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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 11th, 2023

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  • I am trying to be as respectful as possible here, but saying that authoritarianism doesn’t exist is an absolutely insane take. Obviously the CIA did a lot to try and stop communism, we all know that. And why wouldn’t a state want to suppress dissent, do you think that all “communist” regimes were these perfect, do nothing wrong utopias? Of course a state wants to suppress dissent, it gives them more control over their people, Governments are greedy, even if they claim to be communist. I don’t think the extent of mass surveillance, forced propaganda, censorship, and imprisonment could be justified by "stopping a foreign entity. Here are some examples of the things authoritarian “communist” regimes did to supposedly “fight foreign powers”.

    Soviet Union (USSR): Under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union carried out numerous purges and suppressions of dissent. The Great Purge in the late 1930s resulted in the execution or imprisonment of millions of people, including political opponents, intellectuals, military officers, and ordinary citizens accused of disloyalty or counter-revolutionary activities. The state employed the secret police, censorship, forced labor camps (Gulags), and surveillance to maintain control and suppress dissent.

    People’s Republic of China: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of suppressing dissent. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Mao Zedong mobilized student groups known as the Red Guards to target intellectuals, artists, and political opponents. Many individuals were persecuted, imprisoned, or killed. In more recent times, the Chinese government has tightened control over the media, the internet, and social media platforms, censoring content, monitoring online activities, and imprisoning activists and dissidents who challenge the party’s authority.

    Cuba: The Cuban government under Fidel Castro and his successors has been known for suppressing dissent. The regime has restricted freedom of speech, assembly, and the press, controlling the media and limiting access to information. Independent journalists, activists, and political opponents have been subject to harassment, imprisonment, and surveillance. The government also tightly controls access to the internet and social media platforms.

    North Korea: The totalitarian regime in North Korea, led by the Kim family, has implemented strict controls on information and dissent. The state maintains a pervasive surveillance system and enforces ideological conformity through propaganda, censorship, and forced indoctrination. Any form of dissent or criticism of the regime is severely punished, with individuals and even entire families sent to political prison camps.

    East Germany: During the existence of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the ruling Socialist Unity Party suppressed dissent through surveillance, censorship, and repression. The Ministry for State Security, commonly known as the Stasi, maintained a vast network of informants and spies to monitor citizens’ activities and control dissent. The government restricted travel, controlled the media, and imprisoned those who challenged the state’s authority.

    Most suppression of dissent was done to citizens of the state. If you think that any of this can be justified by “fighting foreign powers”, you are absolutely delusional.








  • Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin: Stalin’s rule was characterized by forced collectivization, which resulted in widespread famine and the death of millions of people, particularly during the Ukrainian Holodomor. Stalin’s purges led to the imprisonment, execution, or exile of millions, including members of the Communist Party, military officials, intellectuals, and perceived political opponents.

    The Great Leap Forward in China: Under Mao Zedong’s leadership, the Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly transform China’s economy and society. However, the policies implemented, such as forced collectivization and the backyard steel furnaces, resulted in a disastrous famine, leading to the deaths of an estimated 20 to 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.

    Cultural Revolution in China: The Cultural Revolution, initiated by Mao Zedong, aimed to reassert his authority and eliminate perceived enemies within the Communist Party and society. The movement led to widespread political persecution, purges, and violence, resulting in millions of deaths, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage, academic institutions, and economic disruption.

    Khmer Rouge in Cambodia: The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. During their regime, they implemented radical agrarian communism, forcing urban dwellers into rural work camps and carrying out mass executions, torture, and forced labor. It is estimated that between 1.7 to 2.2 million people died as a result of execution, starvation, and disease.

    North Korea under Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il: The oppressive regime in North Korea has been associated with widespread human rights abuses, political repression, forced labor camps, and the suppression of dissent. The regime’s policies have resulted in severe food shortages and famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.







  • Mutual aide is not really the issue with tankies, the problem is the authoritarianism. Mutual aide can be very effective when done properly. For example, anarchists tend to answer the question of “leeches” by giving them the resources to self-actualize, and if the “leech” does not care to do that, they can be kicked out of an anarchist community.