Hi! I am a stranger on this instance, I have read a lot of warnings about the “tankie triad”, but wanted to see for myself and keep an open mind.

I watched this video, and it made me want to take a deep dive into socialism/communism, with as much objectivity as I can. https://youtu.be/BeRjTtKFlVM

I understand how capitalism works, and I have doubts that it is a sustainable system for society long term, but social democracy has been a good way of keeping capitalism in-check in Norway. So even if capitalism is not ideal, it is in theory possible to tax the rich more and keep the whole thing going in the future. I also understand the exploitation and the extraction of surplus value, rent seeking etc.

Other capitalist countries such as the US is currently struggling with basic human needs. And that is “the shining beacon of capitalism”.

In Norway it has for a long time been common to use the US as an example of what not to do.

What I am interested in learning is how society would operate and function under socialism / communism. More about the differences. Preferably from less dry sources than The Capital from Marx. Where can I learn more? Preferably a bit entertaining.

It is important to me that it is historically accurate and factually correct.

Look forward to your replies 😊

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
    122·
    13 days ago

    The reason Marxists take issue with “tankie” is that it’s just the “pinko” or “commie” of the 21st century. The purpose of it is just to be an anticommunist pejorative in a manner that pretends there is a group of “good” Marxists and “bad” Marxists, the good Marxists of course being the same as the Ubisoft portrayal of Marx in Assassin’s Creed.

    The reality is that the Red Scare factually exists, and that it has shaped what is considered mainstream history in Western Countries despite lack of hard evidence. The Marxists that push back against some of the more egregious myths from the Red Scare (which never ended, I might add) are not doing so in order to lie to people, or defend repression, but to get an accurate look at Socialism as it exists in the real world so it can be judged accurately.

    In short, “tankie” is just a way for anti-communists to pretend to only oppose a fictional caricature of Communists while supporting “true Communists,” who are free from sin and pure. The reality is that it just serves to distort and silence the real, reasonable and rational claims from Marxists, and demonize them, as the people genuinely fitting the term “tankie” do not exist.

    Consider reading Nia Frome’s “Tankies.”