I saw that documentary and it in no way rationalizes or redeems the police force at Uvalde

Da fuq you on about?

Well put

Cowbee, I disagree almost entirely with what you posted. But with respect for you clearly articulating your position I will share my response.

To your “But Russia is not imperialist” , please reflect on the following and to what extent you must stretch a rationalization:

First and Second Chechen Wars (1994, 2000) Puppet Leader in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko (1996) Puppet leader in Ukraine Victor Yanukovych (2010) Georgian War (2008) Annexation of Crimea (2014) Role in Syria conflict (2000 onwards) Role in African dictatorships in Burma Faso and Niger (2010s- present)

… global south / US bad too / old Soviet vassal states must kneel ect… I get it. But the above conflicts are evidence of state capitalism exerting itself militarily for geopolitical and economic aims

I doubt this will influence you much as you are pretty invested in your world view. But from my vantage point and reading of theory (likely some overlap if you are ML) - you are wrong *respectfully

Cowbee. I appreciate some of your takes on Marxism, but disagree frequently with your frame of reference on state power in the global field.

I view the war with Ukraine as one of Russo imperialism in response to Western imperialism. Indeed the USSR itself had many imperialist tendencies under a unified Asiatic / Slavic Soviet even as did Western and Asian counterparts post WW2

The irony being I am more allied to Trotsky or Luxemburg’s take. Which no doubt wouldn’t receive fair purchase in ML group. Forgive me for not directly referencing War and International - as it meanders but hits many themes relevant to Russia/Ukraine conflict

That being said to summarize my view: wars of conquest as a tool for furthering state capital / geopolitical interests shouldn’t be supported by Marxists, and posting the rationalization of an autocrat reads as support to me.

Symping for autocrats are we? How very Marxist-Leninist Edit: * /s *

I know people who chose their whole career arc based on trust in the government to forgive their loan based on the legislation which granted public/non-profit workers forgiveness after 10-years. They were making low minimum payments over those years based on their low salaries…

Boy are those people fucked financially.

We can thank Republicans! Of course there will be no reckoning or return to that commitment. Truly fucked.

Touché 😅

As much as I hate the ruling family of Saudi Arabia… get off it:

https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/info-gallery/us-petroleum-use-domestic-supply-and-net-imports

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/how-much-crude-oil-does-us-import-by-country-2025-01-31/

Your information is dated. We are net exporters of crude oil for the past 15-years with majority of import from Canada and Mexico

But for what it’s worth - fully believe renewables are the way forward for geopolitical and ecological stability. This is the more important narrative

Honestly this is a great answer

Thanks for providing something closer to an articulation of a solution…

Although I’m not sure disengagement from the (corrupt and intentionally ineffectual) two party system does much more than to continue to disenfranchise left voices - absent substantial momentum towards 3rd-spaces not present (or being built) today.

I think I basically agree with everything else you have written. But your tone comes across poorly, to me at least.

Friend.

You write two paragraphs responding to my comments on the effectiveness of your rhetoric and have nothing to say to respond to what you derisively refer to as “straw men” for the other three points I raised in (online) discussion with you.

I’m forced to roll my eyes a bit as I feel vindicated in my point on rhetoric.

I would close by saying, I haven’t seen you assert a compelling positive solution to what you problematize correctly, other than don’t vote / vote 3rd party (which no one sees as the answer, maybe not even you?).

If I may be so bold, some reflection on a solution on your side would be helpful - as would articulating it at the start of your attempt to converse with fellow left/left-leaning internetizians you are seeking to influence

I and (at risk of speaking for others) many of the other commentators agree with at least 80% of what you have written and close to 100% of the spirit of your argument. But a few points to reflect on:

1. You are not winning anyone over with your rhetoric in your first posts
2. Infighting, purity tests, and micro-clans are common methods used by the right to fragment the left
3. Voting third party in a general election in the US as a protest vote is close as to as impactful as not voting, be prepared for those consequences and for people to call you out on it. Of course there is no doubt some justification
4. Relatedly acceleration is not viewed as a viable political strategy by most on the left (who aren’t naive new comers to political discourse)

Also the album cover for hardcore punk band the Anti-Heroes album Underneath the Underground

The best kind

Fucking sad

But what if the net ROI on those data centers is massively below the working average cost of capital… what is stated above is still massively destructive to capital and economic activity

Sending love. Good on you for what you do

Lol, so that is how we decide presidential nominees now? Who has the money backing…

Agree - but bad take

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