mwguy

Sorry for the delay been a crazy week.

I agree that Sanders is a democratic socialist. I am confused as to why you brought this incident up then. I thought you were trying to prove that Sanders was an authoritarian, but it seems like we both agree that this was a mistake he made and not some outcome that he wanted to happen or that was aligned with his ideology.

Emphasis added by me. I'm saying that to a Centrist (and honestly to myself too). Sander's actions to dismiss problems in a desired government program is aligned with his ideology. And a viewing of the record of Socialism and Socialist thought has seen that same patter arise over and over again.

It’s not clear to me that Socialism explicitly calls for that, maybe I have missed that. But Bernie is a Democratic Socialist. I understand this to mean that democracy would be used to create the laws, not an authoritarian.

Some OG Source but the context here is, after Das Kapital. The Socialist ideology takes off. Movements in Marx's lifetime to "vote in" Socialism arose, in this instance in Germany. Marx criticizes this attempt instead of advocating for revolution and dictatorial control exercised by a smaller group of Socialist leaders eg. the "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" (wikipedia summary that's easier reading).

Capitalism is a system that's designed to orchestrate the economy of a state. It offers some suggestions for the content of its society and the organization of its government but it is largely agnostic. And has been successfully used alongside Dictatorships, Republics, and Monarchs alike. Socialism dictates not just the economy of a state, but the makeup and mores of its society along with the organization of its Government. There are many modern Socialists who are led to believe that Socialism is compatible with a modern, Western society and Republic; but it pretty explicitly rejects it. Bernie, I believe, is one of those people. But when given power he exercised that power in the same fashion that non-Democratic Socialists of the past have done. That should be concerning to all people, including Centrists.

Oh yes, the Bible says Big Dicks are the Best!

Unfortunately true too often.

If fighting socialists disqualifies you as a socialist, then there would be no socialists.

That might be a little bit too much"on the nose". But maybe the slaughtering of a live animal as a sacrifice would be more fun.

Link the other comment?

A statistics class where your grade is determined by "drawing lots" as it shows God's desired grade....

I grew up pretty Christian. That particular section (or book) has some pretty spicy stuff in it. There's also other questionable sexual stuff in other areas. Like you're supposed to impregnate your brother's widow if they die without an heir, polygamy etc ... It's a book that's incredible forward thinking for it's time, but it's time was like 6,000 years ago.

5 Your breasts are like fawns, twins of a gazelle, grazing among the first spring flowers. 6 The sweet, fragrant curves of your body, the soft, spiced contours of your flesh Invite me, and I come. I stay until dawn breathes its light and night slips away.

Solomon 4:5-6

It's aboutta get spicy in Oklahoma

If Bernie cared about socialism so much he wouldn't have ignored the US Vets dying. That made him and anything he stood for look really bad, if anything you could say that Bernie doing this was an OP against leftism.

Sander's is likely the most sincere public figure in his support of his policies. It's clear to me, and everyone who watches him (even those who are in opposition to him) that he truly cares and believes in the causes he supports. Especially those that are part of his core platform.

If your plan is to "no true Scotsman" Sanders I can assure you that not only is that an "incorrect" position to have; but it's absolutely not one that will be seen as believable by the Centrists in the top level meme.

Ok, so it sounds like your definition of authoritarian is any power given to any government. You don't just have a problem with socialism.

Every form of government comes with a risk of an Authoritarian takeover. Certain actions (like centralization vs. decentralization being just one of many things that helps decide that). But Socialism explicitly calls for creating a heavily centralize givernment that makes it very straightforward for a dictatorship to arise. Quashing the sort of dissent needed to avoid dictatorship and even going as far as endorsing the idea of a "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" to modify society into the ideal Communist population.

In a sense you're correct that I have problems with most forms of governence when evaluating the chance of an authoritarian taking over. But Socialism endorses that so it's pretty well at the top of the list.