The Offtopicgrad Soviet: A Place to Discuss All Things Red

Cheezy the Wiz

Socialist In A Hurry
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
25,238
Location
Freedonia
Greetings to all!

I would like to welcome you all to what I hope to be the first in many serial threads to come: the Soviet. The words soviet (совет) means "council" in Russian. While anything might be called a council, the word bears special significance as the formations of workers and peasants' deputies during the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917. It was a place of democracy, of lively discussion, and of grassroots politics. I hope this can be something similar.

The purpose of this thread is simple: to serve as a companion thread to the acclaimed Ask A Red series. While it is the general attitude of the AAR cadres that discussion and topics should be highly regulated within the confines of that thread, here the goal is opposite: discuss whatever you wish, so long as it's vaguely related to communism or socialism. This should draw much of the off-topic discussions in AAR, such that it can maintain its purity as a strictly question and answer thread for people to learn about the opinions and positions of communists, such as they disdain to conceal. In the future, encroachments upon that policy can expect a redirecting link to this thread.

Accordingly, there are no designated participants in this thread. All are welcome, on either side of the table.

The only reason I have marked this as Red Diamond is in expectation of the coming re-merger of the forums, so that it can maintain a bit more order than the average bar brawl. However, that being said, I wish to encourage both lively and critical debate, so long as it remains civil. Policing will be minimal, but I want it to be understood that this is no more an "I can't help myself but go yell at Reds where ever I see them" thread than Ask A Red was.

All that being said, let the debate commence!

 
I'll gladly join as a Russian, Soviet sympathizer, apologist of communism , ultra-nationalist and evil person in general :)
 
Moderator Action: If we can help, just let us know.
 
Are you guys familiar with any red works on the Partai Komunis Indonesia?
 
Do you think the USSR was a par, subpar or above par manifestation of communism?
 
Great idea Cheezy! There is often the desire to discuss things more in depth than simply asking questions and receiving answers. This will give novices like me the opportunity to explore and better grasp what reds believe and more importantly offer a chance to explore the plausibility and veracity of the ideas involved.

Since the US is embarking on a brave new undertaking, to [albeit timidly] introduce socialized medicine to our country, this also seems an appropriate thread for many Americans to visit and discuss things about socializing societal functions.

Thank you for starting this thread! :goodjob:

[EDIT] This gives us all the chance to participate in the formulation of what it means to be a red, as opposed to a simply one directional exchange.
 
ReindeerThistle said:
There is this from Marxists.org, a very valuable resource.
Thanks. Anything else you can think of?
 
Thanks. Anything else you can think of?

No. But there are references to many CP origins in Gruber's Soviet Russia Masters The Comintern which are fascinating.
Also, look up Jan Sneevlit; the Dutch Communist who helped form the PKI, which grew in the shadow of Sukarno's regime, but was decimated during the Suharto coup.
 
Since the US is embarking on a brave new undertaking, to [albeit timidly] introduce socialized medicine to our country, this also seems an appropriate thread for many Americans to visit and discuss things about socializing societal functions.

Do any Reds (or Pinkos!) actually think of the new American system as socialized medicine? My guess is not.
 
I have something to share, which can hopefully generate some discussion:

Das Kapital in One Minute

It's about as effective as you might imagine a 1-minute slide show to be, but it still covers the basic points of the Critique of The Political Economy and its observations about the capitalist system. Any questions or comments?
 
ReindeerThistle said:
Also, look up Jan Sneevlit; the Dutch Communist who helped form the PKI, which grew in the shadow of Sukarno's regime, but was decimated during the Suharto coup.
I know all about Maring. Dude was awesome.

Antilogic said:
Do any Reds (or Pinkos!) actually think of the new American system as socialized medicine? My guess is not.
Better question: Do any Australians or New Zealanders or Brits actually think of their systems as socialized medicine? No, not really.
 
O.K. guys. I hail from former communistic country - Czech rep. so I have first hand experience of sorts. For starters I am currious what is it to be Red?
 
I look forward to the debates!
 
O.K. guys. I hail from former communistic country - Czech rep. so I have first hand experience of sorts. For starters I am currious what is it to be Red?

Sorry, could not resist:
 
Isn't that what the US young'uns was taught?
 
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