this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
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The Democratic People's Republic of Tankiejerk

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Dunking on Tankies from a leftist, anti-capitalist perspective.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I love how I'm just suppose to trust the official texts on China and Cuba, but not the US. That's what these "do your own homework" posts always imply.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

In communism, you can vote so long as you vote for pre-approved candidates.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Unfortunately, our system isn't that much better with the fuckery in the political parties. Primary elections that set who is eligible to be elected at the national level. But that's just garden variety authoritarianism for you.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Well I think you are wrong on a deep fundamental level.

The difference is staggering.

In democracy, you can chose to boot someone out, that's not an option un dictatorships and it bakes all the difference in the world.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You really should look up the difference between a democracy and a republic

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Why? I was discussing the difference between democracy and dictatorship.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Because the United States is not a democracy, it's a constitutional republic. A constitutional republic that is sliding into authoritarianism and towards dictatorship.

If you would like to see an example of democracy, you should look up ancient Athens.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

As worrisome as the trump presidency is, the USA is still a democracy. Also, a republic can be democratic and also Athens democracy was the first but largely not what we call a democracy today.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I find it interesting that to you the definitions have changed and what I was taught in school 20 years ago is no longer accurate.

Words have meanings. In a democracy your vote is direct. In a republic your vote is not direct but you are passing your power onto representatives who will wield and control your power on your behalf.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The term is 'representative democracy'.

A 'republic' is any formal state that isn't a monarchy.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So China is a democracy where virtually everyone just happens to vote for the incumbent?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago

We prolly gonna have to get the guy to define democracy first. It likely ain’t what we think he thinks it is.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Serious question, what truly successful, stable and properly representative democracies are there?

Like, even if we remove the major issues around capitalism, the US democracy is as far from representing the people as democratically possible. Heck, even if you remove the electoral college it would still be a super unrepresentative democracy because of the two party system and other factors.

So what countries are out there that have functional democracies that truly represent the will of the people while being stable?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Serious question, what truly successful, stable and properly representative democracies are there?

Most of the EU. Aussieland and New Zealand. Canada. Taiwan. Mongolia. Mexico and Brazil, if you'll allow a little wiggle room in 'stable'. Possibly SK and Japan, depending on your definitions of 'properly representative'.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Not a definition of democracy, but if a country has Universal Healthcare. That’s a start. Healthcare in Canada needs help, but at least I know I’m not going to lose my home and life’s savings because of health. PP and Danielle Smith’s wet dream is to privatize health care.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago

not going to go full tankie and praises those democracies, but without a doubt, the US democracy is a farce.

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