I definitely agree with this - the point of Marxism is that your exact policies should depend on your material conditions. The Bolshevik Party is a good example of this. At some points, they advanced workplace democracy; at others, they returned Bourgeois managers to the factories. At times they supported individually owned farms, and at others forcibly collectivized ones, and at still others allowed for privately owned plantations. Lenin called for the party to participate in Bourgeois elections, but the vast majority of Bolsheviks took the ultra-left position and boycotted them. Sometimes decentralization is preferable - but centralization is often necessary! These are all dialectics that cannot be resolved dogmatically.
He/They. Marxist-Leninist, Butcher, DnD 3.5e enthusiast and member of PSL NEO and UFCW local 880. ASAB (All Scolds Are Bastards). Plague rat settler. I administrate a DnD 3.5e West Marches server for Socialists called the Axe and Sickle. https://discord.gg/R5dPsZU
- 0 Posts
- 84 Comments

To explain my positions:
While sometimes reform can make advancements, the important part is that a Marxist must advocate for Revolution. Participation in Bourgeois elections is necessary to build a mass movement, but Marxists should never give them the legitimacy of claiming that their power will come from winning those elections.
Utopian Socialism is infantile. Socialism must be based in scientific, Marxist principles or you are at best a progressive Liberal. When your ideology is based in utopian ideals instead of scientific processes, you will make yourself unable to take the necessary steps to shepherd a Socialist society when it sometimes requires concessions.
Centralism is necessary, at least in the developing stage of Socialism, in order to combat reaction and quickly advance productive forces. Similarly to the Utopian vs. Scientific debate, perhaps decentralized authority would be preferable in a perfect world, and may be pursued in the latter stateless stages of Communism, but spells death and inefficiency in the short term. The failure of the Spanish Republicans to effectively ensure their mutual defense is the chief historical example
I don’t believe that Nationalism or Patriotism are inherently un-Marxist concepts, and can be encouraged among the masses to increase loyalty to the Socialist state. But Communists, especially those within the imperial core, must always remember that Imperialist oppression inevitably turns inward - and that when you preserve those Imperialistic policies under a Socialist state, you are preserving systems of oppression that will eventually demand expansion back into the motherland. In other words: flags and military parades are fine, but you must also support your international brethren, at least within the imperial core.
Under Socialism there should be a dialectic struggle between trade unions and the Party. Trade Unions, being non-ideological entities, will inevitably become a reactionary force under a Socialist government. In the stage of international struggle, the needs of the party must come first. But after, they must settle into a dialectic struggle - the Party ensuring the health of society as a whole with the Unions ensuring the rights and happiness of the workers.
I do not believe in silly notions about the value of the natural world beyond what is supported by scientific principles. So long as we have parks for the people to enjoy, the climate is stabilized, and the trees are producing enough oxygen for our breath and industry, the natural world has no inherent utility. Believing that the natural world is more important than building the productive forces necessary for the victory of Socialism and the happiness of the people is Eco-Fascism, even if those who believe in it paint themselves with an Anarchist or Socialist veneer.
I won’t spend too long on this point. Social progress is good and I do not need to explain why. But, especially in the early stages, Socialists must not turn too hard against traditional ways of life that practiced by the majority of people or cultural minorities. Crush the power of religious institutions, but do not demolish the churches. Encourage secular cohabitation, but do not outlaw marriage. Create public cafeterias to end kitchen slavery, but do not ban the sale of cookbooks.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Science Memes@mander.xyz•Oh please tell me this is true!English
1·2 months agoOctopodeez nuts
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•What's a video game that you just don't get the hype about?English
1·2 months agoI honestly felt that the weapon degradation was freeing in a way - that every item in the same was a consumable to be used and not an item to be collected and stashed away forever while you just use the Zweihander from the graveyard for 90% of the game. Even the unique quest items broke, but you could do another quest to unlock the ability to buy infinite versions! I thought that was great game design.
You say this ironically, but there are several relatively recent U.S. presidents or people in their administration who have said things that would get them branded tankies today.
I’m thinking specifically of a speech Jimmy Carter gave where he said it’s no wonder North Korea ended up the way it had, considering we bombed every building over two stories into the ground.
Kissinger is also obviously evil but only because of his realpolitik - by modern ideological standards where any anti-Western power is treated as worse than Hitler by even social Democrats, his dispassionate readings would get him labeled a Marxist.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•Do you believe in Supernatural things?English
1·3 months agoMarxism is the only valid framework to analyze the world.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Programmer Humor@lemmy.ml•"In the beginning, there was the terminal."English
17·3 months agoPhysical, human-legible media, like punch cards
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•Do you believe in Supernatural things?English
3·3 months agoThey’re answering like that because they’re trying to be kind and give you the benefit of the doubt - but no, lol, no one here over the age of ten believes in magic anymore lmao. If that’s the straight answer you want
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•Do you believe in Supernatural things?English
52·3 months agoNo lol. Belief in the supernatural in any form is un-Marxist.
Whether that’s angels and demons and deities, witches and ghosts, or astrology and healing crystals. It is a virtue to have a completely Materialist worldview.
Never admit your mistakes. Always commit.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
unions@lemmy.ml•Signal Ohio workers win union recognition from employerEnglish
3·3 months agoSignal is great. They always give good coverage for progressive causes.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•What is the worst present civilization? And why is our own nation?English
10·3 months agoWorldwide Socialist revolution. Creating a society hostile to the accumulation of wealth, where all means of production are controlled by the workers.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mltoLemmy Support@lemmy.ml•Private messaging is not "secure" - can this wording be improved?English
1·4 months agoI think both are bad communication. When I hear “messages are not end to end encrypted”, I think that my ISP or a hacker might be able to see them but not, like, ordinary people. In reality, whatever shitheads are administrating either your or the recipients instances.
I think “private messages are visible to both your and the recipients instance administrators” would be more clear
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Science Memes@mander.xyz•All while the skeletal, crumbling, dusty bones of an econ major pulls business backwards into hell.English
23·4 months ago“Leftist”
.world account
Let me guess, you would have voted for Obama a third time if you could?
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Science Memes@mander.xyz•Molluscs of the Multiverse: molluscan diversity in Magic: The GatheringEnglish
2·4 months agoReading this article just makes me sad about how shit Magic is now compared to how it used to be
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mltoLemmy Support@lemmy.ml•Private messaging is not "secure" - can this wording be improved?English
5·4 months agoI think the larger point is that private messages are visible to instance admins.
Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlto
Asklemmy@lemmy.ml•in what proportions do you mix beer (pale lager) and apple juice?English
2·4 months agoThe Mexican section of your grocery store should have Clamato or other brands of Mexican tomato juice
I missed the joke too, I thought the joke was that 98F temperatures were hot enough to kill the average Brit
I didn’t know the PS2 had a keyboard


It’s what they’re called in the DnD 3.5e Monster Manual as well