That Putin is a bourgeois leader lol. It probably sounds simple to you but it was a breakthrough for me, based on where I’m coming from.

On a related note- what’s your take on Iran’s Supreme Leader? Is he also bourgeois? Or how does religion fit into the mix?

Chris Gilbert gives me such weird vibes. I don’t think he’s disingenuous, and I can easily verify any verifiable claims he makes, but he’s just so in love with Venezuela, Chavismo, and the Bolivarian Revolution in general that I think that makes him… maybe not unreliable but more like that you won’t get the full picture from him. He’s just like too enthusiastic about the subject matter to look at it impartially.

I haven’t read the book but thanks to this good post and the links I will.

You can see more of Chris Gilbert on The Empire Files.

Hey I had to come back here and thank you for this comment. I didn’t get it at first but after doing some reading on the topic I got the framework where this makes sense and it’s a very clear answer to the question I posted. So thanks!

Thordrooooooos!

<LAUGH TRACK>

<APPLAUSE>

Why do you say that?

But does North Korea have foreign funded political parties? No? That’s right, authoritarianism akshually

Very interesting. Thank you for the info!

Thanks for your answer. If I may ask- what kind of social safety net do Russians have? Do you have free school lunches for children? Free healthcare? Housing guarantee? How is life for pensioners? I mentioned that I am completely propagandized when it comes to Russia, but would love to know how the situation on the ground is. Tbh I suppose it’s a lot like in the US- tough life for 90%, nice life for 9.9%, dream come true for 0.1%.

Whoah thanks for this answer, it’s just what I was hoping for (although I didn’t know it).

Omg ok yea, case closed. French please.

username checks out

But they have control over where and when their labor power is utilized, which is what makes their situation different.

This is a good question, thanks for asking it. It makes me realize there is more of a spectrum between lumpenproletariat and monopoly capitalist, although there are actors that are very clearly in one category, there are areas where it blends. And of course it’s always in flux.

lol nice, the metal gear solid to communism pipeline in one comment

Because they control more than just their labor power (some capital), but not enough capital to not have to work. They will get crushed in a downturn so I guess that’s where the size reference comes in- bigger bourgeoisie can withstand bigger downturns.

Not sure why we have to use French words but c’est la vie I guess!

I’m by no means an expert on this, but Zelensky is a sucker. I’m sure he’s ok as a person, imperfect as all of us, but I think he’s involved in stuff he has no idea about and in way over his head, and I think he will never know the truth of his position. It’s especially absurd considering his TV role, his ownership with oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi of the TV production studio (Kolomoyskyi is now chillin in Israel with his billions btw, leaving Ukraine to get rekt), and his desire to get close to the West while not instituting the Minsk agreements.

But as to what he is getting out of it? My opinion: nothing. He’s the guy that sits at the table and asks who the sucker is.

It is a revolutionary’s job to educate people. Good thing is that we have so much blatant, undeniable evidence in the news at this very moment:

1. How come the world’s most powerful men use Gmail to openly discuss illegal and heinous things, while talking online about these same things results in censorship?

2. Why should I care about Muslims from China and simultaneously not gaf about Muslims from Palestine?

3. Why am I, as an American, more concerned with the fate of Taiwan than the fate of Puerto Rico?

Looking at these issues through a liberal, logical lens results in glaring contradictions, but looking at them through a class lens within the context of a dictatorship of capital, it all makes sense.

1. Only things that threaten capital accumulation are wrong. The state will be activated to stop wrongdoing.

2. China does not support Western hegemony, while Israel is an important part of the Empire. Therefore, the great mass of people must be against China and in support of Israel.

3. Same as #2 with the addition that Puerto Rico acts as the Empire’s reserve army of soldiers. It used to be about sugar and slaves, but times have changed. PR does continue to be a buffer zone protecting the mainland though.

I’ve had the same experience (I think a lot of us have) but you have to remember that the USA has the best propaganda in the world, and a lot of people are totally hypnotized by it. In fact, I was too. I was a chud and a lib. Nobody’s born a good comrade, we have to read and struggle. I think you’re a good comrade. Don’t give up!

Edit: One more example- the reason we chant “Slava Ukraini!” is because the US’s share of LNG shipments to Europe rose from 5% pre-war to 27% now and still climbing. The unexamined mind will find itself with positions that support Western capital 10 out of 10 times, such as replacing Russia as Europe’s main energy dealer. The vast majority of people really dgaf about this, but we are compelled to care by the ruling class, for the ruling class.

As a practical example (which even works with MAGAs) I usually inject into a conversation something like “don’t you think people (‘a man’ if I’m dealing with chuds) have the right to the fruits of their labor, and nobody has the right to the fruits of someone else’s labor?” which is enthusiastically agreed with 100% of the time. Of course a majority of the time people are either too preoccupied with survival or somehow walk away still blaming women and minorities, but I know that’s not my fault and that I did what I could. The fault lies with the very efficient media and culture arm of the bourgeoisie.

Yea I know copy paste in Microsoft products can get messy, but why would the second word be a different font size? I understand that different fonts will be carried over in the formatting. Not saying that boomers are excellent with computers, just saying it looks odd.

It’s suspicious that the text is all different fonts and sizes.

“a Panican”? Is everything an identity with these people?