this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

The Soviets would have agreed that they hadn't achieved communism but China is an example of state capitalism, not the Soviets. They were socialists, and they were also authoritarians. The means of production were collectively owned.

Whether they were good Marxists when their system created just another oppressive heirarchy is another question, but the richest Soviet kleptocrat wasn't anywhere close to a billionaire as far as I'm aware.

If someone wants to prove otherwise they're welcome to.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Just because someone says they represent everyone, and that what they own is owned by everyone, doesn't make it true.

Did people have a say in what they could do with that infrastructure, or was it ultimately just up to the people in charge? If the former, it was socialism, if the latter, it wasn't.

Be more concerned with what people do, not necessarily what they say, when ascribing ideals to them.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)

if by "collectively owned" you mean "owned by the government", sure

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yes, that would be a collective meant to represent the people, good job.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"meant to" is doing some very heavy lifting there, chief

[–] [email protected] -5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

If a charity executive embezzles from donations, is the organization no longer a charity?

You can point to the flaws all day, but the means of production were collectively owned. It's what happened after that where things started going wrong.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Actually, it is no longer a charity. It's a scam.