The Democratic People's Republic of Tankiejerk

You can ignore everything I'm about to write. I'm just thinking through this in written form.

Here goes: it's a bit confusing for me. Tankies call themselves leftists. In fact, they call us "pro-capitalists" because we don't believe in authoritarianism.

And it feels weird to me to be in one of two groups both saying, "you're not REAL anti-capitalists" at each other.

So here goes:

• the Nazis weren't nationalist socialists
• the USSR wasn't a republic controlled by worker Soviets
  • In fact, the use of tanks on Hungarian worker Soviets was what gave tankies their name. They were actually anti Soviet.
• the Democratic Republic of North Korea isn't democratic
• the People's Republic of China does not belong to its people
• Moms for Liberty doesn't want liberty (and is filled with numerous people who aren't even moms)
• a majority membership of the National Black Republican Organization is white

So yes, I must acknowledge that a group of pro-authoritarians can call themselves leftists without being leftists.

... it still feels weird though. Because if you view it from their perspective, they are leftists. And we are capitalists' enablers.

Wait! I think I see it. Their embrace of violent regimes and violent tactics destroys working class unity and alienates non-violent, compassionate anti-capitalists. They actively choose Stalin over Trotsky and Trotsky over Kerensky, and (like they did with Marguerit Duras) drive anyone out of the movement who won't support that choice.

They are anti-solidarity. And you cannot be a leftist and be anti-solidarity.