Pragmatic Leftist Theory
The neolibs are too far right. The tankies are doing whatever that is. Where's the space for the people who want fully-automated-luxury-gay-space-communism, but realize that it's gonna take a while and there are lots of steps between now and then? Here. This is that space.
Here, people should endeavor to discuss and devise practical, actionable leftist action. Vote lesser evil while you build grassroots coalitions. Unionize your workplace. Participate in SRAs. Build cohesion your local community. Educate the proletariat.
This is a place for practical people to develop practical plans to implement stable, incremental improvement.
If you're dead-set on drumming up all 18,453 True Leftists® into spontaneous Revolution, go somewhere else. The grown ups are talking.
Rules:
-1. Don't be a dick. Racism, sexism, other assorted bigotries, you know the drill. At least try to default to mutually respectful discussion. We're all on the same side here, unless you aren't, in which case kindly leave.
-2. Don't be a tankie. Yes I'm sure you have an extensive knowledge of century-old theory. There's been a century of history since then. Things didn't shake out as expected, maybe consider the possibility that a different angle of attack might be more effective in light of new data.
-3. Be practical. No one on the left benefits from counterproductive actions. This is a space informed by, not enslaved to, ideology. Promoting actions that are fundamentally untenable in the system in question, because they fulfill a sense of ideological purity, is a bad look. Don't do that.
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I have no illusions that American politicians of all parties have actively or complicity committed terrible crimes against other nations. In no way shape or form do I support any of it. But I also live in this country in an area that would never vote me into office of any kind, and so short of a massive paradigm shift or revolution, the most influence I can have on the future of this country is by voting and encouraging others to do the same. And like it or not, sometimes that means voting for the lesser of two evils. If that makes me evil too in your mind, then you can go fuck yourself. I'm doing the best I can. And anyone that can't also do that bare minimum can fuck themselves too.
"You claim to hate genocide, and yet you voted for Biden/Trump."
"You claim to hate capitalism, and yet you own a smartphone"
Same energy and level of thought, dude.
It's a great analogy because I had no say in either case.
The choice was of anyone other than Tump or Biden/Biden 2.0 (Kamala) in the last two elections. Choosing to vote for nether is just not participating in the election and giving up your ability to influence the outcome. If only one were to support Isreal's genocide, voting for them makes you complicit in that. If both support Isreal's genocide, then there IS NO CHOICE THERE.
WHY WOULD I TRUST MY FELLOW CITIZEN TO VOTE THIRD PARTY AGAINST ALL EXPERIENCE AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE!? You're talking nonsense. We are stuck with First Past The Post voting right now, and as such, voting your ideals is for the primaries only. Election day is a strategy game and anyone with sense knows it. Change the system to Approval voting and everyone can vote their conscience and I'll advocate all day for that but that is simply not the reality right now. There were two and only two options. That is he reality.
When I have a choice in the matter I'll let you know which way I go on it. Until then I'm not taking the blame for it, thanks.
I'm all for holding these assholes to account. Maybe the ones committing the genocide? The ones making the choices to order the killing of people, the ones following those orders, and the ones deciding to fund it? That's not the voter who had no choice in the matter though, my guy.