance of industry, whose involuntary promoter is the bourgeoisie, replaces the isolation of the labourers, due to competition, by the revolutionary combination, due to association. The development of Modern Industry, therefore, cuts from under its feet the very foundation on which the bourgeoisie produces and appropriates products. What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers.

Socialist states with minority private sectors are fully in line with Marxist analysis. As these private sectors monopolize and develop the productive forces through competition, they make themselves ripe for public planning. A good essay on the subject is Why Public Property? if you have need for further detail.

If a handful of people or just one person owns a bunch of factories, a few individuals control the means of production. And do it to gain capital.

Yes. In the private sectors of Socialist States, this indeed happens.

Someone remind me what an economy is called when there's an elite group of wealthy people who get rich off of their capital gains...

Depends on the overall composition of the economy, and what class is in control. Cuba has 77% of the economy in the public sector, for example. Hardly sounds Capitalist to me. The PRC had 50% in 2012, and roughly a tenth in the cooperative sector, and the Public sector has only grown since then, and state power over the Private Sector has only increased with time.

Is your argument that an economy that is not fully socialized cannot be considered Socialist? I think, for similar reasons that you wouldn't call the US Socialist for having the USPS, that that's a silly argument. Is your argument that not having a fully socialized economy is against Marxism? I think the quotations have helped hammer that Marxism is about progression to socialization, rather than forcing socialization without the necessary infrastructure. Is your argument that Marxism isn't Socialism? That's a hard sell as well.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Your whole argument was that they were successful socialist revolutions and now you're like, "yeah well capitalism exists in socialism, so..."

Hilarious.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Can you please respond in good-faith? My point is that market economies can exist within a broader Socialist economy, and that as the private sector develops into monopolist syndicates, it makes itself ready for public ownership and central planning, a strategy we can watch in real time in AES states.

Can you please explain your interpretation of Engels here?

Will it be possible for private property to be abolished at one stroke?

No, no more than existing forces of production can at one stroke be multiplied to the extent necessary for the creation of a communal society. In all probability, the proletarian revolution will transform existing society gradually and will be able to abolish private property only when the means of production are available in sufficient quantity.

[-] Edie@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

It's Flying Squid, I don't recommend engaging.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

I know, but it's useful for liberals to see someone so adamantly argue in clear bad-faith against someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Flying Squid normally gives up and walks off.

[-] Edie@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

someone so adamantly argue in clear bad-faith against someone who actually knows what they are talking about

To be fair, it is working really well.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

It did last time as well, in my opinion. I'll likely never convince Flying Squid, but indirectly they will help me convince others.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Market economies? The thing you said need to be gotten rid of, but not via democratic means?

So if a socialist revolution doesn't get rid of the problem of capitalism, what does?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Market economies can be rid of by degree once a Socialist state is established. The Socialist revolution is the mechanism of this process.

Can you explain the Engels quote?

Will it be possible for private property to be abolished at one stroke?

No, no more than existing forces of production can at one stroke be multiplied to the extent necessary for the creation of a communal society. In all probability, the proletarian revolution will transform existing society gradually and will be able to abolish private property only when the means of production are available in sufficient quantity.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I don't really care about the Engels quote. I want to know exactly how long you expect this to take. Because Earth isn't getting any cooler, so if this takes any more than 4 or 5 years, it isn't going to matter.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago
[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

That's not an answer. Will it take more than 5 years to end the use of fossil fuels through this revolution?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

I can't see it happening under Capitalism, that's for sure!

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago
[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

I really don't see what your point is with this, first you claimed Socialist states aren't Socialist because they are Marxist, but that you don't care about Marxism, and now you're asking for a guarantee of climate action within 5 years. You're all over the place. What's your goal?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

This began with me asking you when and where the revolution would take place. You couldn't tell me. I explained to you that if it doesn't happen within the next five years, it won't matter and asked you if it will. You won't tell me.

You have given me zero good reasons to join these revolutionary groups that you have named to join, which have not achieved anything and apparently have no actual plans to stage a revolution.

The revolution had better both happen within the next five years and end our dependence on fossil fuels or it won't make a difference.

You don't seem to get that. You seem to think there's some sort of long-term future where capitalism slowly disappears and thus we slowly stop burning oil. That's not how civilization is going to go. It will collapse long, long before that.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Are you a nihilist? I can't make a guarantee that we can establish Socialism and get rid of fossil fuels within 5 years. I can say that AES countries have been far better than average on meeting climate goals.

What exactly was the point of you claiming AES states aren't Socialist? Are you just looking to argue?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I didn't ask if we can. You know what I asked. I asked if it will happen.

Funny that you accuse me of arguing in bad faith and yet you won't answer a simple question. Instead, you answer a question that wasn't asked.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 months ago

Then the answer is that it can, and that I can't answer if it will or will not because I am not a fortune teller.

Are you doing alright?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

You can't answer because you know it won't. You aren't ignorant. You know it isn't even possible to end fossil fuel dependence in five years. Not without reducing the world to living like it's the middle ages.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

It's certainly doable, but it would require Socialism, and revolution within the West. Difficult, yes, but easier than returning to monkey.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I see. “Socialism” will be able to replace all fossil fuel-powered vehicles: cars, trucks, planes, ships AND replace all of the world’s fossil fuel power plants in the world in five years. I guess by “socialism,” you mean “magic.”

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Having supremacy over Capital allows you to work against market pressures.

I have no idea what you're doing here, are you arguing for anarcho-primitivism, or are you using me as an outlet for your frustrations? Last time we spoke you were a Maoist, and now you're an Anarcho-Primitivist less than a month later?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

If you are just talking about coal-fired power plants and nothing else, you are talking about 2500 power plants.

Socialism cannot replace 2500 power plants in 5 years. It has nothing to do with supremacy over capital. It's like saying socialism could have built the Great Pyramid in 5 years. No it couldn't. You can't magically speed up processes that take a set amount of time, require people with a certain skill level, etc.

I get that you think that somehow we will be in a socialist utopia in five years, but we won't. And as the Earth heats up and the storms get worse and the wildfires choke the atmosphere, you will still be talking about the glorious revolution that will be happening any day now and save us all as the desperate climate refugees storm your home to take your food.

I'm not arguing for anything. You are. And what you are arguing for will not save humanity in the time frame that is needed. Because nothing will.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

You don't need to replace everything, you can replace as necessary and shut down everything else. It absolutely has to do with supremacy over Capital. However, you already gave yourself away:

I'm not arguing for anything

You're just arguing as a personal outlet, that's not healthy. I can't tell if you're a nihilist doomer, or just going through a rough time, but this isn't healthy.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

As necessary?

It's necessary to replace all of them.

Are you some sort of climate change denier?

Also, this pop psychoanalysis of yours is tiresome, Dr. Freud.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

It is not necessary to replace all of them, we can downsize consumption. Consumerism is an aspect of Capitalism, we can downsize production and energy consumption off pure renewables, if at significant cost of quality of life.

Again, though, you clearly are looking for an outlet, you don't care about logic but simply arguing to argue. I recommend you log out for a while, talk to someone IRL that cares about you. I'm saying this out of concern.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Again, Dr. Freud, your pop psychology is tiresome.

And yeah, you're clearly a climate change denier. Only a climate change denier thinks it's okay to keep using fossil fuels.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

I literally told you we could stop using fossil fuels and run on pure renewables now at great cost in quality of life, but only under Socialism. You just read right past that to insult me.

People care about you.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

LOL! "We could make life sucky if we just accept socialism!" Great sales technique you have there.

And much like your "arguing in bad faith" hypocrisy, your complaining about insults hypocrisy is just as silly.

Also, I'm fully aware that people care about me. Unlike you, I know what my life is about.

Gotta love a self-proclaimed socialist who acts like they're some sort of superior being.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Better to have reduced quality of life than no life, are you saying you'd prefer the opposite? I don't see how I have been hypocritical either. Either way, it's good that you know people care about you, though I don't know what you mean by claiming I don't know what my life is about. As for Socialism, I do know more about Marxism than most people, though I don't think that makes me superior. Rather, we all have things we are good and bad at.

Do you have someone to talk to? You can DM me if you want to vent about something, or just chat non-confrontationally.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I'm sure you know what your life is about.

What you don't know is what my life is about, despite this arrogant superiority bullshit where you act like you know me.

Also, why the hell would I DM someone who has been hypocritical twice in this conversation and arrogantly and falsely psychoanalyzed me in the most condescending way possible about anything? So you can be more condescending? So you can get my life more wrong?

I know you think you're the Flying Squid expert around here, but you don't even know what my fucking pronouns are.

Have you ever thought about asking about someone's life rather than assume you know what's going on with it? I'm guessing not. Not necessary when you're better than everyone else and know about them more than they do, am I right?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Well, you have been arguing for what appears like argument's sake, you abandoned positions you previously held, and darted around. You can understand why it looks erratic to someone.

I apologize if it seems condescending, but I did mean it when I said you could DM me if you wanted someone to talk to in private. I know you probably don't care, but I promise here and now I wouldn't be condescending, if there indeed is something you want to vent about in private. I didn't ask because I figured you wouldn't want to disclose that for everyone, but I suppose a stranger is no different.

All that being said, the offer is open, you don't have to take it if you don't want to. It's not because I think I am better or anything, it's because there have been times that has helped me in the past. Up to you.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I don't need you. I will never need you. You are not relevant to my life.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Okay, good! The offer is still open if you want to take it down the line. Have a good one!

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

You do know you come off as insincere and condescending as fuck, right?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Not my intention, but I imagine your mind is pretty well made-up about me already.

[-] Edie@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Probably not, but it will be able to prioritize things differently. Under socialism it doesn't matter if it is profitable to build high-speed rail, or profitable to run it thereafter, the point isn't to make money, the point is to transport people.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

So we have time to switch to socialism and replace all fossil fuel transport with high speed rail in enough time to stop our civilization from collapsing due to climate change? Because I doubt it.

[-] Edie@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Maybe not. But we have to options: Socialism or Barbarism. Continuing with Capitalism is going to lead to a worse outcome, going with Socialism and working to halt climate change will result in a better outcome. Not a great one, not undoing everything in 5 years, but still a better outcome.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

The chances of socialism over barbarism are quite slim given the long history of humanity.

On the other hand, the other guy thinks that you can replace coal plants "as needed," so at least you have a realistic outlook.

this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2024
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