Why do so many Americans support a neofascist? | The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

[martybegan]

Manifesto of the Communist Party by Karl Marx and Frederick EngelsFebruary 1848

1. Reactionary Socialism A. Feudal Socialism
The aristocracy, in order to rally the people to them, waved the proletarian alms-bag in front for abanner. But the people, so often as it joined them, saw on their hindquarters the old feudal coatsof arms, and deserted with loud and irreverent laughter...

B. Petty-Bourgeois Socialism... In its positive aims, however, this form of Socialism aspires either to restoring the old means ofproduction and of exchange, and with them the old property relations, and the old society, or tocramping the modern means of production and of exchange within the framework of the oldproperty relations that have been, and were bound to be, exploded by those means. In either case,it is both reactionary and Utopian...

C. German or “True” Socialism...While this “True” Socialism thus served the government as a weapon for fighting the Germanbourgeoisie, it, at the same time, directly represented a reactionary interest, the interest of GermanPhilistines...

2. Conservative or Bourgeois Socialism...Free trade: for the benefit of the working class. Protective duties: for the benefit of the workingclass. Prison Reform: for the benefit of the working class. This is the last word and the only seriously meant word of bourgeois socialism.It is summed up in the phrase: the bourgeois is a bourgeois – for the benefit of the working class.

3. Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism...They, therefore, violently oppose all political action on the part of the working class; such action,according to them, can only result from blind unbelief in the new Gospel.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf

When Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1847 many schools of socialism already existed. Marx and Engels found reasons to criticize each of them.

In the United States the Democrat party is not even socialist, let alone Marxist.

It's socialist, with a hard core of Marxists inside it.

 

[scruffy]

Manifesto of the Communist Party by Karl Marx and Frederick EngelsFebruary 1848

1. Reactionary Socialism A. Feudal Socialism
The aristocracy, in order to rally the people to them, waved the proletarian alms-bag in front for abanner. But the people, so often as it joined them, saw on their hindquarters the old feudal coatsof arms, and deserted with loud and irreverent laughter...

B. Petty-Bourgeois Socialism... In its positive aims, however, this form of Socialism aspires either to restoring the old means ofproduction and of exchange, and with them the old property relations, and the old society, or tocramping the modern means of production and of exchange within the framework of the oldproperty relations that have been, and were bound to be, exploded by those means. In either case,it is both reactionary and Utopian...

C. German or “True” Socialism...While this “True” Socialism thus served the government as a weapon for fighting the Germanbourgeoisie, it, at the same time, directly represented a reactionary interest, the interest of GermanPhilistines...

2. Conservative or Bourgeois Socialism...Free trade: for the benefit of the working class. Protective duties: for the benefit of the workingclass. Prison Reform: for the benefit of the working class. This is the last word and the only seriously meant word of bourgeois socialism.It is summed up in the phrase: the bourgeois is a bourgeois – for the benefit of the working class.

3. Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism...They, therefore, violently oppose all political action on the part of the working class; such action,according to them, can only result from blind unbelief in the new Gospel.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf

When Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1847 many schools of socialism already existed. Marx and Engels found reasons to criticize each of them.

In the United States the Democrat party is not even socialist, let alone Marxist.

The Democratic party is CORRUPT.

In every way that matters.

 

[Hector12]

It's socialist, with a hard core of Marxists inside it.

That is as bizarre as saying that the Republican Party is fascist, with a hard core of Nazis inside of it.

That is examples of the Guilt by Association Fallacy, and the Straw Man Fallacy

 

[martybegan]

That is as bizarre as saying that the Republican Party is fascist, with a hard core of Nazis inside of it.

That is examples of the Guilt by Association Fallacy, and the Straw Man Fallacy

No, it isn't. Plenty of Democratic Socialists are in Democrats as well.

 

[LeroyDumonde]

Do you actually believe Russia invaded Ukraine just out of the blue for fun? The US and EU have been poking the Russian bear for about thirty years with NATO, expanding it right up to its border. A Cold War military alliance formed specifically to fight Russia. NATO is inherently hostile to Russia, operationally, doctrinally, and historically. Ukraine although not an official member of NATO, was for all intents and purposes, part of NATO's operational sphere, and even allowed it to build several major training bases and facilities.

Russia has been warning the West for decades, not to continue with its NATO expansion into its neighborhood and front door. Since NATO is a cash cow for both the American and Western European military-industrial complex, they flippantly ignore Russia's warnings.

In 2024, the US and EU orchestrated the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych, the democratically elected president of Ukraine, replacing him with Petro Poroshenko a Russophobic, Ukrainian right-wing nationalist who hates everything Russian. The Russo-Ukrainians of Eastern Ukraine refused to accept the new coup-government in Kiev, which they saw as illegal and against their Russian heritage and language, hence a war that lasted 8 years was started, killing thousands of civilians and combatants on both sides.

Can you imagine if Russia would've sent its politicians to Washington in January of 2022, to incite pro-Trump protestors to resist the new Biden administration? This is what the US did in Kiev in 2014:

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If Russia were to enter into a military alliance with Mexico and start to deploy its troops and hardware a few miles from our border, we would declare war on Mexico and not allow Russia to turn Mexico into a Russian military base or launching pad for its missiles. But for some reason, we feel we have the right to turn Ukraine into a NATO base and bulwark against Russia. That's just hypocritical and unethical. What's good for the goose, is good for the gander.

Many American liberals take the side of Ukraine vs Russia because Russia is socially conservative and not LGBTQ+ friendly. Homosexuals aren't permitted to adopt children or parade their filth in the streets. There aren't any pervert pride parades in Moscow or rainbow flags flying over the Kremlin. This is one of the main irks, that American liberals have against Russia. It's not "woke" enough. Most Russian women are family-oriented, they get married young. American "woke" liberals loath that, hence their blind support for NATO expansion and American-Western imperialism.

Don't hold your breath waiting for facts to sink into the heads of liberals.

 

[scruffy]

No, it isn't. Plenty of Democratic Socialists are in Democrats as well.

Yes they are. About 8% of them are outright communists. Like the self professed BLM leadership.

 

[Hector12]

Don't hold your breath waiting for facts to sink into the heads of liberals.

We will do what we need to do to bring Russia down to defeat.

I can't understand why so many conservatives have come to support Russian aggression just because Russia is no longer Communist. This is the same Russia that crushed the freedom movements in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and which earlier conquered Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, half of Poland, and which invaded Finland.

Somewhere up in Heaven Ronald Reagan is crying.

 

[LeroyDumonde]

We will do what we need to do to bring Russia down to defeat.

Not going to happen. American is an empire that's quickly collapsing. We can't even save ourselves.

I can't understand why so many conservatives have come to support Russian aggression just because Russia is no longer Communist.

None have.

This is the same Russia that crushed the freedom movements in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and which earlier conquered Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, half of Poland, and which invaded Finland.

Is it really the same Russia though?

Somewhere up in Heaven Ronald Reagan is crying.

Reagan is in Hell.

 

[Hector12]

Not going to happen. American is an empire that's quickly collapsing. We can't even save ourselves.

The Soviet Union collapsed. The Russian Federation will collapse too. When it does parts of it will decide to join NATO.

 

[LeroyDumonde]

The Soviet Union collapsed. The Russian Federation will collapse too. When it does parts of it will decide to join NATO.

I don't know that NATO will survive the collapse of the US empire. NATO is just a tool for American foreign policy.

 

[Hector12]

I don't know that NATO will survive the collapse of the US empire. NATO is just a tool for American foreign policy.

The United States never forced any country to join NATO. They all wanted to join. This is true of countries which had earlier been forced to join the Warsaw Pact.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine two more countries have joined NATO. Because of the invasion, NATO countries are increasing their military spending.

 

[LeroyDumonde]

The United States never forced any country to join NATO. They all wanted to join. This is true of countries which had earlier been forced to join the Warsaw Pact.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine two more countries have joined NATO. Because of the invasion, NATO countries are increasing their military spending.

None of that changes the fact that NATO is a tool of American foreign policy. Europe is currently under the thumb of the US, but Europeans don't much like the alternative of being under the thumb of China/Russia. At some point the US is going to be too weak to control Europe. The problem Europe faces is when they're no longer under US domination they're going to have to put on their big boy pants and defend themselves. The EU is barely holding itself together because Europeans are sick of getting their marching orders from Brussels. Macron wants to form an EU army because he sees where the geopolitical winds are blowing. If Europe can't replace the EU with something better then it's going to be living in the shadow of BRICS.