this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 hours ago

I simultaneously miss and don’t miss reading posts by Trump Supporters on Reddit.

It’s nice to read comments from the other side, even if those comments are batshit insane.

[–] phoenixz 1 points 6 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago

Need to count the number of "fascists" per posts to get an accurate determination

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 hours ago

I'm a Marxist-Leninist, so yes. I think you'll find most people on Lemmy in general fall into the major categories of "Liberal," as in the US Democrat style, Anarchists, and Marxists. Different instances lean in different directions on this, with overall few outright conservatives.

[–] Tiger666 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Do you advocate seizing the means of production and are a worker? If not, then you are not a leftist.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 hours ago

You can be "left wing" without being a "leftist". I wouldn't classify them as the same, personally. Left wing really includes anyone left of center

[–] [email protected] 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

The actual left wing, the something socialists something are partly on hexbear.org and lemmygrad.ml. And they are called tankies and blocked on lemmy.world. So how left wing can most people here be? The thing is that "left" has become synonymous with (neo)liberal values. Like there doesn't have to be a free, independent press or social media and them being owned by capitalists is just fine.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Hexbear isn't socialist. It's a group of assholes defending China and Russia, denying the Uyghur genocide and the aggression of Ukraine

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The problem is that over the last decade any nuanced opinions on those topics has become less and less "politically correct". And that is the correct term, anyone who isn't politically correct and in line with the liberal mainstream opinion (= imperialist propaganda by the US state department and think tanks) must by definition by a paid shills of Putin, China or Trump. There are those people of course, but the dynamic has become more and more polarized and steeped in conspiratorial thinking. And that is by "design". It's profitable and it serves the US imperial agenda and it's easier to avoids the frustration of talking to trolls and fascists - just paint everyone of a different opinion with the same brush.

I mean you can't even talk about talking about it, like not seeing those people as anything but "assholes". The range of allowable opinions has drastically narrowed. It's not even liberal in the modern sense of the word. People are too scared to be liberal any more.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

...saying china is a democracy, or good, the kind of thing I hear these types saying is just as propagandized a take. That's the issue...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

This comes a bit down to utilitarianism vs ethics based on principles. But that's a lie, it's really about who has power.

I'm just watching a video by Majority Report where he talks about the question "Why is democracy is good" which the Democrats sort of fucked up in the election. And he makes a pretty painful point that it's a "show me, don't tell me" question. If you live in a democracy and constantly exploited, overworked, fucked over, in terror of economic hardship or terror attacks, harassed by police, then what is the point? What is the benefit? I'm not making the point that democracy is bad, but that a shell of a democracy, a fake, is leading especially the "dirtbag left" to adopt a pretty hostile posture.

So what is the actual quality of life in China vs the USA? What are the actual material benefits looking at living in an apartment, working, raising children and living a peaceful life?

How do YOU know that life in China isn't actually better and people more happy than in the USA? I don't believe that is true but it's a valid question. Of course China has massive problems and corruption and abuses. But there are a billion people there that were on a medieval level after WWII. The CCP has massively invested in e.g. education and healthcare and infrastructure.

Or compare quality of life in China vs democratic India. Similar can be said about Iran, 55% of University graduates were women. But it's painted as black and white.

Sure you have freedom of speech with the means of communication owned and controlled by the oligarchs. And you can say whatever you want on reddit and get downvoted to hell - which goes to my previous point, that the propaganda is so internalized and polarized now that you don't need threats of state violence to keep the population in check.

So those opinions are not just for fun. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer is an aphorism that is leading the west inevitably towards fascism. So all the "posturing" about how superior our principles and freedums are is just... well it's a delusion. It's happening right now. They are stealing your future right now and there is nothing you can do because they control the media.

But still the socialists are completely rejected and banned from the largest lemmy instances.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

This comes a bit down to utilitarianism vs ethics based on principles

No, it doesn't. Either one, democracy is still better... Science does best with freedom from suppression.

I'm not making the point that democracy is bad

You are, in fact, making that point

which goes to my previous point, that the propaganda is so internalized and polarized now that you don't need threats of state violence to keep the population in check

Social suppression is a world apart from state suppression, and downvotes on reddit are not an example of keeping people in check. that's a terminally online viewpoint.

Of course China has massive problems and corruption and abuses

They are literally a dictatorship. That's an incredible understatement.

How do YOU know that life in China isn't actually better and people more happy than in the USA?

They are actively commiting genocide.

Sure you have freedom of speech with the means of communication owned and controlled by the oligarchs

There's plenty of options for uncontrolled communication. Corp suppression is still wholly different from gov suppression;they can't toss you in jail.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer is an aphorism that is leading the west inevitably towards fascism.

That's your opinion, and does not reflect reality.

Your response to a trend toward fascism(which is happening, but not inevitable), is to say we should embrace it like china does?

They are stealing your future right now and there is nothing you can do because they control the media.

Are you intentionally being obtuse about the fact that china has massive censorship. I'm not here to say the usa is good. You're ignoring European reality, favoring the usa in your arguments because it's closer to supporting them.

So all the "posturing" about how superior our principles and freedums are is just... well it's a delusion

We objectively speaking have more freedom of speech than china does at the present moment.

But still the socialists are completely rejected and banned from the largest lemmy instances.

Tankies. Not socialists. Socialists are often speaking and getting upvoted.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 12 hours ago

Last time I took the political compass test, I was center-right, firmly in the libertarian quadrant, exactly in the sub-section labeled "libertarian".

That means my political stances align 100% against the Republican party and authoritarianism in general.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Some of us are simply europeans.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 12 hours ago

A right wing European is still a little bit too liberal for MAGA

[–] imvii 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I'm Canadian. I support social programs and humanist programs. I support regulation of business so they don't abuse their positions of power over people and to curb their habit of doing bad things in the name of more profit. I'm for taxing those with hordes of cash and giving the struggling worker a break. I support people to have the freedom to be who they want to be (gay, straight, trans, etc) as long as they aren't hurting other people (IE pedos don't get to harm children because they "were born that way" or god said it was cool). I support protecting the land, water and animals. I think Trump is a cunt.

I'm probably pretty left-wing.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

Why even lump pedos in the same sentence with the gays

This is an age-old hurtful stereotype. I'm hoping you don't believe there's any connection, because I have heard that before from bigots in my life and it just makes me see red. Same as the whole "homophobes are just closeted gays let's point that out as if it's a sickness".

I'm just tryin to exist, not be considered "harmful" to anyone

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

I'd call myself a liberal but not left wing

[–] [email protected] 38 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

I believe all life have value, no matter what.

I believe in justice and equality.

I believe in the rule if law.

I believe in democracy.

I believe in the freedom of speech.

I believe in religious freedom.

I believe no one should go hungry.

I believe no one should freeze.

I believe no one should die from preventable diseases.

I believe everyone has a right to education.

I believe everyone has a right to healthcare.

I believe everyone has a right to participate in society and the internet.

I believe everyone should contribute if they can, because that is fair.

I believe people should be able to retire.

I believe most people are good, and want to do good.

I believe in cooperation, and working towards a common goal.

I believe that all people should have a minimum set of rights, that are non-negotiable.

I trust my neighbours, my family and strangers.

Based on these values I could be placed anywhere from center-right to far-left in Europe.

In the US I am a filthy commie

[–] jerkface 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I believe all life have value, no matter what.

I am also vegan.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

I am unfortunately not. It was more meant as a way to say that for instance criminals (yes, even the worst ones) have value. That they deserve to live and have a decent life, no matter what.

That immigrants and asylum seekers should be treated with respect and given the help they need.

But also that animals have value. The way a lot of animals are treated is in no way acceptable.

I have tried being a vegetarian in the past, but have failed every time.

Sorry to disappoint. I wish I was better.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 20 points 22 hours ago

if by left-wing you mean i think more than 3 months ahead, then yes.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 18 hours ago

I'm just hungry dude

[–] [email protected] 9 points 20 hours ago

I'd consider myself liberal, but I embrace some traits considered leftist in some areas (universal healthcare, free education) and right in others (restrict immigration based on key economic and educational indicators, deport criminals).

[–] [email protected] 9 points 21 hours ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 16 hours ago

Ehhh. Eh?

Lefty Lemmy. Liberal Reddit.

Seems more the take. Reddit has a small vocal conservative minority.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 20 hours ago

Slashers slashdot

[–] [email protected] 7 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Most people are progressives.

The only disconnect is messaging and image.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Most people are progressives where? Im really not sure this is the case when what constitutes a “progressive” view changes from place to place.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

So then the answer to my question would be “The USA”. You should note the USA is not “most people”.

My follow up question is if most people are progressive why have we never had a progressive POTUS in the last 75 years?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Electoral college, propaganda, tribalism, stupid people.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Which suggests we aren’t that progressive

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

Man you really have to do some gymnastics to keep believing this dumb ass shit.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm Independent, but cannot support Republicans anymore ... so I guess I'm a Democrat that hates gun control.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 day ago

if you go far enough left, you get your guns back. :)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 22 hours ago

Yes, this site is very left-leaning. I have seem plenty of moderate opinions downvoted because they are centrist or centre-right, and the anti-Trump, anti-Elon and anti-USA sentiment is deservedly heavy right now.

Keep that in mind when reading comments, this place is a bit of an echo chamber at the moment.

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