• MoreZombies@quokk.au
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    7 hours ago

    How does one get so far left that they are a “tankie”? I feel like I am very left leaning, but I would punch a tankie in the head.

    is my understanding wrong? I don’t get how you could be “Far Left” (In that they would be against Authoritarian Governments like the Nazis) yet also a “Tankie” (Which embraces and supports Authoritarian Governments).

    Help me?

    • MrMakabar@slrpnk.net
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      3 hours ago

      It is honestly pretty simple:

      US = bad -> anti US = good

      Add to that the idea that revolutions are inherently violent and killing of some traitors is fine and you have your tankie. For dictators being somewhat anti American is a pretty good strategy. The US propaganda is pro democracy and that is a great enemy for a dictator, the US also does a lot of evil shit and the fact that your country is poor is all to blame on the US and absolutely not on the dictators stealing everything. That btw is also why “socialism” never worked for tankies. As in it would have been perfect, but the US destroyed it.

      As for many of the best stories, there is a good bit of truth in it. As in the US actually does a lot of evil shit and 100% fights leftist movements. However it is not always the bad guy and two bad guys can fight each other and do so all the time.

    • Simon_Shitewood@lemmy.ml
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      5 hours ago

      Bacuse left and right - socialism and capitalism - have nothing to do with authoritarianism, which itself is a spurious concept. All systems are authoritarian; you’re not allowed to form a communist state under liberalism, you’re not allowed to form a government under anarchism, etc. You’re forced to play by the rules of the hegemonic system, authoritarian is just a label for whether you personally like those rules.

      • Aqarius@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        Specifically, it was made to separate Hitler from the right and pawn him off to the left.