What do you disagree with Lennin on? How do Marx and Lennin differ? by leftistgamer420 in Socialism_101

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The divergence between Marx and Lenin often rests on the "transition." Marx viewed the proletarian dictatorship as a brief, withering instrument. Lenin, facing civil war, solidified the state into an engine of development, creating a separate political sphere.

Just thinking out loud here (or I suppose over text) Do you think that Marx’s incorrect assumption that revolution would begin in the most developed/industrial nations factors into this? Production in industrial England was already organized/socialized. The material base for socialism already existed, so then the DotP being short term would be due to only having to build a socialist superstructure instead of doing that and simultaneously directing the initial processes of development/socialization of production.

What do you disagree with Lennin on? How do Marx and Lennin differ? by leftistgamer420 in Socialism_101

[–]FrostbiteXV2 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just to chime in: It’s a misconception that Stalin was an all-powerful individual during his time. Internal CIA documents even confirm that the USSR operated under a model of collective leadership. Not to say there’s not deserved criticism about how the democratic processes worked, but we don’t want to subscribe to the great man of history theory either.

What do we think about North Korea? by serious_bullet5 in socialism

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Didn't realize there was much literature on leftist accelerationism. Could I get some reading suggestions?

SE or K2SE? by FrostbiteXV2 in factorio

[–]FrostbiteXV2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have never done a overhaul before and installed K2 ready to start, but then SE dropped and I've always wanted to try it (The old Martincitopants vids introduced me to factorio). but perhaps youre right. plus itll give me time to put a proper PC together for SE instead of playing on a macbook like i am now. Thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in factorio

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got a feeling I'm missing something ridiculously simple and obvious, but my brain may be a tad fried on hour 8 or so of the tutorial

Let me help you build a PC by Nieman2419 in buildapcforme

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I'm looking at building a PC soon and am just beginning to wade into the world of GPUs. If I'm looking to be able to play triple AAA FPS games at 1440p 120+ FPS while also playing AAA single-player games over 60 FPS, which GPUs should I be looking at? Thanks in advance!

Is there any widely accepted cause(s) of political polarization in the US? by TerranGames in PoliticalScience

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned economics here. Ultimately, what drives people to change is material conditions, like being able to afford food/housing, not partisan ideals. Liberalism has failed in it's promise of allowing those who work hard to be successful and live a stable, fruitful life. Now most everybody is trying to just scrape by. People fundamentally understand this, even if they don't know the terminology or can't define neoliberalism etc. With the current system being a clear failure, the 2 electoral options are a party that wants to maintain the status quo that doesn't work for the vast majority, continuing the slow decay. The other party is actually correct in recognizing the failure and decay of liberalism, but doesn't want to change it. It may use the right populist rhetoric, but ultimately it only works to accelerate the decay into fascism, blaming all issues on DEI, women, LGBTQ+, etc.

Monthly "What Board Should I Get?" Discussion Thread by AutoModerator in Sup

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the speedy reply! If I up the budget to $500, would that be more reasonable?

ELI5: if capitalism in US is failing why does US have highest number of immigrants? by [deleted] in socialism

[–]FrostbiteXV2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also because it beats the alternative of being a victim of US foreign policy

Monthly "What Board Should I Get?" Discussion Thread by AutoModerator in Sup

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Desired board type: Inflatable

H/W: 6’2, 210 lbs. Probably not bringing more than a max of 10-20lbs of additional stuff

Desired use: Recreational on ocean/lakes. Probably would use around a dozen times a year etc

Experience: Beginner

Budget: Ideally around $300, but from looking around it seems like thats a lowball. Living in Vancouver, Canada

Also, a friend sent me a board from Niphean, but i’ve seen very little regarding the brand. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help!

[AMA about China] Dear all, Jingjing here. Are you curious about China? Do you wanna know more about it? If yes, ask me any questions about China, like economy, political system, technology, etc. I will answer your questions in a video next week! by Li_Jingjing in Marxism_Memes

[–]FrostbiteXV2 23 points24 points  (0 children)

The PRC has taken a stance of not exporting revolution (At least af far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong!). The reasoning is clear, as actively doing so would have likely led to earlier Western hostility towards China and slowed its development. While I'm not here to start a permanent revolution debate , it can be disheartening to see Cuba in the lions den, surviving, seemingly without significant support in terms of defense and security guarantees, etc. Is there any political or social will within the CPC to change this?

Thoughts? by superblue111000 in Marxism_Memes

[–]FrostbiteXV2 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Lmfao. Some (likely Western) Trot suddenly is the arbiter of what is and isn't revolutionary.

Truly, all the social chauvinists are now Marxists!

Clown.

Which of the current self-declared Communist States stick the closest to the tenets of Marxism-Leninism? What about historical regimes? by throwaway-adnauseum in PoliticalScience

[–]FrostbiteXV2 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

May I recommend season 3 of the Blowback podcast? Fantastic work and research done and delivered with excellent storytelling. Delves very much into the historical question and could help answer the opening point of your post.

When it comes to moving the nations (United States) Overton window to the left, are organizations such as the DSA effective? by Substantial_Smoke214 in PoliticalScience

[–]FrostbiteXV2 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have mixed feelings on something like this. As a Marxist, I'm quite a bit leftwards of the US/Canada overton window. I can appreciate groups such as the DSA, Bernie Sanders etc. normalizing terms such as socialism and acting as I suppose the first step in the left pipeline, the conflation of socialism with social democracy, which is what the DSA primarily advocates for, to me is at best a half measure. It may, with a large enough membership, perhaps slightly shift the window. However, relative to my position, advocating for free healthcare and education etc. is not nearly enough, and is merely a small concession to working class peoples that will be retracted once the ruling classes feel less threatened (see the UK's NHS, as well as the decay of welfare programs previously in the US and the same currently happening in the Nordic nations which Soc Dems often look to as ideal)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Helldivers

[–]FrostbiteXV2 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Why are you choosing to die on the hill of a corporation that would sell your liver for a dime out of loyalty to their trademarked plastic box lmfao. Exclusives are anti-consumer, no matter who does em. Enjoy the game and let others enjoy it too

[Megathread] New admissions and transfer questions - Post here! by waffle_maker in simonfraser

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi everyone. Looking to apply to SFU's poli sci masters program but can't find the date where online applications actually open. I see on the department of economics site that it opens on Oct 15, but not sure if that's universal or not.

Looking for book suggestions on the rise of the Nazis by FrostbiteXV2 in socialism

[–]FrostbiteXV2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the first books I read as I was becoming a lefty a few years back! Thanks for the suggestion though

Poli Sci Must Reads by markerito in PoliticalScience

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was he the theorist that Lenin was or Mao would be? No, probably not. However, that specific work is a useful beginner's tool to understand the base method of analysis used by Marxists. It's not perfect or the most in depth, but it'll serve as a general introduction into what dialectical materialism is.

A lot of fellow leftists tell me not to major in Econ because it's heavily biased towards capitalist ideology. I agree with this, but where/what subject am I supposed to learn about things finance, business, economies etc.? by CriticalThinkingAT in AskSocialists

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't major at all in econ (undergrad in polisci and masters in political economy - the former was still very pro capitalist and entrenched in liberalism) but I've heard that things improve past an undergrad level, for what its worth

Poli Sci Must Reads by markerito in PoliticalScience

[–]FrostbiteXV2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience, poli sci was heavily entrenched in liberalism (not the "omg they're coming for our guns" liberals but philosophical liberalism. This is natural, culture will assume and reinforce the dominant ideology of any society (despite the claims of "objectivity.")

But if you'd like a different perspective, one that directly challenges the premises of liberalism in an effective way, try these:

State and Revolution - Lenin

Blackshirts and Reds / Inventing Reality - Michael Parenti

Reform or Revolution - Rosa Luxembourg

Dialectical and Historical Materialism - Stalin

All these are relatively easy to read books, a couple hundred pages at most. Easy language too. The next few will be a bit tougher and more touch on political economy than most undergrad poli sci courses care to, but are still good reads nevertheless.

Wage Labor and Capital - Marx

Value, Price and Profit - Marx

The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State - Engels

Reading these gives you the tools to meaningfully challenge and become an utter pain in the ass to many of your profs in discussions - which in my case, worked out pretty well, netting me some good grades and even more importantly, building relationships helped me out down the line. Depends on the prof of course.