Wanderthread

smulder · March 17, 2018, 7:41am

Wanderfound · March 17, 2018, 8:13am

Got me on that one; I was misinformed.

OTOH, this is a real Mussolini quote:

We assert—and on the basis of the most recent socialist literature that you cannot deny—that the real history of capitalism is only now beginning, because capitalism is not just a system of oppression; it also represents a choice of value,…

Mediterranean Fascism 1919-1945, edit., Charles F. Delzell, The MacMillian Press (1970) p. 23. Speech given on June 21, 1921 in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies.

But, OTOH, so is this:

Italy is not a capitalist country according to the meaning now conventionally assigned to that term.

Address to the National Corporative Council (Nov. 14, 1933), in A Primer of Italian Fascism, edited/translated by Jeffrey T. Schnapp (2000) p 160.

I suppose it’s a bit much to expect Mussolini to be consistent. He wasn’t exactly known as a great thinker.

Wanderfound · March 17, 2018, 8:18am

Speaking of Benito…

Left -> right converts are always the worst.

Wanderfound · March 17, 2018, 12:34pm

emo_pinata · March 17, 2018, 4:39pm

That one is decided crazier, yes. I also disagree with the left propping up pundits with clear propaganda goals, but that article is riddled with distortions and conspiracy leaps. For example, choosing to go on Tucker Carlson to whine about he mainstream media doesn’t support the message about the hypocrisy and danger of the chosen Russia narrative distracting for real issues, it supports Tucker’s fake news propaganda for the day because he bookended punditry.

That doesn’t mean that they are a Russian agent or an agent of the right, just not a very good agent of the left - that’s not at the level of denying someone’s association with antisemitism because it would look bad for an associated organization.

emo_pinata · March 17, 2018, 4:57pm

I have a few comments as well: most of the leftists going on right-wing national media are also ones confused as to why their comment sections and Twitter is full of alt-right fundies - so while it’s probably a freeze peach naivety it doesn’t take a lot of cynicism to make a leap they do it for their pocketbook, there has always been a big issue with the left and anti-Semite conspiracy between Israel and the nature of underdog movements - I would even say the staunch anti-racism stance comes from the modern era since anti-immigration stances were also strong in the left for a long time (there was a time before the right catered to islationism to bring those people back since their working-class appeals are only surface deep), the SPLC isn’t part of deep state media they are just prone to the same conspiratorial individuals joining the cause well intentioned or not - it’s a shared trait really, you have an article linking Russia with everything else and a group linking the article to everything they perceive as an enemy.

EDIT

I’m not saying the current two parties are better about the above in any way. Just my own frustrations talking to the left for a couple decades primarily through online communications.