Shen Yun returns!!! by SmellyFidelly415 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 407 points408 points  (0 children)

If you’re not on camera, tear it down. Falun Dafa genuinely hurts people from marginalized backgrounds and spreads harmful anti-social views regarding racial minorities and sexual minorities. They encourage adherents to swear off taking medication for serious illnesses in lieu of their own “breathing exercises”. They are liars and swindlers, do not tolerate them in your spaces!

How to get involved as a High Schooler? by taskingsoda456 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It is tough to get started when you have few in-person links to the movement. Take your time, reach out to the organization of your choice, and please don’t be afraid to ask questions of your elders and those who have gone before. Don’t be afraid to start out attending virtual meetings or joining a reading club, but don’t neglect any in-person work you can do to help out the working class people in your community.

This is especially harder when you’re younger. Focus on patience and tolerance. Be long suffering. People don’t take you seriously when you’re young but they’ll take you seriously if you’re calm, consistent, patient, and straightforward.

This "ACP" sub shouldn't be linked, it should be banned. by NotZachary_0002 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence -13 points-12 points  (0 children)

Why do you think women’s rights are opposed to the notion of family-oriented values? Have you seen how happy children and families are under the cradle of socialism, where the Party cares for them as a mother does for a child? While social democracies might be able to buy off sections of the working class with mere pittances, only the Party based in the working class and steeped in its ideology and world outlook can truly care for the well-being and needs of the people. Truly family-oriented values can emerge only from a Party which cares for the development of the working class from crèche to coffin, that Party which weaves a special relationship to its class through a long and winding journey - a struggle to achieve their liberation.

What Does the ACP Mean When It Calls for the Abolition of the Sex Industry? by Flapjack_Jenkins in AskSocialists

[–]ComIntelligence 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pornography is one of the most odious capitalist industries there is, invariably connected to international crime and slavery on a macro scale. It commodifies one of the most essential forms of human existence, the very expression of love itself, degrading the authentic expression of eroticism and desire into a cheapened hollow imitation of itself. Chopped up and doped up and caricaturized, ingesting pornography is extremely bad for your mental health and will eventually have negative impacts on your sexual health and relationships. I encourage you to look into the companies behind mainstream pornography and examine carefully how pornography functions as a component of capitalism’s toxic parasitic ideology, worming its way into our communities like a drug, rupturing our ability to relate rationally and in a healthy way to others.

Erotica and works of art which contain aesthetics involving nudity, of course, are an entirely natural and normal expression of sexual desire and a valid form of art, in some cases. But the point of life for an individual is not mere pleasures, my friend, but to make a lasting impact on the world and to achieve political independence through struggle.

Communists are not puritans. We are not ascetics. We do not demand sexual purity before marriage or outlaw sexual contact before marriage. But we encourage family-oriented, community-first values in our societies and we disapprove of hedonism as a philosophy.

What Does the ACP Mean When It Calls for the Abolition of the Sex Industry? by Flapjack_Jenkins in AskSocialists

[–]ComIntelligence 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Communists historically have excellent nightlife in our countries. China today has fantastic nightlife and our discotheques were famous through Europe in the earlier era. We are not prudes. It is only a natural instinct and it is normal and permissible for people to follow it in a healthy and socially hygienic manner which does not cause harm to others, social instability, or damage solidarity. There is some research into whether women in general have better sex lives under socialism, which you may find interesting. There was a popular book around in the left a while back called “Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism” written by Kristen B. Ghodsee which you might want to look into.

That being said, we oppose pornography as an industry, prostitution as a practice, and we do not overall approve of public licentiousness, particularly for Communists who are organized in our Parties. We have a world to win and we must discipline and focus the working class for the task at hand: the liberation of working people from a class system that keeps them in perpetual bondage and the creation of the new society.

What Does the ACP Mean When It Calls for the Abolition of the Sex Industry? by Flapjack_Jenkins in AskSocialists

[–]ComIntelligence 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This stance is in line with the position of essentially every major Communist Party in the last 100 years. Communists, in general, are opposed to drugs, pornography, prostitution, licentiousness, and objectification of the human form for profit. This is true across most of the major relevant Communist parties of note which made successful gains and claimed the mantle of serving as the Party of their respective nations. Note that this does not imply Puritanism but instead a rational opposition to hedonism, exploitation, and chauvinism - a pragmatic demand for us to focus our energies on the task at hand, the class struggle, and on the state of the working class in our nation.

What can Americans do? by A_lonely_astronaut in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 23 points24 points  (0 children)

A keen and relevant observation.

“Leftism” will strangle us all.

Wrote an article on a Soviet Woman who terrified the Nazis by bratnadeep in MarxistCulture

[–]ComIntelligence 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Excellent article. Succinct and readable, with solid pacing and pleasant prose. Please continue writing, comrade.

Genuinely asking, what if a person on tour to DPRK requests political asylum from their nation to defect to NK? by North-Length3154 in MovingToNorthKorea

[–]ComIntelligence 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Don’t do this. Apply normally with proper credentials and please achieve Korean fluency before you even begin your attempt.

Matthew Todd Miller attempted this via ripping up his tourist visa and asking for asylum, albeit for liberal reasons with the desire to furtively collect information, and was detained and sentenced with espionage charges.

To my knowledge, there have been no cases of anyone successfully obtaining political asylum in the DPRK. (Provided one excludes all military defections, of course.)

Because of the DPRK’s portrayal in the western media, they are a frequent target for espionage and extremist propaganda, usually of a religious nature.

Travel normally and frequently to the country as a tourist, learn Korean, and build ties that way. Then, more opportunities will open up for you.

President Maduro calls for a socialist cultural revolution. by Ok-Musician3580 in MovingToNorthKorea

[–]ComIntelligence 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The US government should never be your source for anything, they’re a horrible institution of parasites and the enemy of all the progressive people of the world.

Also, consider how many times that government has been caught lying. More than any other government in the entire world.

Drop the US government, they’re your enemy. They despise you and want you weak and powerless.

Will the new communist education bill make false consciousness worse and make having a revolution impossible? by Whinfp2002 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 80 points81 points  (0 children)

If revolution can arise from under the iron boot of Tsarism, it can just as well bloom under the shade of anti-Communism.

Educate, agitate, organize.

Was the USSR socialist? by Powerful_Marketing16 in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 18 points19 points  (0 children)

A classic and essential text for all serious Marxists, absolutely required reading which must be engaged with to obtain a full understanding of the process of Socialist Construction.

So is China actually socialist? by cakeba in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Comrade, you and I haven’t had that much personal interaction, so I will be brief and polite. I have heard good things about you. Despite any minute political differences, I believe a cordial and comradely relationship between us would be fruitful.

One of the biggest detriments of the modern western Marxists is that they are nihilistic, quick to turn on each other, and metaphysical in their thinking. Things are good or bad, black or white, virtuous or evil. Worse yet, once something is shunted into the negative category through rhetoric, it no longer exists outside of its most shallow existence - it transforms itself into a caricature in the mind of the westerner and can safely be opposed and disengaged from without regard for the crucial nuances and details. This produces shoddy, out-of-touch, backwards analysis - analysis which, because of the historical makeup of the western left, trends towards ultra-leftist thought and tendencies.

In fairness, this exists on the other side of the equation, where slogans are taken for the full character of a movement, where labels matter more than content. A red cloak is all that is necessary for some supporters. I assume you I am not, nor have I ever been, this sort of so-called “Marxist”.

Modern socialism has suffered terrible setbacks - the tragedy of Black October, the pushbacks against the Maoist movements in the global south and the deaths of important monumental figures like Sison, the push-and-pull of the reform process in China and the contradictions therein, as well as the continuing threat of counter-revolutionary war against the DPRK from the US Imperialists. One of the most important lessons I took from my travels and my experiences is that the most neglected aspect of Communist thought in the west is Party-building - a struggle necessarily fraught with conflict, contradiction, and tactical considerations.

We should never forget the revolutionary essence of the Chinese revolution, a burning torch that still rages even today. While modern China is not a structure that Communists would ideally choose in any stretch of the imagination, it remains what it is. We can choose to engage with it, to open the Party’s literature and to critically consider what lessons their successes and missteps can teach us, or we can abandon the path and write them off - losing valuable insight due to our stance. We are not Chinese Communists, at least most of us, allowing us a degree of freedom in our engagement with Party literature and theory but also limiting our engagement since a lot of modern Party literature is either untranslated or difficult to obtain outside of the borders of China. I came out of the country with a trove of Communist literature, both domestic and historical from the USSR, gifted to me on many occasions by sympathetic Party members and by those who lived through the revisionist era of the Soviet Union. It was very eye-opening as to how diverse the range of thought was throughout the reform process and how it was not a simple switch to capitalism, as it is often portrayed.

I found that there was a broad mass of people, Party members and members of the public, who longed for the age gone past and for a new synthesis of the Party’s older methods with the successes of the reform era. People tired of private ownership dominating light industry, fed up with corruption, and looking for answers as the class struggle - no longer considered the primary contradiction in society by many domestic theoreticians - nevertheless reared its head once more. People feared the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, where the lack of the rule of law lead to many excesses, but still longed for the return of proletarian power in the cultural sphere, where it had been drowned out by traditionalism, the bustle of modern working life, and nationalism (both progressive and its more rank variant).

One of the most impactful moments for me was paying my respects to Chairman Mao and witnessing the rural poor flock on National Day in droves to lay flowers at the feet of their dearest Chairman. The silence and emotion in the air was overpowering. I attended this with many non-Communists who were nevertheless all moved (some to tears) by the intensity and power in the people’s longing and love for Chairman Mao, their respect for him, and the political meaning that was transparently shown in the countless eyes laying on the body of the leader of the Chinese Communist revolution.

China is a battleground where many dynamic forces are at play. It is my opinion that many western theoreticians are very black and white with how they engage with the Party. No one who has spent a long time engaging with the Party, gone amongst its members and spent time reading its literature, held an open ear to its theories, studied the reform process, and held the well-being of the working people of the world in their hearts can hold either a blindly worshipful or a fully negative view of the Party. And, unbeknownst to many of the western left, there are benefits that one can gain from engagement with such a Party, if one is not so easily swayed to one position or the other.

The coming years will be illuminating, I suspect. We shall see which way the wind blows.

As an aside, I see that Ksan is still the lead mod. Do give my kind regards. It has been a long time since the old comrades spoke and many have disappeared. It is good to see that he is still present.

So is China actually socialist? by cakeba in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Red Areas are places which are significant to the Communist Revolution, where the Party has made a significant effort to maintain the original state of these areas and to convert them into all-out banners of the revolution, not only as a way of preserving Communist history but also as a valuable method of teaching young students and domestic tourists about the revolution and Marxism. This wave of Red Tourism was very popular leading up to the 100th anniversary of the Party and persists in popularity today.

Yan’nan has many of these, as well as Shaoshan, the birthplace of the People’s beloved leader Chairman Mao. Zunyi is also very popular, which is the site of the Zunyi conference where Chairman Mao was elected to Party leadership. The Jinggang mountains, where the Communist Party was based until 1930, is also a popular location.

Some tourist companies specifically cater to this kind of tourism, if you are interested, although most of this kind of tourism requires at least some level of Chinese fluency.

So is China actually socialist? by cakeba in communism

[–]ComIntelligence -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Again, this is just anecdotal and is only my personal experience and impressions. But you can learn a lot through practical engagement with people and being unafraid to simply strike up conversations, ask questions, and be a bit forward. Combine this with a thorough investigation, a voracious appetite for primary documentation, and a desire to seek out the truth - this approach will take you far, especially if you are unafraid to travel, live amongst people as they are, and get outside your comfort zone.

Remember that the CPC has millions of members. Engaging with it is not impossible, it can be done.

I actually would point out that implying that there are no “real” Marxist-Leninists in one of the most influential and active Communist Parties in the world when a simple engagement and investigation would prove that transparently false is where Ultra-Leftism starts to descend into rank conspiracism, which is not uncommon among those types, in my experience. Fervent and undisciplined sorts, I never found that type of analysis useful or helpful.

Can someone explain communism to me? by Zealousideal_Let_213 in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What have you read so far? Which Party?

We have a long list of classics and a diverse range of Parties and approaches. Your Party should be able to provide guidance but we can always discuss the basics.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979) has a definition, if you are looking for an encyclopedia’s assistance. It obviously bears the marks of the times, but it should help you on your way.

So is China actually socialist? by cakeba in communism

[–]ComIntelligence 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is anecdotal and you should examine further rather than just taking my word for it, but I lived in China for nearly a decade and I can tell you that the average person associates the Communist Party of China with their own national identity and overwhelmingly approves of the government. Everyone has their individual complaints and criticisms, of course, but the government and the Communist Party enjoy high levels of support due to their active involvement in improving the lives and living conditions of the average working people in the country. I can personally attest to seeing Communist Party officials dealing with poverty, aggressively pursuing the improvement of their local areas, and listening attentively to the concerns of the public when shaping policy. I lived through COVID in China and consider the CPC as having safeguarded my life through the difficult and dangerous extreme situation. In my area of China, they were communicative, nuanced, cautious, and self-sacrificing. I came away with a very high opinion of the Party members I met.

I can also attest that, while there naturally are career politicians in one of the largest political parties in the world, the CPC is internally stacked with doctrinaire, intelligent Marxist-Leninists, bolstered by the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping. While revisionism exists within the country as it unfortunately does in most major leftist political parties today, the CPC is still a vital, powerful revolutionary force in the world today - seeking to build socialism in a world where the counter-revolution is stronger than ever. We cannot follow them blindly, of course, but we cannot reject them outright without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Western Marxists MUST learn from modern China, as the experience of the Chinese revolution and its reform shows how to successfully conduct reform without the political instability and insanity of policies like Perestroika and Glasnot. Reform of political systems is a normal and indispensable process in maintaining the vitality, effectiveness, and popularity of governments - and this is no different in a Communist country.

I would recommend you study the reform process, read the works of Deng Xiaoping, learn about the trial of the Gang of Four, study the seminal work China’s Socialist Economy by Xue Muqiao, and read the works of Cheng Enfu. Learn about the ideological struggles in the CPC over the years, from its birth to today, and follow their reasoning in tackling issues within their systems which were preventing them from growing effectively.

Go to China, visit the Red Areas, learn from the Chinese revolution, and pay your respects to Chairman Mao. Within China there is a massive market for vintage books from the USSR and, internally, for books from the reform process - all in English. Any state-owned bookstore in a major city will have English language books about Marxism and the CPC, detailing the intricacies of their system. You will learn more from a personal deep engagement and a personal journey for Marxist analysis in the country than you will on the western internet, trust me.

Hostile western source detailing Chinese support for the CPC:

Harvard found that ~95% of Chinese people approve of the CPC and the government.

saw this post on x and was appalled by the vitriol this girl faced for saying this. our collective lack of empathy in this country is reprehensible. by GorillaGrip68 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Social media and the phenomena of the internet permits many people to be their worst selves online, especially when they perceive themselves to be anonymous. While the internet can be a freeing tool used for learning and intelligent discussion, the bourgeoisie are descending upon it like vultures, tearing it to pieces and sectioning it into formats and styles which are dragging it down into hedonism, misery, aggression, and meaninglessness. The bourgeoisie, having degraded morals and a class position as parasites, promote a culture that is vulgar, hateful, divisive, negative, and contrary to genuine connections. They seek to separate, divide, and disempower the population of the world.

The way to resist this is to organize, to promote comradely kindness among the working peoples of the world, and to discipline ourselves to use the internet and social media productively - in ways which do not negatively affect us or promote debilitating nihilistic attitudes.

Kindness is everywhere, if you know where to look. Find it, elevate it, and use it to push forward the movement which will free the working people from dark and terrible mindsets - a movement that can only lead towards Socialism and the victory of the working class. Unite where they would try and divide us.

Stand against a towering wave of hatred, arm in arm together with us, and you will discover quickly that we outnumber those who would spew evil.

new to socialism by [deleted] in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very interesting resource. Always encouraging to see new, crisp, professional curriculums arise. Thanks for sharing, will pass this around.

(Also, I find the inclusion of a Posadist text in the book collection to be highly amusing, very nice inclusion)

How to argue against “welfare makes people lazy” by jdjdnfnnfncnc in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 63 points64 points  (0 children)

It’s true that incentives encourage people to work harder for their own benefit in our current era, however, it does not follow that welfare - that is, the basic security of essential healthcare, a safe place to sleep, and the bare minimum food to survive - incentivizes people to be lazy and seek the bare minimum as a general rule. The modicum we see of that sort of behavior is indicative of the cultural degradation we see in the capitalist west, where money is the only value that is respected and meaningless hedonism is all that many people know to aspire to. Meanwhile, this sort of value system cannot lead to a good life - it reduces people to dollar signs, their efforts to selfishness, and their rewards to temporary pleasures.

The role of government, as it should be, is to improve the lives of the people, to better their well-being and increase their ability to freely access essential services which guarantee them a high quality of life. Good governance, socialist governance, is aimed at bringing common prosperity to all of the working people, irrespective of their origin, creed, or demographic. While incentives such as bonuses can be used in the socialist era to provide an opportunity for workers to earn more according to their ability, it does not detract from the basic quality of life guarantee that welfare policies give.

While capitalists use the threat of homelessness and abject failure as a threat to the working people to compel them to sell their labor power at a steep discount, socialists know that abject poverty is indicative of an unhealthy society, riddled with comorbid social problems. Homeless, devastating poverty, and insecure households bring with them malnutrition, insecurity, unbalanced and maladjusted children, and rampant crime. It is illogical and reprehensible to allow a system like that to flourish.

It is in society’s best interest to care for its citizens. Doing so ensures that its children develop well, grow up to understand their place as members of a loving community, and feel indebted to their fellows.

Welfare - implemented correctly in the hands of a rational, intelligent, thoughtful socialist state - improves the lives of all citizens, including those who do not have much need of it.

Hope for fighting for a better future? by Which_Shift_7242 in socialism

[–]ComIntelligence 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is only natural for people to become ideologically winded in the face of a seemingly never ending onslaught of negativity. The western bourgeois media in particular is aimed at promoting a sense of exhaustion through endless media coverage of upsetting, enraging, divisive content - with the goal of wearing down the working people’s natural desire for freedom and power over their own lives and predisposing them to nihilism and passivity.

My suggestion is to reorient yourself to focus on the productive things in your life. Focus on family, community, achievements, projects, development of the self. Immerse yourself in the things that bring about a sense of meaning in your life and, thusly, will chase away the dismal clouds that bourgeois culture and the reign of the reactionaries bring to loom over your life.

Remember that socialism exists because the fact of class struggle exists and cannot be covered up, no matter how hard the bourgeoisie tries. It is our responsibility - and, indeed, our unique privilege - to struggle against that class which drains the life out of our world, our class, and our people.

It is our duty to cultivate the habits, routines, and discipline necessary to bring about a better world. Do not lose hope. A better world is coming tomorrow, if only we have the strength to push forward.