Bourgeois, capitalist and Imperialist ideology and practice has crept into the ranks of the socialist political contingent. Socialist or not, everyone ought to realize that much of what is considered to be beliefs of the radical left are simply Western cultural norms that weak willed leftists have adopted in a pathetic display of conformism to decadent and immoral western ideals. I feel a responsibility to clarify that there are big debates of which American socialist organizations have had the folly to identify as being leftist- non leftist issues. The Socialist Party of America and Democratic Socialists of America go so far as to place these issues in their socialist political platform. I believe that they are abandoning the cause of true leftism and socialism and are ostracizing socialists who may not agree with their twisted interpretations of these issues. I will address one issue, here, that is particularly galling to me. 1. The pro-life/ pro-choice debate- Being a socialist in no way implies that one must be pro-choice. However, major American socialist organizations have Pro-choice ideology and demands written into their political platforms. This is an absolute travesty. First, a socialist may well interpret the ideal of radical human equality in a pro-life manner. (I do and I am not alone.) 2.Second, governments of the far left have often outlawed abortion. (USSR, Cuba) 3. Many socialists are secular atheists, but many socialists actually believe in socialist ideology because of their interpretation of their religious faith. Many Christian Socialists advocate the same economic structure that a secular socialist does but do not feel that their socialist convictions should lead them to pro-choice beliefs. In fact it is quite possible for a leftist (And here I mean the actual meaning of leftist) to be a pro-life thinker. Indeed, I feel that my support of the life movement is far more consistent with true socialist theory and ideology than if I subscribed to the choice movement. I strongly believe that the inclusion of choice ideology in socialist, organizational political platforms is conforming to a structure of Western Imperialism. Socialism claims to have goals that can unite the exploited all across the world. Third-World socialist ideology contains nothing of this issue and in many cultures, equating pro choice beliefs with socialist ones would be completely foreign and even offensive. Stop the imperialism. Socialists are about economic justice for all not about lining up with the Libertine and immoral practices of a morally bankrupt western culture.
Defining Liberalism By Validation Boy http://www.politicalforum.com/political-opinions-beliefs/265404-defining-liberalism.html
I obviously agree with some of those distinctions. This post was really meant to air out a particular issue that is offensive to me as a leftist. Even people who claim to be socialists don't seem to understand half the time.
On the OP 1. Pro life socialism is a conundrum. A perfectly balanced socialist state would by its own goals, be forced into implementing controls on the rate of new births. If one were to say it would be good to expand the population for a gain in that society's productivity, one would have to recognize the matter of resources. Imperialism is expansion. Thus, War/Conflict is itself raw Leftism at its defining apex. Expansion. If you want to believe a true non-authoritarian Socialist State can exist in this world, all I can tell you is... Four legs good, Two legs bad.
That is a blanket generalization of how socialist economic structure and resource allocation operates. It is, also, not consistent with a decent amount of historical socialist practice in certain governments.
Four legs good, Two legs bad. Small governments are nothing more than Imperial colonies. Besides that, neither history, nor the news are absolute realities.
Oh, what a joke. Come on, Hollande is not socialist. Putin is more Socialist than Hollande just by not being a piece of (*)(*)(*)(*).
The left was no uniform stance on abortions. American socialists sound like European ones of the 80's , 20 years more or less before they converted to neoliberalism . Socialism and communism like most political theories are binded to cultural elements , an Asian or an African communist will never agree with me in issues outside the very basic .
http://www.myfoxnepa.com/dpp/entertainment/dpgo_jon_stewart_most_trusted_newsman_lwf_072309_2699900 when I think of socialism, I think of the republican dream... http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-29-2013/america-2--now-with-more-freedom http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/t...--now-with-more-freedom---glenn-beck-s-utopia
Never argued that history or news are absolute realities. However, your speculative interpretation of what socialist countries must necessarily do is even further from an absolute reality. You act is if your point about abortion is a part of established socialist dogma and not a particularized interpretation of available theory.
I agree there is no uniform doctrine. Absolutely. However, I am concerned that your point is to argue that in the American context, abortion rights are an established part of the socialist movement. I have come to see that this is objectively true. However, normatively, I have strong objections to it. I do not believe a communist or socialist party should have, as part of a core platform, elements that are not born out of established socialist theory. Further, this stance being labelled by certain socialists as a stance that a good socialist should take has the potential effect of ostracizing and turning away legitimate socialists who do not want abortion rights to be crammed down their throats as part of a proposed socialist restructure. American socialists should focus on actual socialist issues if they want to have a social impact.
It is not easy to play the political game without following the ways mainstream political parties establish so i guess socialists will have to explain their positions on guns, abortions , immigration and the rest of the social issues. For socialists this is very easy to do , i mean since socialism means power to the people all such issues should be decided in state or even country / prefecture level . There you have it , clean words that don't turn anyone with half a brain away.
