The actual origin, in this case, is irrelevant. We all understand that, I think. Unless you’re talking to someone who supports French monarchy, I dunno, maybe then it matters.

Anyway, removing American-centric politics from the discussion which defines “left” as anything that helps people and right as anything that harms… or pro-business as they’d prefer to define that. Both are extremely far right wing, pro-capitalist…

It’s just the definition that has emerged over time. Again, ignoring the irrelevant jabbering of US and other western ally media bullshit, it’s extremely clear that the US state and allies actually agrees with the generally understood definition. The republicans and such will call Harris a commie or whatever, but the US state loves someone like her in power elsewhere if she can hold the power. Typically it requires more militaristic, further right wing leaders unafraid to do horrible things. However, the moment someone who is “left wing” aka anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist comes along, well that’s unacceptable obviously, and opposition mounts. Not because of their “woke” beliefs (or lack thereof) but always always always because of their anti-capitalist beliefs. Specifically the abolition of private property and land ownership being huge “no nos” to capitalists.

So it’s a definition that has arisen due to reality. The further you are from supporting capitalism, supporting private property ownership and capital accumulation, the further left wing you are understood to be and the more the forces of capital will oppose your existence as a implicit threat to their own existence.

It’s more than just vibes. It’s backed up by the reality. I could also define it as “left wing means anti-US imperialism.” The more left wing you are considered to be, the more you oppose the US due to imperialism (capitalism), thus you are an anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist.

Right wing is an alignment with capitalism and imperialism. Devotees and adherents to the US as it exists and has existed since the beginning but especially the last 100-150 years or so are absolutely pro-capitalist, pro-imperialist, opposed to the left wing (they say this themselves) communists or anti-imperialists.

That’s how I see it anyway. My view isn’t unique or special. Maybe the word strict wasn’t the best, but, it’s a comment made on my phone when I should be doing other things. I’m willing to insert the word “general” or “understood” or whatever in its place, but I maintain the original thoughts. Which was more of a rant/stating the obvious anyway.

Which is just more-left liberalism (to the socdems part). They still believe in capitalism.

I will concede, however, that perhaps my own bias slipped in because I consider socdems to be “the ideal liberal”. But of course that’s my own personal belief and doesn’t define the entire spectrum.

I think the issue we often find is most people (in the first world anyway, voices I hear all the time) are liberals. They believe firmly in capitalism and most of them believe in some social safety nets- the dispute is how much and what type of nets. Never a dispute of support of capitalism though. Even amongst the people like Bernie or whatever

By strict definition, “left” means anti-capitalist and “right” is (pro)capitalist

Liberals believe in capitalism just with some guardrails. Emphasis on civil liberties and such. But heavier emphasis on the rights and validity of private property ownership (key to capital accumulation, after all)

To be “on the left” you absolutely have to reject that latter part. You don’t believe in private property ownership for the purposes of enriching individuals/small groups of owners of property. You believe in more equal distributions of property whether it’s shared worker ownership where everyone is “invested” in the company and there’s less of an owner dynamic more of “guy who leads” but isn’t a dictator. Co-operatives basically. Or you believe in more radical, even further anti-capitalist things like there is should be no ownership of private property at all by anyone even the workers. It all belongs to everyone and is held in common by a central power, a state government, that doesn’t seek profits but only the production of commodities for survival and betterment of the citizens’ lives.

Obviously there’s room for muddying things because there’s a lot of ideas on how to run shit, whatever, but ultimately any dipshit America (always Americans for some reason…) who goes on about “Kommunist Kamala” or “Chairman Joe” is dumber than rocks or just trying to score easy rhetorical points. FDR was the most anti-capitalist US president and he was still right wing. A liberal through and through. He was never going to seize entire industries, all of them, and put capitalists out on the street or make them work for a living.

These Nazis, because that’s what they are let’s just be honest, are so insanely far right that in their view anything, literally anything, that is done by the government is communism. Or rather, they want people to think they believe that. Basically libertarianism or “absolute minimum government regulations and controls on everything.” They pretend to believe that, usually, yet support tons of government organizations or agencies. Just the anti-labor, anti-human rights ones like cops, US military, intelligence agencies, law enforcement generally, stricter judicial system with open discrimination against non-whites and non-US citizens, etc. All government powers, but somehow not communism when it benefits capitalists. The irony being this stuff also harms these hogs, but, they won’t figure that out until it’s far too late.

The truth that the commenter doesn’t want to accept, but I point out whenever I can, is they are also a liberal. They’re much further right wing, they would flip to fascist at a finger snap, but they’re core beliefs are absolutely just liberal regarding the economy and how the government should interact with the private sector, etc. I just call “conservatives” and republicans “far right liberals” because 1) it’s totally accurate and 2) it pisses them the fuck off. The truth hurts I guess. Maybe they’ll go read some shit in their anger to “prove” me wrong and accidentally learn something. Doubtful, but who knows.

Apple AppStore

Google Play Store

https://github.com/aeharding/voyager That’s the GitHub source

I always use Voyager

Never have problems really

It’s on android and iOS too so when I swap devices (test stuff) it just feels exactly the same to my boomer brain.

Also available as a webapp

But if you elect judges the people might actually vote for someone who openly says they don’t think some laws are valid or should be upheld.

Imagine if some teenager doesn’t get their life totally fucked because some 70 year old fascist fuckstick who was appointed in 1980 thinks every crime, no matter the magnitude or validity, should be met with the harshest of penalties possible! It would be chaos!

(Basically the mindset of all US politicians and far too many normal people too. “Oh you stole candy? Sorry, penalty is death. You knew the law, scum!” “Moral country” btw. Look how the hogs and even libs have reacted to “progressive” DAs in some cities opting to not prosecute unnecessary petty crimes and instead going harder after crimes of violence including crimes committed by the police (like in Philly. And holllllly fuck do the cops and shitclown Governor hate the DA. People love it though. Objectively bettering things even if only slightly))

Putin is a reactionary, for sure. A proud capitalist. He’s proclaimed himself such many times during interviews and such. Calling him a Nazi is just ignorance at best, falling directly into Western propaganda more likely.

I don’t like Putin. I don’t think he’s a moral or “good” man. But that doesn’t make him a Nazi.

As for the Ukrainian military, were you in a coma for 2 years? 10 years? It’s been a well established undisputed fact by everyone, including the Azov guys, that they are fans of the Nazis, wear their symbols proudly, etc. This doesn’t make every Ukrainian a Nazi. It doesn’t mean Putin is truthful in his desire to rid Ukraine of Nazis. But you can’t just deny the existence, the proud existence, of Nazi elements in Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. Like actual, legitimate, swatiska and SS lightning bolt wearing Nazis not just generic fascists. You have to be actively ignorant to miss this for like 2.5 years of war and troop footage.

Without being “overly fair” to these weirdos (the drawn cp tax folder fans) republicans were, perhaps still are(?), explicitly talking about literally invading Mexico to “bomb the cartel.”

Here’s just one article of many

I never took them saying that stuff, above, as the same as bombing like asylum seekers or agricultural migrants, etc. They would love to do both, but they are technically different things under the umbrella of “hoggery”

Btw that article is fucking insane. The fact it exists, the fact that the people take these statements seriously and don’t say “we would disobey that obviously moronic and illegal command and instead arrest any dumbass who tried to do it.” It’s just literally insane. I am forced to self-censor further feelings.

This just gives me a mental image of an insane ER doctor placing defibrillator pads on a recently deceased person and repeatedly delivering shocks even when the corpse gives no response and only pops up and down from the electrical jolts. The nurses are all crying and yelling that he’s gone. The doctor just keeps smirking and pushing the button while the skin sizzles. And the smell…

I thought this was a troll thing

But apparently she actually died? The fuck?

These demons all live forever. Truly unexpected good news. Although she wasn’t high on my list of CEOs who need croak immediately.

There’s a particular one who’s been abusing ketamine and amphetamines for years, so, really praying on that

I met a young immigrant to our beautiful nation today. He introduced himself as Felix. Felix the Cat. Wow, remember that one folks? Great cartoon. Great immigrant. Unfortunately sucks in air he’s gotta go back, folks. He’s gotta go back. Yes, yes, even the Canadians. Especially the Canadians! They gotta go back.

I read the first Jurassic Park book and a bunch of other Crichton books when I was like 13/14. Over 20 years ago. I enjoyed Andromeda Strain. All that shit has oozed out of my brain though and only the movies remain

Yeah, but, like, did you consider it from the dino’s point of view?

Because I did

But on a serious side, most of the people working at Jurassic Park (in the first one anyway) were mostly just neutral people on a good/bad scale I suppose. Except Hammond. Even Nedry (sp?) was just exploiting his exploitative boss (underpaying him).

I don’t know how much of a point was trying to be made, but there’s definitely an underlying theme of capitalism forcing what could be a questionably ethical scientific project (bringing back extinct animals) into fast-tracked, hyper-capitalist, “just pay experts to come and rubber stamp this shit immediately so we can make money” disaster.

“Shoot her! SHOOT HER!”

https://youtu.be/qz5JmgLQEzs?t=195

(Timestamped)

I had the safari hunter guy’s lines burned into my brain as a kid for some reason. I do enjoy that they always kill the evil hunter guys

I think the issue here boils down to this:

Many pro-Palestine people (in the US or west generally) were totally unaware of Israel’s Nazi regime and ideology until last year. This isn’t me shitting on them, it’s just the truth. Most westerners who have no ties to Islam, Arab culture or regions of the world, or Palestine, will never be exposed to anything approaching the Palestinian perspective.

They developed empathy from the months of seeing the full and total destruction brought for Israel for no articulable reason.

For westerners (who are majority white people) Israel is this thing “over there” filled with people who act a lot like they do, but aren’t really as white as them, so they’re different. It’s also a different country, ostensively fully separate from the US (of course those “in the know” know this is just surface level. For all intents and purposes Israel is just another US state that could and has been controlled as such in the past, but the current admin isn’t interested in controlling Israel)

It’s easy to condemn the actions of a foreign nation. It’s harder for indoctrinated, nationalistic (even if they don’t think they are!) westerners to condemn the United States (where most of the anti-Venezuela bullshit comes from). Most Americans, and even many who call themselves leftists, are incredibly guarded in criticizing the US. I don’t personally understand why as I was born/raised in here, in the American culture, and I shed any of those feelings as a teenager. I have no idea why others continue to be dumbass nationalists, but, 🤷‍♂️

This results in them having a cognitive division or whatever you wanna call it. They can see through the Zionist propaganda. Israel is an evil nation doing incredibly evil things to a captured population. It’s all out there and easily seen and absorbed because “who the fuck is Israel? Fuck them! I have no allegiance to that state.”

But for Venezuela, for uneducated people, the same who never heard of Palestine in 2023, there is no such clear cut divide to see. Well, there is, except for the important difference that they live in the evil state. They live in the equivalent of the Zionist entity propagandizing against Venezuelans. They live in the imperialist nation crushing Venezuelan independence. And just as the Israeli is raised to never question their media and state, the American is raised the same way.

Why would they ever question the narrative that permeates the media, social media, everything at all times? Mix in a dash of residual Cold War/Red Scare “aren’t they evil communists?” and of course it makes perfect sense that most Americans are ignorant, purposely ignorant too often, on topics like Cuba or Venezuela or China. Fuck, “foreign policy” in general. They are the fully indoctrinated population and it takes a lot of introspection, education, and willpower, frankly, to fully break that barrier. Even then, it’s so easy to slip back into pro-US narratives.

I don’t think it’s empathy per se. It’s the exploitation of inherent human empathy, sure, I suppose. That’s how propaganda works (or one way anyway).

I’d have to find the scholar’s name (very lazy) but there was a guy who is an expert on Ukrainian history who did the rounds obviously two years ago but also years before the current major conflict.

Anyway, IIRC he was saying pretty bluntly that yes, Azov are Nazis, there’s no point in denying it, and before the current war it was very commonly written about. I remember reading or hearing about those papers myself. It was also a common criticism of the Ukrainian diaspora that they were always trying to honor their great “war hero” grandfather or great uncle, etc. who turned out to be literally in the SS or something.

Since the current stuff began, however, he was saying people who were going to be conscripted may have run to join Azov for a pretty simple reason that Azov was known as the crazy Nazi guys, but they also had organization and presented themselves as professional soldiers. Which could be appealing to random young guys who either want to join or know they will soon be compelled to join. They want to join the most elite, best trained unit so the chances of dying are minimal.

Maybe that’s wishful thinking, maybe it’s running a bit of cover for Nazis, I dunno. It’s pretty clear Ukraine has had and still has a problem with these Nazi militias. Russia invading doesn’t magically make the Nazis not Nazis like the liberal media has been insisting. It’s also hard for me to imagine a young person who, benefit of the doubt, may have legitimately just been running to what they saw as the strongest group around not adopting the ideology of that group over 2.5 years of fighting. So it kinda doesn’t matter why they initially joined. If they’re running around with Nazi tattoos or uniforms with the SS lightning bolts… maybe they weren’t Nazis at the end of 2021, but they are now.

Damn I got excited thinking this meant Victoria Nuland…

I watched it while multitasking, but my best summary would be… if you have a highly reactionary person you want to slowly bring back from the brink, maybe this is methadone for them? To help wean them off liberalism. But that’s rather generous really.

The creator hits a few more nuances than most liberals would. Acknowledgment that US imperialism is bad, although he does give a semi-mocking tone to this so I’m not totally sure of his opinions on it. I think he’s kind of right that some “leftists” (or whatever they are. Maybe actually leftists) go too far in “defending” the DPRK. Again, my stance is basically “you don’t need to “defend” anything. Just analyze it as factually as possible. And before any real analysis can be done in the case of DPRK there is a pre-requisite that almost no one except those on the left will meet- acknowledge that the USA totally destroyed the infrastructure there, sanctioned them for about 75 years now, and has done everything in its power to force its citizens to die or live lives of extreme poverty.”

If this resulted in some “quirky” behavior, hey, no fucking shit?

Maybe that seems like a cop out or whatever to “avoid” real discussion, but I’d just reply with “no, I’ll discuss any negatives or positives of the government of DPRK, right after we discuss the incredible hardships they’ve been forced to endure mostly at the hands of the Japanese empire and then immediately after the American empire.” You can’t discuss any country in a bubble or vacuum. You can I guess, but your analysis is immediately flawed and probably just bullshit.

So the creator is like a couple ticks down from typical libs on “let’s nuke DPRK immediately” (he also denies that western powers have desired to destroy DPRK for… 70 years which was weird as fuck. He thinks it’s wrong to say them having nukes keep them safe from invasion which is objectively true. Unless I misunderstood some point he was making).

Still shit. Still a reactionary saying things. Appropriately placed content.

Video seems well made and watchable so far. My only thought with DPRK discussions by anyone, regardless of their opinions on the government there, is “are they even aware of the history of the Korean Peninsula and why the northern part has been so isolated since the 1950s onward?”

The creator included a small clip of Lex Friedman (sp?) at the beginning (he was mocking Lex) saying the DPRK had massive famine in the 1990s… Lex blames the leadership in the DPRK, which sure probably deserved blame, but I wonder if Lex is aware of some other major events that happened in the early 1990s that devastated allied countries like DPRK and Cuba… hmm… perhaps the dissolution of a superpower that was competing with the USA and was supporting countries the USA was purposely fucking? Hmmmmm (yes Lex knows this of course. His family was from the USSR. He’s just a right wing asshole)

That’s my major issue with discussion though. Especially from Americans and most Western Europeans they will never ever admit that the USSR was good in many respects one of which was helping countries like the DPRK avoid famine while the US was busy trying to cause famine. They’re incapable of putting aside reactionary ideology and hatred for socialism to see that, no, it wasn’t just that the DPRK has a cult leader who hoarded all the food (or whatever right wingers think) it’s that the US was purposely starving an entire nation, the USSR (and others) were helping prevent that catastrophe, and with the dissolution and chaos in Russia post-USSR, of fucking course countries that depended on it for trade were left fucked over.

It’s like if China just went poof tomorrow and had a decade of extreme instability, Americans would have no cheaply made commodities, and surely this would result in bad things like lack of medical supplies and stuff. Would some future-Lex in 30 years say “wow. What happened in 2024 to America? It was Trump. He hoarded all the needles and destroyed them.” It’s just such birdbrain shit and lack of logic because at all costs they must never even accidentally acknowledge that the USSR did good things and had trade agreements that benefited other nations. Like that is just too hard for them. It’s just sad and pathetic. Makes it hard to disagree with Putin when he criticizes Americans for knowing nothing. He might be an asshole, he might be doing a creative reading of history at times, but at least he has knowledge of stuff.

Pretty sure the background narrative is this weekend, maybe next week, he’s gonna announce he won’t be accepting the nomination and Kamala will be running for president in his place

The obvious truth is he will not be getting nominated and it causes the least harm to the DNC overall if he willingly backs out rather than just be kicked out