THE RADICAL AMERICAN MARXISTS (that don't exist)

In modern day America, we are suffering from a political climate wrought with extreme distortion and hyperbole. Two sides arguing to the point that
it is often times nearly impossible to distinguish or claim the truth. People lie so much and so well that I think it has become a cultural achievement to lie convincingly and often. As an individual, I fear our country is in serious danger from this habit, this automatic mechanism to spin everything, grandstand, pretend and oppose everything that is contrary to the message or agenda of one's "side".


It has become habitual to pin and paint our neighbors with the lies and distortions that we feel benefit our own beliefs. Not only does this divide our nation, but it makes the whole of America and especially the people, stupider. It has become common place to recycle these lies, to the point that people cannot think critically or even tell the difference between a lie and an opinion. In fact, I would say "the opinion" is more powerful here on ATS
than is the fact which is sad for a place that was once based upon "denying ignorance".

But even "the opinion" is in danger of becoming stupider as a rule; because opinions used to be used to investigate and discover new ideas.
But now, the opinion is used as a way to calcify and build, large intricate towers of intellectual stupidity, vast networks of unthinking robots who's only job in life is to spread the hate and make sure everyone is just as stupid. It is a virus and it seems to infect everyone to various degrees, as it has become evolutionary more important to protect your own beliefs, than to interact with new ideas, learn or defend your ideas using facts and LOGIC.

Since it is nearly impossible to identify and dismantle every lie and distortion, I have committed myself to going after these lies one at a time. I would like to take this time, to go after one distortion in particular, that is so out of touch it is possibly the zenith and poster child for all the political idiocy
in American discourse.

The is, the dreaded


RADICAL, AMERICAN, MARXIST!


Now, I have lived in Los Angeles California for almost 4 decades, and I have to admit; while I do have conservative friends and family members, I have mostly met liberal people here in Los Angeles. There as so many liberals here that it is mind blowing. You can do just about anything you want, as long as you don't openly hate on people (the haters get a whole lot of hate). I will say it sure is a liberal place, that is a very true statement, especially the notion that Hollywood is liberal, it sure is...

But guess, what??? I have NEVER in my life met a Marxist, or a RADICAL Marxist, never ever ever. I have been to political rallies, marches, demonstrations and meetings, but I have never met a single, solitary person who has said:

"I am a Marxist, pleased to meet you!"

"What about that Karl Marx, he sure is something isn't he?!"

"I can't wait until these capitalist pigs get what's coming to them, a comrade?"

It seems odd to me that in a world, where so many people are busy referring to the Marxists that are destroying America, that I have yet to meet a single one. Even in the comfort of privacy and in deep conversation not a single soul has said anything that makes me believe they are a Marxist. It is sad to say, that for a long time I thought their were actual Marxists running around America handing out fliers, and being, well, Marxist.


It is sad to say, that just recently I realize that it is all a bunch of bully bull. "The Radical Marxists" that I keep hearing about are simply a way to polarize America, divide Americans, and dumb down the body politics here in America. "The Radical Marxist" is simply a phrase that can be replaced by any other inflammatory phrase to achieve a particular effect of;

Gaslighting or gas-lighting is a form of manipulation through persistent denial, misdirection, contradiction, and lying in an attempt to destabilize and delegitimize a target. Its intent is to sow seeds of doubt in the targets, hoping to make them question their own memory, perception, and sanity

en.wikipedia.org...

So I ask all of you who still posses an independent mind and spirit to call other people out on this tactic as it appears, in all it's forms.

This is not the American way;

Open the gulags and seize the memes of production.

Somebody had to say it. Bravo to you comrade (kidding ).

Unpopular truth is truth nonetheless. I will be the first to admit that I've fallen into the ideological confirmation bias trap before, but it's truly the last place I want to be, so any opportunity for me to question my own dogma is welcome.

PS: if you want your post to remain.. take that vid down.. for the love of God!

The only one I've seen talking about Marxist lately is you. Where else are you seeing it?

a reply to: banjobrain

But guess, what??? I have NEVER in my life met a Marxist, or a RADICAL Marxist, never ever ever. I have been to political rallies, marches, demonstrations and meetings...

Good luck you just labeled your self a"

pinko fairy liberal commie protester hippy red marxist.

Although I agree wth your sentiment (there aren't many terrorists in the world either) it doesn't matter to the name callers. They just label you and move on.

The whole fake news thing and threat to american interests "information war" is promoted to justify ever more censorship levied on outlets that don't tow the 'party line'.

There can be only now 'Ministry of Truth'.

Well people can "meet" some right here........

CPUSA

a reply to: xuenchen

With 20,000 members, the CPUSA boasts 0.0000618% of the US population.

originally posted by: zosimov
a reply to: xuenchen

With 20,000 members, the CPUSA boasts 0.0000618% of the US population.

That's 400 members a state

Just look at the signature, it is exactly what I mean.

#ilearneditfromwatchingyou

#

I mean really, the "Marxist/Corporatist agenda" AKA: I'm making this all up as I go...

Does anyone really believe Marxist and Corporatists are in cohoots?

It might require a new thread because that is a bit of cognitive dissonance that is stunningly, stunning.

a reply to: banjobrain

Marx·ism
/ˈmärkˌsizəm/
noun
noun: Marxism
the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism.



?

You've never met a communist?

There are a bunch on this site.

a reply to: banjobrain

What if I were to leave a few questions for thought in response to your OP:

- I have never met anyone who, even in deep conversation, came out and said that they were or introduced themselves as racist. Does that mean that racism doesn't exist?

- Should I call out your tactic of basing an entire OP on a logical fallacy (personal incredulity)?

Look, here's just one of many examples of how Marxist ideology or philosophy is showing its ugly head in America: Class warfare. You have all of these people on the left (and a few on the right and middle) screaming about the One Percent--this evil class of people who take and take and take and hoard and hoard and hoard, all on the back of the misery of the middle- and lower-class people of American society.

Hating on people just because of their "class" in society, and hating on their "surplus value" that they have supposedly usurped from the laborer and demanding such "surplus" be forcefully taken and given back (via taxes, wealth distribution, whatever you want to call it) are all Marxist actions and ideals.

The bottom line is that you need to realize that your anecdotal evidence as never having met an outwardly open Marxist doesn't mean that Marxists--and even Radical Marxists--aren't alive and well in American society.

I think that pretending that they don't exist at all is as bad as people who stereotype all liberals as being Marxists, because neither is correct. I'm more than happy to call people out when they're falsely categorizing/stereotyping people, especially when it's a reflection of their own biased ideology, but you OP is making false conclusions/assumptions based on your own experiences, and reality isn't at all reflective of the conclusion to which you arrived.

originally posted by: Templeton
The only one I've seen talking about Marxist lately is you. Where else are you seeing it?

I see it almost everyday on Facebook and other forms of social media.

I did find this tread on ATS the is trending with 31 flags to date

www.abovetopsecret.com...

My thread www.abovetopsecret.com...

does mention Marxism, but Marxism as it pertains to Vladimir Putin and the controlling body of Russia who were members of the KGB which indoctrinated their members with Marxist principles and oath. That very posts made me realize that this RADICAL AMERICAN MARXIST talk is all cheap and effective rhetoric. The same people strawman-ing the invisible American Marxist, could care less about actually Marxists.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: banjobrain

Marx·ism
/ˈmärkˌsizəm/
noun
noun: Marxism
the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism.



?

You've never met a communist?

There are a bunch on this site.

Believing is Medicare, Social Security, gay marriage or a whole host of ideas does not make someone a communist or Marxist.

It may be fun to say it and spray it, but it doesn't mean it is true.

a reply to: banjobrain

I'm talking about people who actually espouse communism.

But if you aren't going to take your own thread seriously, then neither shall I.

originally posted by: SlapMonkey
a reply to: banjobrain

What if I were to leave a few questions for thought in response to your OP:

- I have never met anyone who, even in deep conversation, came out and said that they were or introduced themselves as racist. Does that mean that racism doesn't exist?

Yes, my half sister is who half Mexican told me at a Christmas party that she is a bit racist towards asian female drivers.
I have had family members from West Virginia use the N word with a hard R and admit that they are racists, openly.
I have had Hispanic friends tell me they are racist towards African Americans.
I have had other white friends use the N word, hard R in social settings as well as jokingly.
I have met skin heads in Orange County who are open racists.

But I have never once had a single person say, admit or divulge a Marxist ideology, or anything of the sort.

- Should I call out your tactic of basing an entire OP on a logical fallacy (personal incredulity)?

Call it what you want, it doesn't take away from the inherent truth in my premise.

Look, here's just one of many examples of how Marxist ideology or philosophy is showing its ugly head in America: Class warfare. You have all of these people on the left (and a few on the right and middle) screaming about the One Percent--this evil class of people who take and take and take and hoard and hoard and hoard, all on the back of the misery of the middle- and lower-class people of American society.

These same claims have been made through history. The French revolution predates Karl Marx and it was based upon this same argument. In fact the majority of non religious revolutions have been based upon the idea that a ruling class was exploiting a large impoverished population economically.

Hating on people just because of their "class" in society, and hating on their "surplus value" that they have supposedly usurped from the laborer and demanding such "surplus" be forcefully taken and given back (via taxes, wealth distribution, whatever you want to call it) are all Marxist actions and ideals.

They are also human ideas. Again, history is filled with wars and conflicts that were based upon one group trying to wrestle away resources from another group. Tribes did it all the time and the practice predates written history.

The bottom line is that you need to realize that your anecdotal evidence as never having met an outwardly open Marxist doesn't mean that Marxists--and even Radical Marxists--aren't alive and well in American society.

I think that pretending that they don't exist at all is as bad as people who stereotype all liberals as being Marxists, because neither is correct. I'm more than happy to call people out when they're falsely categorizing/stereotyping people, especially when it's a reflection of their own biased ideology, but you OP is making false conclusions/assumptions based on your own experiences, and reality isn't at all reflective of the conclusion to which you arrived.

I was proven to be wrong, they do exist, there is a communist group in America that boosts 20,000 members, or 400 members for every state in the union. But my larger point that this large existential Marxist threat to America was actually bolstered by this 0.0000618% of the US population. The amount of time a certain group spends talking about the Marxist threat, is exaggerated to the point of absolute absurdity. And if you read between the lines, you would see that my ultimate point was regarding the epidemic of politically charged gaslighting.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: banjobrain

I'm talking about people who actually espouse communism.

But if you aren't going to take your own thread seriously, then neither shall I.

Who are these people? I don't hear any body here espousing communism, if there are they are few and far between. All I hear is a bunch of people saying they are combating this communism that they make up themselves as a strawman.

a reply to: banjobrain

I don't keep a list.

But there are people who would want communism.


Do you see elements of communism within the globalist movement?

a reply to: banjobrain

Have a look at the Marx 10 Planks.

Then compare some of those to some governments and big international corporations.

Might be surprising.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: banjobrain

I don't keep a list.

But there are people who would want communism.


Do you see elements of communism within the globalist movement?

I guess I do, I also note that the most successful "capitalists" in America, are also the most active and prominent globalists
in the globalist system.

The stock markets, the FOREX system and everything from McDonalds to Exxon arouse out of our capitalist system and they
have all revolutionized globalism. So in my opinion, it seems to me that globalism is a system in and of itself because it is a composite of various belief systems.

originally posted by: xuenchen
a reply to: banjobrain

Have a look at the Marx 10 Planks.

Then compare some of those to some governments and big international corporations.

Might be surprising.

It is surprising, America's most prominent "capitalist" endeavors being called Marxist. Meanwhile "conservatives" write laws that deregulate those very entities, allow the alleged "corporatist/Marxist" organizations to keep all their money so they can grow and spread across the Globe and remain unfettered here at home. Sounds like conservatives are hopelessly confused, or selectively call it one thing one day and another the other day, or are just full of BS.

If globalist corporations are Marxist, why do conservatives fight so hard to protect their profits, ensure they are not fettered by regulations and empower corporations at every turn?

The answer is, it is all a ploy, it is all gaslighting to make the dynamics sound absolutely insane.

a reply to: SlapMonkey

"I think that pretending that they don't exist at all is as bad as people who stereotype all liberals as being Marxists, because neither is correct."

There is truth in that statement. All "liberals" aren't "Marxists". But what is even more true is that the typical American "Liberal" living in the Blue Zone areas like Los Angeles are not "Liberals" in the traditional sense of the word.

See: en.wikipedia.org...

What they are are is "Leftists" and they're close cousins to Fabian Socialism.
See: en.wikipedia.org... wherein it is stated:
"he first Fabian Society pamphlets[15] advocating tenets of social justice coincided with the zeitgeist of Liberal reforms during the early 1900s, including eugenics. The Fabian proposals however were considerably more progressive than those that were enacted in the Liberal reform legislation. The Fabians lobbied for the introduction of a minimum wage in 1906, for the creation of a universal health care system in 1911 and for the abolition of hereditary peerages in 1917.[16]"

The "far left" of the Democrat party is all about the "Global Justice" movement and as that movement has developed, it incorporates facets of both Anarchism and Marxism, but isn't actually "Marxist".
See: academic.evergreen.edu...

The "Global Justice" movement incorporates elements of Anarchist and Marxist analysis to find solutions to problems of inequality and in the effort to develop environmentally sustainable economies.
See: "Protests and events such as the World Social Forum which have brought together global justice activists from many nations where socialist and Marx analysis is more common have furthered interest in anti-capitalism, Marxism and socialism. A Marxism and a socialist perspective that is not class reductionist and economistic, that emphasizes environmental sustainability, that examines and challenges all forms of oppression, and supports a substantive democracy as means and end will get a serious hearing in the current global justice movement and beyond." from the link directly above.

The problem with the "divide" in the US is that those who clothe themselves in the label "Liberal" are in fact in support of "Substantive Democracy" as opposed to what the US is..........a Republic. Hence, the outrage over HRC winning the "popular" vote all the while losing the election. At their core, they are essentially "anti-American" in that the reject the form of government established by the US Constitution.

I point all this out because, the author in the OP, in his emotion laden rant denying the existence of Marxists in the US or as part of the "Liberal" Blue Zone Los Angeles has muddied the waters beyond redemption. He obviously doesn't know or understand what a Marxist is or believes. But his emotional over flow is understandable in that the typical Left Coast Leftist can't tolerate the "Marxist" label because, well, it strikes a bit too close to home albeit he is strictly "correct" in denying the Left Coast Leftists are not, strictly speaking, "Marxists".

Thanks