Long Live the Revolution!

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Of course there is not much to talk about, since it failed.

As Zhou Enlai noted, we cannot even fully state the outcome of the French Revolution yet, who dares to speak about the result of the collapse of socialism in Europe?

 

[Dachs]

As Zhou Enlai noted, we cannot even fully state the outcome of the French Revolution yet, who dares to speak about the result of the collapse of socialism in Europe?

this is like saying that Darth Bane caused the Clone Wars

 

[Murky]

Have you considered finding a smaller country and joining in a revolution there? Like Che Guevara did? The chances of a communist revolution taking hold in a country where most of the population is capitalist isn't good.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

this is like saying that Darth Bane caused the Clone Wars

My point was that events have long-reaching consequences, such that their full impact might not be recognized for many years. The French Revolution "failed" too, and CH's comments might well be attributed to someone in the 1820s or 30s looking back at republicanism. But would anyone doubt today the influence that event exerted upon world history? Perhaps a hundred years from now, we will look at the "failure" of Russian socialism the same way. It is too soon to say.

Have you considered finding a smaller country and joining in a revolution there? Like Che Guevara did? The chances of a communist revolution taking hold in a country where most of the population is capitalist isn't good.

I don't believe in socialism in one country's capacity to create socialism in one country, so no, I haven't considered it. We are already where the only battle that matters must be fought.

 

[Dachs]

My point was that events have long-reaching consequences, such that their full impact might not be recognized for many years. The French Revolution "failed" too, and CH's comments might well be attributed to someone in the 1820s or 30s looking back at republicanism. But would anyone doubt today the influence that event exerted upon world history? Perhaps a hundred years from now, we will look at the "failure" of Russian socialism the same way. It is too soon to say.

that's quite a step down from what you said earlier

note that I am not one of the people saying that any of the revolutions you mentioned were irrelevant or whatever

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

that's quite a step down from what you said earlier

I think you just misunderstood me. I wasn't trying to conflate the two events.

 

[Antilogic]

Founded the world's largest religion, AD and BC, nothing to spectacular about Him.

He is also alive. Nothing spectacular about that.

Considering it is widely believed he came back, I'd count that as a win, not a failure.

So Jesus failed so hard he used a cheat code to get an extra guy? omfg wtf jesus haxx

 

[DemonicAppleGuY]

So Jesus failed so hard he used a cheat code to get an extra guy? omfg wtf jesus haxx

Basically.

 

[Borachio]

If that's a haxx, it shouldn't be too hard to do.

 

[Tahuti]

Spoiler :

Essentially, your argument boils down to: "It's more than my religion, it's the only way to live! But the enemies of the Compass I can't forgive!"

 

[amadeus]

Cheezy ought to be glad with the result in Minneapolis, even though Moore lost. I wonder how long it'll be before the remaining downtown businesses get enough sense to drop the city like a hot potato.

 

[Ajidica]

I, for one, welcome the arrival of our new Bolshevik Overlords in the Frozen Wastes of Minnesota.
I can't get too worried about it though, we are way too passive aggressive to make good revolutionaries.

 

[ReindeerThistle]

There are two Minnesotan Bolsheviks in my group! But far more Ohioans!



We'll get there!

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Btw, I still intend to post on the GDR and Marx, just got struck with a really bad case of a cold on the weekend and now things which need to be done are pilling up while I am mostly feeling like "Nah, let's take a nap first".

 

[Kaitzilla]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/11/venezuela-seizes-stores/3497003/

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro intensified his perceived fight Monday against "bourgeois parasites" he accuses of an economic war against the socialist country by threatening to force more stores to sell their merchandise at cut-rate prices.

National guardsmen, some of whom had assault rifles, were positioned around outlets of an electronics chain that Maduro has ordered to lower prices or face prosecution. Thousands of people lined up at the Daka stores hoping for a bargain after the government forced the companies to charge "fair" prices.

"I want a Sony plasma television for the house," said Amanda Lisboa, 34, a business administrator who waited seven hours outside a Caracas Daka store, similar to Best Buy. "It's going to be so cheap!"

Five managers of electronic retailers including Daka are being threatened with prosecution for unjustifiable price hikes, the Venezuela government said. More stores may be at risk, as well. Government inspectors were dispatched to check prices at an array of other businesses.

"This is for the good of the nation," Maduro said, referring to the military's occupation of Daka. "Leave nothing on the shelves, nothing in the warehouses … Let nothing remain in stock!"

Maduro said his seizures are the "tip of the iceberg" and that other stores would be next if they did not comply with his orders. Maduro is expected to win decree powers in Congress in the coming days that he says will be used to take over more businesses.

The assault against business comes amid a severe shortage of basic goods and extreme inflation, which is currently at an annual rate of 54.3%. Both are tied to policies of the government, which is boosting public spending and printing money in record amounts to pay for it.

Venezuela's central bank said the country's money supply grew 70% in the past year. As a result, the value of the Venezuela bolivar continues to drop at a time when the country must import increasing amounts of basics like food and even toilet paper due to failed state schemes for running the economy.

For Venezuelans, it costs more bolivars every week to buy from stores that must pay the foreign producers of goods they order in hard currency like U.S. dollars. But Maduro blames it on greedy business and his opponents here and abroad.

Socialism always confuses me.
Is this considered good news or bad news in Venezuela?

 

[Traitorfish]

Have you considered finding a smaller country and joining in a revolution there? Like Che Guevara did? The chances of a communist revolution taking hold in a country where most of the population is capitalist isn't good.

What do you understand "communist revolution" to entail, exactly?

 

[ReindeerThistle]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/11/venezuela-seizes-stores/3497003/



Socialism always confuses me.
Is this considered good news or bad news in Venezuela?

Try this article on for size...

Maduro Strikes against Speculators, Proposes Profit Limits in Venezuela

ByEWAN ROBERTSON

Mérida, 11thNovember 2013 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – President Nicolas Maduro has proposed setting maximum profit margins for businesses across the Venezuelan economy following the discovery of “grotesque” overpricing in the electric appliance sector.

The speculative practices were revealed last week after authorities inspected the pricing structures of chain stores selling electronic and household appliances. Like many businesses in Venezuela, these stores import goods from abroad using dollars granted by the government at the fixed rate (US $1 = 6.3 bolivars) and then sell these goods to local consumers.
However these stores, including the country’s largest electronic appliance chain Daka, were found to be marking-up products by up to 1200% from the import cost, charging consumers what President Madruo called “grotesque prices”.

Officials cited one example of a washing machine which cost 4,200 bolivars to import at the official exchange rate being offered for sale at 47,000 bolivars. The current monthly minimum wage is 4,137 bolivars,including food tickets.
In response, on Friday Maduro announced the temporary occupation of the Daka chain and the enforced sale of all its goods at a “fair price” related to their import cost. Other electronics chains such as JVG also had to open their doors and sell their products at a significantly reduced price.

Various managers of the Daka chain were arrested for their alleged role in the affair. Control of the stores will be returned to company owners once the goods have been sold, although regular price inspections will continue.
The announcement resulted in long queues outside stores as consumers sought to take advantage of the lower prices, with the National Guard and other authorities maintaining order.
However damages and looting were reported to have occurred in one Daka store in the city of Valencia on Saturday morning when some people forced entry into the shop. The Attorney General condemned the incident, and reported that arrests had been made.

The government has informed citizens that those who bought domestic or electric appliances at the speculative prices have the right to their money back.

“Each person who was robbed by those grotesque prices will get their money back, which belongs to the working person,” President Maduro said from the presidential palace in Caracas yesterday.
Maduro also proposed that if granted temporary enabling law-making powers by parliament he will implement a limit on profit margins on sectors across the Venezuelan economy.

“Economic freedom means that I produce and sell with a minimal profit and I respect the consumer. Furthermore I receive the dollar that the state gives me, I bring the product and I sell it at a fair price, and I don’t add an extra 1000% of grotesque profit,” he explained.
Further, the Venezuelan head of state proposed tougher sanctions for those engaged in price speculation using state granted dollars, including prison sentences, saying that such individuals “are robbing the people”.
In the televised address to the nation, the president also confirmed that apackage of reforms
will come into effect this week to attempt to tackle shortages and price speculation.
These include a beefed-up price inspection force, the new state-run National Corporation of Logistics and Transport to aid the supply of goods to factories and stores, and the new National Centre of Foreign Commerce to better coordinate the allocation of foreign currency to businesses and individuals....

So, yeah, this is a good thing...

 

[DemonicAppleGuY]

And they wonder why they have a shortage of goods!

 

[Tahuti]

So, yeah, this is a good thing...

You obviously miss the point: Say what you like about profits, but expecting "bourgeois parasites" to sell products at loss is just plain ludicrous. As if Maduro was a GOP agent who conducts a faux socialist experiment so Republicans can use the term 'Socialism' as a curse word.

 

[ReindeerThistle]

Nah. I get the point. Don't forget, I come from an old money Southern family. I know all about profit.

Corporations are not people....

Besides, Bourgeois scum can always come to America, like Capriles did, to gouge.