this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2023
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the_dunk_tank

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It's the dunk tank.

This is where you come to post big-brained hot takes by chuds, libs, or even fellow leftists, and tear them to itty-bitty pieces with precision dunkstrikes.

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[–] [email protected] 106 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Most people living under socialism had little understanding of capitalism in practice. Workers interviewed in Poland believed that if their factory were to be closed down in the transition to the free market, "the state will find us some other work" (New Y orker, 1 1/13/89). In the Soviet Union, many who argued for privatization also expected the government to continue providing them with collective benefits and subsidies. One skeptical farmer got it right: "Some people want to be capitalists for themselves, but expect socialism to keep serving them" (Guardian, 10/23/91 ).

Reality sometimes hit home. In 1990, during the glasnost period, when the Soviet government announced that the price of newsprint would be raised 300 percent to make it commensurate with its actual cost, the new procapitalist publications complained bitterly. They were angry that state socialism would no longer subsidize their denunciations of state socialism. They were being subjected to the same free-market realities they so enthusiastically advocated for everyone else, and they did not like it.

—Michael Parenti, Blackshirts and Reds, pg 73 (Communism in Wonderland; Romanticizing Capitalism)

History repeats itself here in this moment. The strategy employed by the capitalist is both the same now as it was then. A people so unaware of what they have, so eager to have nothing at all.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This just shows that proper education about the way capitalism fucks you over is as important as flashy anti-capitalist slogans and propaganda. Otherwise you get a lot of people who think jeans will solve their woes

[–] [email protected] 93 points 10 months ago

"My abortion is special, God wants ME to kill my baby!!!?" - conservatives

[–] [email protected] 77 points 10 months ago

Another unsuspecting face, devoured by leopards.

[–] [email protected] 70 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

Let me tell you how free college educated "progressive" libs (who own capital) are reacting to this news:

Lib: - Well it's not that bad cuz they won't be charged much anyways

Me: They are a very small minority, the cost of teaching them it's the same. It should remain free for all, no exceptions.

Lib: Well but I can't go to their countries and study for free, it should be reciprocous

Me: Who cares? It's the same charging them than not, and they are opening the door to charge money to all of us

Lib: Well I would have been able to pay some amount. Plus we used to voluntary pay some small money for student lab material, but then it was outlawed and so the students labs pipettes fell in disrepair.

Me: regardless of amount the university should have payed it

Lib: Well but foreigners who come study here, their taxes don't cover their education.

Me: I already told you teaching such small number costs the same as not teaching them. Plus you are opening the door to everyone getting charged. If we'd had to pay the price of a degree in (for example) Colombia, we both won't be laureates.

Lib: Well we could have payed something, plus my college partners spent a lot in booze and parties. Plus there's no money so anything would help and it should be reciprocous at least.

Repeat the loop, again and again.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 10 months ago (1 children)

wall-talk

It's pointless to have a discussion with someone who has no stake in the outcome.

This guy did. But random American assholes do not.

I've found it's easier to just deride the idea generally. "Milei deporting all his biggest supporters. No wonder libertarianism doesn't work."

And leave it at that.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I'm argentinian ~~trapped~~ living here and I was arguing with another argentinian living here.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 21 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago (2 children)

You see, no one can have nice things because I wasted money on treats.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I get nice things though (treats).

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How do we shake out these individualist brainworms? I see variations of this argument ALL the time: "A few people in group X are bad/irresponsible/not-like-me so no one can have the nice thing"

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I don't think it is possible most of the time, they're a lost cause. Individualism in the west is not just a personality trait but extremely tied to cultural behaviour and identity, rejecting individualism is often seen as attacking western/American values of freedom and autonomy.

Maybe it is possible in the rare cases this person happens to be a hypocrite and they happen to have benefitted from some form of government program or maybe they have some personal aspiration that could be fulfilled through some government plan but they don't realize it due to misinformation.

I think a simple example was the Bernie campaign for healthcare and meeting people that still believed their insurance costs would be higher or their service quality would be worst somehow. At the very least you have to make sure they don't have these false beliefs as part of the foundation.

But as I said imo American individualism is so tied to culture that nothing short of massive government re-education through a revolution would change anything. It is a lost cause really. The most you can hope for is these people are not the majority because eventualy they'll become hypocrites themselves, material conditions etc eventually everyone will desire something and if that can be provided by society then it can be the start.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

I often tell people the protestant mindset of the American population will never be killed. Work will always make the "man" and if a "man" does not work "he" does not eat is a fundamental part of that.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

And the escuse they used over in the states against free education - but you'd be subsidizing the rich!

My brother, the rich don't send their kids to public college because they want the luxury of having a prestigious private "I'm rich, bitch" title for their nepo baby. It won't be a problem.

maybe-later-honey Well how do you know!

Have you seen your idol pete? Have you looked at the executive and political class all from Harvard and Yale? They aren't going to give a fuck about a public university degree.

maybe-later-kiddo Says you! You don't care for the poor!

wall-talk

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago

They do be using it here too "those rich brats living in apartments paid by their parents could easily pay for their free college" [the ones who don't go to the Catholic Universities (aka the only prestige private universities outside of Buenos Aires City) cuz they petty burshwá not rich ]

[–] [email protected] 52 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 50 points 10 months ago

Normies when they get exactly what they wanted. oooaaaaaaauhhh

[–] [email protected] 46 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 45 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Dumbass. Now learn from this next time.

[–] [email protected] 54 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

The guy is young enough he actually might. One can hope.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The socialists made Milei do it

[–] [email protected] 41 points 10 months ago

Womp

And this can't be understated:

Womp

[–] [email protected] 41 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 38 points 10 months ago

Lol. Lmao, even.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 10 months ago (2 children)

There should be up updated Gadsten style libertarian flag that's a leopard lunging at the person looking at the flag like its going to eat their face.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 10 months ago

At Least its not da gobermint ancap-good

[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I thought the snake in the S&M and ball gag image worked well enough

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

I quite like the "I don't understand taxes" one

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

The libertarian snake eating it's own ass

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 10 months ago

This reminds of a talk by the old US Trot ISO party. It was during the Libya crisis, a Libyan American college student was giving the talk, they were pro Western backed Rebels and getting rid of Gaddafi. During the talk she mentions that her parents were able to study in the USA because of Libyan social programs under Gadaffi. Is Libya a functioning state anymore? Last big news story from Libya was the disastrous flood that killed at least 11,300 people.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 21 points 10 months ago

rare emoji, commenting to remember to use it later

[–] [email protected] 28 points 10 months ago (3 children)

you're joking right? this is extremely funny

[–] [email protected] 42 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I mean, he did get exactly what he asked for then acted all shocked and regretful, but that's still a human being that has been denied access to higher education. This might actually be life ruining for them

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago

I agree with you, he may have helped encourage Milei's election but many people have ridiculous views especially at that age, we're all being scammed by people like Milei everyday. At least he is young enough that he still has time to continue education maybe in a different country or if Argentina reverses these policies.

If Milei himself or other people closer to the origin of these bullshit views suffered some consequences I'd be more inclined to laugh but I don't feel much joy when young people get things fucked for them, even if they are idiots, I know when I was 20 there were beliefs I had that I now see are obviously false.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 10 months ago (2 children)

that's still a human being that has been denied access to higher education

I mean, what kind of education was he even receiving, of he thought Milei was going to benefit him?

Unfortunate to see all these kids get rug-pulled. But these institutions are producing the agents of their own demise. This guy is probably better of getting proletariatanized than finishing out a degree in PMC U.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago

I mean, what kind of education was he even receiving, of he thought Milei was going to benefit him?

The vast majority of education is not explicitly political. This is part of how you get educated people with all sorts of ludicrous political beliefs.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

I like it when bad things happen to bad people. there's a lot of pain in the world, someone fucking around and finding out is not on my list people to care about 🤷

[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago

Have some Civility 😔

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago

Be more respectful man, this student clearly had no idea that leopards would be eating his face.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 10 months ago

He will be now.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

fuck-around

Edit Oh shit this is a Venezuelan gusano screwing around in another nation's election? maduro-coffee

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 10 months ago

Lol. What a fucking doofus

[–] [email protected] 18 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago

it's pretty nuts that he's not even grandfathered in, usually that's what they do with this kind of law

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