"Progressives should not make the same mistake that Ernst Thälmann made in 1932. The leader of the German Communist Party, Thälmann saw mainstream liberals as his enemies, and so the center and left never joined forces against the Nazis. Thälmann famously said that ‘some Nazi trees must not be allowed to overshadow a forest’ of social democrats, whom he sneeringly called ‘social fascists.’

After Adolf Hitler gained power in 1933, Thälmann was arrested. He was shot on Hitler’s orders in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944."

  • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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    5 days ago

    I’ve spent decades listening to Communists tell me that the revolution was just around the corner.

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        5 days ago

        So we agree. The Communist revolution isn’t coming anytime soon so we should work with what we’ve got.

          • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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            5 days ago

            Well, either you think the revolution is close at hand, or you think it isn’t and people should suffer as much as possible.

            • archomrade [he/him]@midwest.social
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              5 days ago

              Either you think reform will liberate the working class from capitalist oppression, or you think it can’t and people should just shut up about it already.

              • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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                5 days ago

                The US got an eight hour day, child labor laws, environmental laws, and things like Social Security and the ADA without a revolution, so yes, I do think reform is possible.

                  • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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                    4 days ago

                    Funny thing is that I was taught by some old school Communists; folks who fought in Spain and came home to face the blacklists. Back in 1968 they were telling people to vote for Humphrey because they knew how bad Nixon would be.