Cowbee

@Cowbee@lemmy.ml

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Socialism has a better track record than capitalism, but either way, my point is that necessary systemic changes need socialism for them to happen. Socialism isn’t a promise, it’s a mode of production. Further, countries like the PRC are rapdily electrifying, at the top of solar panel production and infrastructure initiatives, and combatting desertification, that’s the power of a publicly driven economy.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I really don’t think we are. You propose we push for change within the system, as it’s better to have a tweaked current system than a non-tweaked current system. My point is that the reason the current system lacks those popular and necessary tweaks is because its built to resist anything that risks lowering profits, so our strategy should focus on changing to a system that allows us to make those tweaks in the first place.

  You may not agree with me, but I don’t think we are having different discussions.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I’m focusing on capitalism because we can’t let the progress we can imagine be the enemy of the progress we can actually achieve in the real world. Just like going up to Elon Musk and asking him nicely to not be a Nazi isn’t a viable solution to systemic issues, so too is trying to use regulations against the system they are meant to solidify and protect. Socialism is necessary because without it, we can’t get these well thought-through taxes and regulations to begin with, we are utterly at the mercy of profits.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  It’s more that under capitalism, regulations and taxes only serve the bourgeoisie. It isn’t that the concept is being undermined, it’s that those are sold to the working class as a viable solution to avoid actually solving the problem.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Yep, but for systemic changes socialism is necessary. We should do what we can right now, but we can’t cause systemic change without socialism.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  DSA is the Democratic Socialists of America, it’s a reformist socialist party. PSL is a Marxist-Leninist (technically Marcyist but the vast majority of members are ML) party with roots as a split from the IWW, and is thus more based on party building, revolution, and practices democratic centralism. The DSA gets a lot less done per member due to its lack of democratic centralism and big-tent methodology, but it isn’t the worst org in existence if there’s no other options.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Sure, I can see that hypothetical, but we can’t get to that hypothetical in capitalism. Profit drives and steers the system, not humans.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Well-regulated markets, under capitalism, just means comfortable monopoly. You can’t work against the system of voracious demand for profit within said system. You can’t just pray for taxes abd regulations, the only ones that get passed are ones in the interests of the largest capitalists.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Sure, it wouldn’t be easy, but it’s nearly impossible under capitalism. What would realistically happen is the state would heavily subsidize plant based food and develop economies of scale, and increase requirements on animal products for more “humane” treatment, until gradually animal products are phased out culturally. A top-down command for animal liberation would be commandist if the masses don’t want it, so raising political consiousness would be a key part of that struggle.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Socialism will not automatically create vegan world, it hasn’t done so anywhere socialism exists. However, it does swap from profits as the end-all, be-all of how society is organized, to one where humanity can better plan production and meet people’s needs. If capital is in the driver’s seat, then the meat industry will continue to perpetuate said brutality and environmental destruction unimpeded. If humanity is in the driver’s seat, then we can actually work against what would be assured in a profit driven model.

  The swap to veganism will never be instant, but it will be largely impossible without human supremacy over capital.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The DSA is okay if there’s nothing else around you, but PSL has a much better party platform and is growing rapidly.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨YSK that apart from not having a car, the single greatest thing you can do for the climate is simply eating less red meat⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Veganism is good, necessary even, but more than voting we need to actually overthrow capitalism and replace it with socialism. Profit will destroy the planet unless we take control of the reigns from capital.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Self starter⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  We do not exist in a world with technology sufficient to entirely eliminate labor. Even highly automated industry like in the PRC, labor-power is still paramount for production. A transition to socialism can allow us to better direct production consciously, rather than letting the eldritch god capital decide everything based on profitability, but we will not be able to eliminate labor, only center it, rather than capital.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is it morally wrong for an immigrant or naturalized citizen to "keep a low profile" and avoid speaking up against the government in order to minimize the risks of denaturalization/deportation?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  You’re extremely confused, I’m not blaming “low information voters” of any sort. Electoralism is not a valid path for leftism. I’m not using a money excuse, either, though your erasure of money’s influence on media is also oversimplified. You haven’t taken any steps back, you’ve invented a caricature of “the left” in your head and are acting like you’re the only one to see things as they really are. It’s very silly.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is it morally wrong for an immigrant or naturalized citizen to "keep a low profile" and avoid speaking up against the government in order to minimize the risks of denaturalization/deportation?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  There have never been left presidents in the US. Mamdani is not the leader of the revolution. You’re very confused about what’s going on, and you’re out of touch with why Trump won. It wasn’t “memes,” it isn’t some masterful play, nor are liberals left wing.

  You need to take a step back and familiarize yourself more with what’s going on. Try to take a materialist outlook, not an idealist outlook.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is it morally wrong for an immigrant or naturalized citizen to "keep a low profile" and avoid speaking up against the government in order to minimize the risks of denaturalization/deportation?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  No, lol. The Left is fine on the internet. You can touch grass and organize, and do online agitprop. Mamdani won because people are being radicalized.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is it morally wrong for an immigrant or naturalized citizen to "keep a low profile" and avoid speaking up against the government in order to minimize the risks of denaturalization/deportation?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The Left is fighting an uphill battle. Capitalism is the status quo, and the US relies on imperialism using its vast financial capital and massive number of millitary bases to keep goods relatively cheap, but this is crumbling. Change works as quantitative buildup until significant, qualitative change. Orgs like PSL are growing rapidly. They are still small, but the rate of growth is large. Time is on the Left’s side.

  Just look at Palestine, as an example. 5 years ago, the vast majority of the US was Zionist. Now, the majority oppose the genocide. Mamdani winning the primary in NYC shows that more overtly left-leaning individuals are valued over right-wingers like Cuomo. Change works on trends. History doesn’t reset every day, eventually water droplets bore through stone.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Is it morally wrong for an immigrant or naturalized citizen to "keep a low profile" and avoid speaking up against the government in order to minimize the risks of denaturalization/deportation?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The Left does both. The purpose of real life stikes and protests is because its proof that Leftist organizations have the logistical capacity to plan, demonstrate, and act in a cohesive and unified manner. Organizing is more important than meme sharing. Memes, agitprop, etc are very useful recruitment tools, so they should not be ignored, but it’s more important to actually put in the work of organizing effectively once recruited.

  Sharing memes without actually organizing is just an outlet for people to express frustration, but organizing is an actual necessary and important step in toppling the existing system and replacing it with a better one, as the hard work on organizing has already been laid out.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  This is a bit of an idealistic look at things, rather than a materialist outlook. Socialist countries, past and present, have been faced with real problems. Their issues weren’t about “finding the right leader” or “picking the right recipe,” but largely real struggles that any country tasked with needing rapid industrialization while defending against foreign invasion and subversion would need to.

  Socialism isn’t about deciding on the right recipe, but analyzing historical progression and its laws so as to master them and wield them in our favor. No socialist country has been an outright “failure,” not even the ones that no longee exist.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Why is Lemmy attempting to radicalise people to enforce class wars?⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  1. The devs are communists.

  2. Using Lemmy over Reddit is already an ideological choice for many of us, ergo you will find people with a stronger ideological backbone here.

  3. Conditions in the English-Speaking world are getting more dire. The US Empire is struggling to prop itself up, billionaires control more and more of the wealth while working class folks control less and less, and more people are getting involved in reading theory and organizing.

  4. Many leftist subreddits were shut down and fled to Lemmy, the same has not happened to the same degree for right-wing subreddits.

  It’s as simple as that, really. I suggest you start reading some leftist theory, I made a Marxism-Leninism Beginner Reading List to help people who want to start doing that (comes with audiobook versions, too).

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I do many things, I have hobbies, a full-time job, friends, a partner, and other responsibilities. If you have to invent a version of me that has no bearing in reality, I guess I just don’t understand the point of what you’re doing. It’s much better to be attached to reality.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I have never said I’m a “leftist theory guru.” I do read a good deal of theory, but there are many here who have read a lot more than I have. I have read enough to know when I see something wrong, though, so I try to help correct it.

  I have no idea what you mean by saying I “don’t have anything to offer when engaged.” Further, if you think I read what I read for clout on a tiny, fringe website, then that’s absurd. If I wanted clout for reading, I’d go to Twitter or Bluesky, or even YouTube, where the audience is far larger.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I said it elsewhere, but a space where the dominant opinion is fringe among the general population is not really an echo chamber, while one where the space aligns with the dominant views and bans dissenting views is. You can’t avoid engaging with the dominant ideas of society.

  Secondly, I have never seen anyone say the PRC is a socialist “utopia.” It’s socialist, yes, but not a utopia. Marxism is anti-utopian.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I guess, but I don’t see how that’s relevant. Who reads for “clout?”

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  It happens, lol. Karma doesn’t really get tracked on Lemmy so it doesn’t even really matter much, but some people get personal grudges if you dare speak positively about communism.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Absolutely. There are *real" problems with socialist societies of all kinds, but on the whole they are positive. You can find positive anecdotes in the worst societies and negative in the best, what’s important is doing the due dilligence to study what went right and what went wrong truthfully. Thanks for your anecdote!

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Unironically repeating an emotional anecdote with no facts or statistics from a Miami-based Cuban Exile group, you know the slavers and fascists, as a point against Cuba is very silly. Those who flef Cuna just want their plantations and slaves back, even if you find LGBTQ descendents of slavers that doesn’t make their cause just. Cuba is better than Miami for gay rights, lmao.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  No, he said it was a horrible crime, Cuba decriminalized homosexuality in 1979, then went on to become one of the most progressive countries in the world for queer people today. Cuba didn’t execute masses of gay people, nor did the USSR, you’ve made shit up on both accounts. That’s all anti-communists do, really, your little gesture at the end I mean.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The capitalist farmers, little more than slave drivers, decided to resist collectivization by setting fire to their crops, murdering workers, fighting the Red Army, and killing their livestock, which ended up creating famine conditions. There wasn’t a widespread order to “kill all kulaks,” but there was widespread killing of kulaks that decided to violently resist having their mechanisms of slave-driving taken away.

  As for Cuba, they didn’t have a widespread execution campaign of gay people, either. Gay people were fined, imprisoned, and sent to re-education camps, a fact Castro himself has apologized for and maintains that it was a great injustice committed by the revolution. Homosexuality was de-criminalized in 1979 in Cuba, and today Cuba’s Family Code is among the most progressive in the world, far surpassing the US.

  You really have no clue what you’re talking about, otherwise you wouldn’t be praising the Russian equivalent of the US confederacy nor would you be speaking of Cuba as though it still persecutes gay people like the US does today. As a queer person myself, this “rainbow imperialism” nonsense coming from you only serves to support the US Empire. Without the Cuban Revolution, gay people would likely still be persecuted just as they were under the fascist slaver Batista regime, a practice ended by the revolution and the dramatic equality it stood for.

  I am not going to shed any tears for slavers, nazis, fascists, or the bourgeoisie as their property gets redistributed. There’s no “mask” there, that’s standard leftism of all stripes.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Just blocked hexbear⁩ ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Yes, it includes Nazis, the White Army, capitalists, etc. Gay people weren’t executed, the punishment was 5 years imprisonment, which is still awful but was better than other countries at the time. Calling me “murderous” for supporting socialist countries is laughable when you make shit up, lmao.