JohannesFeb 26
Mark Holtom (aka Kingbeard)
I have heard so many variants of this as explanations of why 'socialism' doesn't work (all from Americans). It's as though they are taught it this way.
Feb 26 at 12:42pmWeb
Show threadWalrus 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Feb 26

@MarkHoltom

I hope that some day, when they realise how gullible they have been, they will say sorry for all their insults. But I bet they won't.

Show threadMark Holtom (aka Kingbeard)Feb 26

@Walrus

Americans think themselves exceptional. This is something that they are taught.

One thing about being exceptional is never being wrong, or having to say, I'm sorry. Its a sign of weakness.

Show threadLoose CannonFeb 26

@MarkHoltom @Walrus

gemini://gemini.ctrlaltrevolt.net/genzed/s/capitalism-economy/68

gemini://gemini.ctrlaltrevolt.net/genzed/s/capitalism-economy/102

gemini://gemini.ctrlaltrevolt.net/genzed/s/capitalism-economy/129

Show threadnotanowlFeb 26
@MarkHoltom they are in fact, not taught, and thats the real problem
Show threadRastalFeb 26

@brotherpsyche @MarkHoltom It's by design. As long as the education sector teaches Americans the worldview that the most important thing is to believe that money is god, and the second most important thing is to be a consumer, then capitalism will thrive.

#capitalism

Show threadSteggyFeb 26
@MarkHoltom we aren’t taught much. Even less since I was a kid. I came of age in the 80s, and listened to a lot of Billy Bragg at the time. I think he saved me from thinking capitalism is the best thing ever.
Show threadPoligofsky 🇨🇦 .. 🚫🤖Feb 26

@MarkHoltom “Explanation”. More like, disingenuous analogy and circular logic. In a post meant only to seek approval from others with similar prejudice.

But critics of capitalism generally talk the same way. Arguments between religious zealots are reliably tedious, utterly free of insight.

Show threadEm & future cats 🇺🇦🐈🏳️‍🌈Feb 26
@MarkHoltom I find this odd too. Granted , I am of the opinion that it can be abused by the “higher authority” type of people, but on its basis it is not what all these “Cold War” story tellers go on about, and we need more of it than this “feudal system” of rich over poor.
Show threadNeil MoffattFeb 26

@MarkHoltom Few on the right see 'taking hard earned money in taxes' as worthwhile or valuable in any sense.

Rename tax to 'civilised society contribution' then things are clearer - basically those with excess to needs help those who struggle. Something human species did for thousands of years before money destroyed all hopes of meaningful equality.

Show threadGerardo LisboaFeb 26
@NicelyManifest @MarkHoltom I've always argued (without much success, I must add) that tax officers' job is not about taking people's money but rather to help people contribute back in to Society.
Show threadNeil MoffattFeb 26

@gvlx @MarkHoltom That is a wise reconception.

So much of life is gravitationally anchored to simplistic concepts. That tax is, by default, a negative 'taxing' matter.

Same simpl mindset that says a footballer is offside if 1mm closer to the goal line than the last defender ... because that is the rule we abide by. That the striker might be metres further away from goal on the wing seems somehow to be universally overlooked.

Show threadAndiiFeb 26
@NicelyManifest @MarkHoltom
...and who made the monetary system and the other infrastructure for these would-be freeloaders to parasite from?
Not the godzillionaires.
Show threadNeil MoffattFeb 26
@Andii @MarkHoltom They are a human-turned-parasite as you say. We unleashed animalistic behaviour, wealth and power intoxicating away the inhibitions that most of us have. And often those 'acquiring' power and wealth are psychopaths - bereft of empathy as a starting point!
Show threadTheriacFeb 26
@MarkHoltom
weird they don't see they're actually teaching them capitalism.
Show threadHakeemGFeb 26
@MarkHoltom The most successful countries in the world are not socialist, they are capitalist countries with strong social safety nets. See the Nordic countries for example.
Show threadRobin BartonFeb 26
@MarkHoltom True, many americans like to pretend socialism is the same as communism so that people won't consider a socialist future
Show threaddoncishFeb 26
@MarkHoltom The misinformation about socialism and communism (or anything other than extreme capitalism) in the US general population was mind-blowing even a few decades ago. Now it's useless to even try to explain, especially if you are faced with someone who is absolutely certain that a swing to the left would be equally bad or worse than the grifter fascism they experience now. It's sad really.
Show threadtkissingFeb 26
@MarkHoltom I taught my kid how capitalism works. I promised him $10 to wash the neighbors driveway for half an hour. An hour before the agreed upon time I told him to ger the powerwasher from his grandpa, a mile away. After 30 minutes working on the driveway, I made him clean up the machine and carry it back to grandpa.
When he was finally back, he said "I worked for 2.5 hours, the neighbor owes us $50". We went over to the neighbor, got the $50. I pocketed $40 and gave the rest to my kid.
Show threadtkissingFeb 26
@MarkHoltom (This was fictitious, I don't believe in being an asshole to teach a lesson)
Show threadDarberoomFeb 26
@MarkHoltom
Donald Trump Jr. Sparks Backlash After Old Tweets About Stealing Half of His Daughter's Halloween Candy to 'Teach Her About Socialism' Emerge
Show threaddisorderlyfFeb 26
@MarkHoltom Because they were. American education is drenched in hyper-capitalist rhetoric. Our history classes are basically just propaganda.
Show threaddecapitaeFeb 26
@MarkHoltom They have been brainwashed through cults to see the world in such a fashion. Nationalist cults that hijacked different sects for state programming of congregations - it's how they got people to hold two conflicting beliefs at once and act upon them in their confusion. Fueled the war machine for ages - a level to pull when they wish.
Still being pulled and pulled and pulled, especially in rural parts of red states 😓