 |
All about trains -- Ha!
Author: Oh Bother
Date: 05-29-2012 - 22:41
> Progressives are communists? How?
A better question is how do you keep calling others who disagree with you, "Ignorant"; while so grandly displaying your own ignorance! Seems almost as though you are a product of a California education - or at least one just as bad.
Granted, the use of the word "Communist" here may not have been an exactly correct use, but it is close enough for government work, as we used to say. Note that the Soviet Union's actual technical name was "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" - USSR. They were Socialists! And did make every attempt to institute the writings of Karl Marx and others of his ilk; and make them work; but ultimately failed!
But the term "Communism" refers more to the way political power was organized in the USSR, at the commune level (local community in American vernacular); than it was a description of their economic system, which was socialist and statist. Thus the tight association of the two words (socialism and communism) has commonly led to interchangeable use by a great many.
The fact was, that early in the twentieth century, American socialists at first got little traction with the public at large, until they stopped trying to foist socialism on us, all at once.
But when they softened their message to just one small tidbit of socialist dogma, we bought it - line by line, precept by precept, a little here and a little there. They were satisfied to be thus progressing towards socialism; hence the name "Progressive". But even that name was usurped from others who had used it previously, and had a good public reputation.
So, yes! Those that led the progressives refered to here, by and large, were socialists. And it appears no different now. But sadly, thanks to the utter failure of our education system, not so many understand that anymore. Yes, I was required to read the writings of Marx and others while in school; which fact helps me see through the disguises it so often wears. So to refer to one of Karl Marx's teachings; yes, there are "Useful Idiots" everywhere; who, while not actually wanting socialism, end up supporting those who do.
A better question is how do you keep calling others who disagree with you, "Ignorant"; while so grandly displaying your own ignorance! Seems almost as though you are a product of a California education - or at least one just as bad.
Granted, the use of the word "Communist" here may not have been an exactly correct use, but it is close enough for government work, as we used to say. Note that the Soviet Union's actual technical name was "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" - USSR. They were Socialists! And did make every attempt to institute the writings of Karl Marx and others of his ilk; and make them work; but ultimately failed!
But the term "Communism" refers more to the way political power was organized in the USSR, at the commune level (local community in American vernacular); than it was a description of their economic system, which was socialist and statist. Thus the tight association of the two words (socialism and communism) has commonly led to interchangeable use by a great many.
The fact was, that early in the twentieth century, American socialists at first got little traction with the public at large, until they stopped trying to foist socialism on us, all at once.
But when they softened their message to just one small tidbit of socialist dogma, we bought it - line by line, precept by precept, a little here and a little there. They were satisfied to be thus progressing towards socialism; hence the name "Progressive". But even that name was usurped from others who had used it previously, and had a good public reputation.
So, yes! Those that led the progressives refered to here, by and large, were socialists. And it appears no different now. But sadly, thanks to the utter failure of our education system, not so many understand that anymore. Yes, I was required to read the writings of Marx and others while in school; which fact helps me see through the disguises it so often wears. So to refer to one of Karl Marx's teachings; yes, there are "Useful Idiots" everywhere; who, while not actually wanting socialism, end up supporting those who do.
