this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago (9 children)

I don't disagree with a lot of what the Unabomber wrote. I don't disagree with this person's hatred of the healthcare system.

But you cannot assassinate your way out of capitalism.

It just does not work that way. You cannot assassinate corporations into putting people over profits when they are legally required to do the opposite and you cannot assassinate your way into a law being changed.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The current system was forged with violence. What so you think is gonna beat it? Thoughts and prayers?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Whether or not it can be resolved with violence, it will not be resolved with targeted assassinations by a handful of people.

There is no example where a capitalist system was toppled with targeted assassinations. There are lots of examples where the security state got a whole hell of a lot more oppressive after them though.

I'm sure that totally won't happen this time in the U.S. for sure.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (3 children)

That's such bullshit, security escalation happens either way, they don't need any excuse, just see the track record. Also, it's not like anyone is saying this killing solved capitalism, they just know its impact has shaken the ideological foundation a lot more than finger-wagging at people on the internet

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

People are absolutely saying that this will change everything.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

It doesn’t hurt to remind the ruling class once in a while whose boss.

But yeah. A revolution will take a lot more than a targeted assination of a couple CEOs.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Does it help? Because I'm guessing what will happen here is CEOs will just get big security details and less-discerning copycats will end up killing innocent people.

And rates will continue to rise and not one less person will be denied.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago (1 children)

In the short term yes you’re right.

But look at the populist anger this action sparked. These kind of extrajudicial killings that rile up the population, are very much associated with revolutions and changes in power. (Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad).

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Dude, America just elected a plutocrat dictator. There's not going to be socialized medicine any time in the near future and insurance companies will pass the cost of their security teams on to the people forced to pay for their needless existences.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (3 children)

That plutocrat was elected through a manipulation of populist rage.

Check out the policy proposal forums RFK and Trump set up for their supporters. Expanding Medicare has more upvotes than downvotes

Paul Krugmann wrote an interesting piece touching on this yesterday (Gift Article) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/opinion/elites-euro-social-media.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gU4.cSdP.OL0VogKNmVT3&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

What difference does that make now? Why do you think they actually care what their supporters want?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I don’t. But it means that these people may not be so far from the same ideal as us. Which matters in convincing people for a revolution, and elections later on (if they still will be free and fair after Trump).

In fact, polling showed, a substantial number of people in 2016 and 2020 went from Bernie voting in primaries to voting Trump. The people want someone who isn’t scared to criticise neoliberal elitism.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yes, the famously free and fair elections under dictatorships.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Well Trump was president in 2016 and we had a free election in 2020. But even if 2028 is not free, the current situation is that the vast majority of the country is boiling in anti-elite sentiment, this could lead to a revolution.

I’m sorry if I’m not conforming with you pessimistic or what you might call “realist” views. But I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to let facism win. We can only achieve a better future if we start imagining it and believing in it. If Facism wins I get murdered. I’m doing everything to not let that happen.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Trump didn't have all three branches of government on his side. He also didn't literally say he was going to be a dictator. It's not pessimism, it is realism.

Do you think he was just joking when he said he was going to be a dictator?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

It’s not pessism to admit Trump is a wannabe dictator.

It’s pessimism to sit there complaining about it without imagining paths and working towards a better alternative.

I’m not one of these “anti-electoralism” people. I vote, and I think voting maters. But a lot more matters than just voting.

You can’t just say “oh well we did our best” after you lose the electionand let facism happen. You gotta fight, you gotta advocate, you gotta defend those who need it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

He's not a "wannabe dictator." He made it very clear what he is going to be and he controls all three branches of government. On top of that, they've given him permission to do anything as an "official presidential act" (i.e. declare himself dictator) and it would be up to congress, who are on his side, to say he can't.

Fighting fascism doesn't mean living in a pipe dream world where It Can't Happen Here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (17 children)

You’re arguing against someone who isn’t me.

Whatever Trump is is irrelevant to my point. My point is its pessimistic and problematic to surrender to facism happening without putting up a fight.

I’m basically saying: We gotta use all means necessary to fight facism.

And to me it seems you end up replying: But Trump is a dictator.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

No security is foolproof, and a security detail has precious little ability to withstand a raging mob. Importantly, there are only so many former spec ops for hire. Most of these psychopaths will have to settle for 3rd rate rentacops.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Anda security detail has previous little ability to withstand a raging mob.

Which, again, is not targeted assassination.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

The same method probably won't work again.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Not with that attitude you won't...

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (8 children)

Not with any attitude regarding assassinating your way out of capitalism.

It simply will not work.

And if you think healthcare in America is going to get cheaper or fairer because of this, you know nothing about America.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I agree with you.
Imo, we need something besides assasinations/sabotages. We have to educate ourselves and others into trusting each other, working with each other, having empathy and understanding solidarity.
But I don't see a way out of capitalism without violence, sadly.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

Violence? Maybe. Targeted assassinations? No way. This will just make insurance premiums go up because the companies will all hire huge security details and pass those costs on to the people forced to pay for insurance.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago

As much as people are disagreeing, you're right. The systemic pressure is too great to fix it using fear of assassination alone. We need to change the rules if we want to change the game.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

That was a massive popular revolution, not targeted assassination. So why would I tell that to the French?

People also always leave out the fact that it took only 15 years to go from that popular uprising to an emperor being crowned who had just as much power as the king who was executed.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

In that vein, revolutions have as much of a chance to end poorly as to end well. Look at what is happening in Syria right now. There are a lot of players. The ideal arrangement would be peaceful power sharing inside of a democratic framework, but there is every chance that Assad will be replaced with another violent authoritarian regime.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah French revolution didn't have any lasting impact on global society

Should just kept the king and worked within the system lll

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I didn't say any of those things or even imply them. Why are you putting a bunch of nonsense in my mouth?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I am sure bootlicking will drive change

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Who's boots am I licking? Please quote me doing so.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

Mental therapy is the way. Our government is an expression of our massed anxiety and disconnectedness. Cure the insanity and society will follow.

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