The dictionary defines communism as "government control and ownership on the means of production, and the eventual abolition of all private business and private property. It's collectivism, which inevitably leads to totalitarianism -- the total state."
I never equated communism with totalitarianism. I honestly thought communism was essentially socialism which meant everybody is equal. What it really means is everybody is equal except for the leaders and the people in power. Look at these 3 lunatics…
I always thought it was a very left-wing thing to be a communist. Healthcare for all etc. This is where there is a tremendous disconnect into what it actually means. Adolf Hitler founded the Nazi Socialist party. Socialism is like a kinder communism. For instance, socialism allows some level of private ownership, whereas with communism, it's total public ownership of all property. When you think of Adolf Hitler most people do not equate socialism with this sociopath, yet he named his party after it! Very deceptive.
Then there's Bernie Sanders. He considers himself a socialist. His heart is in the right place and Bernie doesn’t have dictator-like tendencies. From Bernie's website--"We’re building a movement to transform our economy to one that works for all of us and not just the one percent." They say that one of the AI behemoths will become the world's first trillionaire. That's crazy. So Bernie is right and no one should have that kind of money or power. The problem is the alternative is worse. Bernie’s ideas are great in theory but not so much in practice because the government may centralize a significant amount of power. Unfortunately power is a powerful aphrodisiac. So it can start off pretty well with good intentions but then, in order to keep it going the government starts to worry about the opposition so they try to control the media, information and even education all in the name of the greater good. This is how I believe it gets justified. Looking back at history Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini come to mind and today it would be Kim Jong Un from North Korea. How that country even functions is an anathema to me. Even more troubling is that no one seems to care at all. And this bullshit of naming your country The Peoples Republic Of…China or The Democratic Peoples Republic Of…North Korea is so obviously the total opposite of democratic countries. Very deceptive for a reason.
I feel like my posts are getting more political which is not what I intended. It's just the election is coming up and granted it is not until November but the media acts like it's tomorrow. In contrast, in the UK, the formal campaign period is only 6 weeks before their general elections.
"The timing is part of the UK's regulated approach to election campaigns, designed to ensure a level playing field and to regulate campaign spending and broadcasting. This system contrasts with those in some other countries, where campaigning can start much earlier and last much longer." Yeah like us. It's insane.
So Karl Marx was the founder of Marxism which is essentially communism. The idea of communism was an alternative to capitalism which Marx wrote about extensively in books like "Das Kapital", where he rails against capitalism, explaining how he thought the system was unfair and exploitative. He believed that capitalism was an unsustainable system that would inevitably lead to a classless society – communism. He said the the possibility of a dictatorship would just be a "transitory phase" that would fade as people adjusted to the new system. Boy was he wrong. When in history has this worked? Never. Dictators never will relinquish power. Once they have it they never let it go.
When they pass new laws in the name of safeguarding us it's a slippery slope and by that I mean it's bad. Case in point--the Patriot Act. Whoever came up with that name is a genius. Right after 9/11, it got passed and here are some of the provisions--Expanded Surveillance Powers, Roving Wiretaps, Searches Without Immediate Notification and ironically Border Security, where for reasons I don't completely understand, has not been enacted. Quite the opposite. That’s a post in and of itself. The point is the other provisions have been enacted.
Here's what ChatGPT has to say--"The Patriot Act has been the subject of considerable debate and criticism, particularly concerning privacy rights and civil liberties. Critics argue that it grants overly broad powers to law enforcement and intelligence agencies, potentially leading to abuses and the infringement of individual rights. Proponents, however, argue that the Act's provisions are necessary to protect national security and prevent terrorist attacks." So if this was all in the name of protecting us, why are there millions of illegals--oh I mean undocumented--people coming across our border? That's a good example of how something may have started with good intentions and I use the word “may” purposefully, but ended up infringing upon our privacy rights which seem to be disappearing more and more every day.
Most recently, we have a new issue which once again is being couched in care and concern but is really just about power and control. This issue is over Tik Tok. Congress wants to ban it or have it sold to an American company. They say it threatens national security because the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or weaponize its content either by suppressing or amplifying it.
As much as I am not a fan of Tik Tok, calling for censorship of an app/social media site because you claim it is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party is horseshit. And it turns out ByteDance (which owns Tik Tok) is not entirely owned by the Chinese government. It is a private company—60% is owned by international investors; 20% by the 2 Chinese inventors of the app and 20% by employees of Tik Tok, 7,000 of whom are American. 170 million Americans are on Tik Tok--I am not one of them--however, I stand in full support of those who are. There are many who promote their businesses and dance moves on the app and have every right to continue to do so.
On top of that, the bill which recently passed in the House and is awaiting the Senate says this in fine print," Any website, desktop application, or augmented or immersive technology application that is determined by the President to present a significant threat to the national Security of the United States is covered." This is very loose language to say the least. X could be next. Even more bizarre are the people who agree on this issue. Donald Trump and A.O.C. don't believe Tik Tok should be banned. Neither do I. This is about the First Amendment and free speech. Let the American people decide. For the parents out there whose kids are on it and it would make things easier--I get it--but this ain't the way. The repercussions are very real and very scary. Rand Paul explains it flawlessly…
Now it's time for TOTD. Consider adding a vintage piece of decor to your home to give it some soul. I have a semi-antique mirror and an old worldish globe and I’m on the lookout for more. It’s fun to change up your space from time to time! Much Love, Sabrina PS So annoying I know because everybody asks but if you can support my work, please click below. Thanks everybody!