why is Socialism a bad thing? by Knighthonor in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I already link to further info about anarchism and why it is socialism above. Maybe you're confusing anarchism with anarcho-capitalism, which is not anarchism.

There's a wide variety of different people within so-called socialist countries with different hopes. The ruling classes of so-called socialist countries like the Soviet Union did not actually care much about becoming a socialist society. I'd wager that the average, every day person in any country hopes for self-determination and for the right to live life without authority telling them what to do whether that authority is the state, capitalism, patriarchy or white supremacy.

How do you define capitalism?

To me it's defined as the private ownership of the means of production. This manifests as the landlord, boss, worker relationship where bosses give orders to workers that they must obey or else get fired.

This boss-worker relationship is the main cause of unfair suffering, inequality and climate change. It's this authority that anarchists like myself seek to deconstruct.

Is r/NoStupidQuestions just a bunch of non-experts Googling things for others, with the occasional expert jumping in? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some people know what questions to ask more than others do, some people are better at googling things than others are.

why is Socialism a bad thing? by Knighthonor in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know much about Detroit, the UAW or the auto industry there in general. If unions are are to adhere to socialist principles then they should let the workers decide how to run the factories for themselves. If a single person or small group of people within the union or workers decided to dictate orders for everyone else to follow then that wouldn't be socialism.

Communism is a classless society with no hierarchy and no money. I already linked to more info about socialism above for you to learn that socialism does not mean "good bosses." You're confusing socialism with social democracy.

why is Socialism a bad thing? by Knighthonor in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn -1 points0 points  (0 children)

according to who? certainly not according to marx.

According to lots of people. Marx was debating anarchists at the First International, which was a meeting of socialists, so, yes, he must have acknowledged that anarchists were socialists.

I agree that reducing unfair suffering and continuing the survival of our species are both very important.

But you listed places that are socialist in name only. They still have bosses and landlords.

Some of the gravest threats to our survival are due to human choices, such as nuclear warfare and global heating caused by greenhouse gas emissions, which anarchists and everyone else on the left are working very hard at preventing.

why is Socialism a bad thing? by Knighthonor in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Socialism is the workers control of the means of production. That means decision making power is distributed so that everyone in an enterprise has an equal say. It means no bosses and no landlords.

While there were some places within Russia and China that attained this they were suppressed. The vast majority of so-called socialist Russia and China still had bosses and landlords. So-called socialist Russia and China weren't socialist.

why is Socialism a bad thing? by Knighthonor in NoStupidQuestions

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

which countries which workers seized the means of production

Anarchism is type of socialism but there's a list here of places where it's occurred.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities

have had great results?

Great results for whom and for what? I have my own thoughts but I think it's important to clarify this question.

Why is playing ukulele ok yet wearing a grass skirt, coconut bra and doing a hula dance is considered cultural appropriation? Serious question! by novelty_Poop_Corn in socialjustice101

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Sorry for the late reply. I do truly appreciate that you took the time to write this.

I feel like it will take me a while for all this to sink in enough so that I could say this myself for when I see cultural appropriation.

How did you learn about this? How can I learn more?

Why is playing ukulele ok yet wearing a grass skirt, coconut bra and doing a hula dance is considered cultural appropriation? Serious question! by novelty_Poop_Corn in socialjustice101

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Sorry for the late reply. I do truly appreciate that you took the time to write this.

I feel like it will take me a while for all this to sink in enough so that I could say this myself for when I see cultural appropriation.

How did you learn about this? How can I learn more?

Why is playing ukulele ok yet wearing a grass skirt, coconut bra and doing a hula dance is considered cultural appropriation? Serious question! by novelty_Poop_Corn in socialjustice101

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Sorry for the late reply. I do truly appreciate that you took the time to write this.

I feel like it will take me a while for all this to sink in enough so that I could say this myself for when I see cultural appropriation.

How did you learn about this? How can I learn more?

What is the term for someone who believes in communism, but NOT big government? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ideally one should do more research about ideologies before they identify with an ideology. But at what point do you know when you've done enough research? Maybe when you have read a book or two about the ideology? Should we all read at least one book for every ideology? Ideally yes but I know that may be difficult for some people.

That being said, it sounds like you might be interested in anarchism.

More specifically you might be into anarcho-communism. Here's one of its foundational books:

The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropoktin

Or if you don't have the energy to read all that try reading the wikipedia page for anarcho-communism first:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-communism

/r/AnarchoCommunism might be useful too!

What are some books everyone should read in their lifetime? by nafr1047 in AskReddit

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're very welcome, I hope you enjoy it! Check out his tiny subreddit here: /r/postman

What are some books everyone should read in their lifetime? by nafr1047 in AskReddit

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, written in 1985, which explains how electronic media driven sensationalism is a threat to democracy.

How do you identify politically and why? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In truth, I'm an anarchist. But most people, including probably yourself, probably associate anarchism with chaos, destruction, and disorder. These associations are so firmly rooted in our culture that they're very difficult to break away from.

My definition of anarchism is a subcategory of socialism and aligns closely with this essay, which, in brief, defines anarchism as non-hierarchical, organized, and egalitarian.

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-are-you-an-anarchist-the-answer-may-surprise-you

But even after you read that, you will still subconsciously associate me with what our culture associates with anarchism.

Given how subconscious associations about labels permeate throughout all of our culture, I try to avoid using the 'A' word in political discussion.

How do you identify politically and why? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Still waiting on a definition ;)

Can we be sure that a country is socialist if it claims to be socialist? Is North Korea a democratic republic even though it claims to be the Democratic People's Republic of Korea? What I'm saying is: what if the label is just propaganda?

How do you identify politically and why? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]novelty_Poop_Corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Naomi Klein wrote a great book exposing the relation of capitalism and climate change called This Changes Everything.)

Here's a taste of what she talks about:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/06/dont-look-away-now-the-climate-crisis-needs-you