Let’s say you are a poor communist. You believe all the communist things in you heart of hearts. Then for shits and giggles, one day you try your luck at the lottery and you win billions of dollars. Now, at that moment when you went from being poor to a billionaire. Does Karl Marx disappear from your mind? Do you lose sympathy for your fellow human being? I would say no. If the answer is yes, then I would say you didn’t actually believe in communism in the first place.
Now, that you are a billionaire, is there pressure for you to ditch communism? Ooooohh yes my friend, big pressure! But a person can be strong enough to resist that temptation and maintain their ideology.
I am fine with generalizing most billionaires as not communist, but I think it is very reactionary to say that it is impossible for a billionaire to be a communist.
I still disagree. This is kind of like arguing communists should go live in the woods and disconnect themselves from markets and capitalism. We live in a capitalistic society. Even as leftists we must engage in capitalism.
If a billionaire were to broadcast communist propaganda. Require their workforce to be in unions. Donate substantially to leftist causes. I feel like you could argue pretty strongly that they are a communist.
Again, ideology is not limited by wealth. In fact, you can argue the wealthy can enjoy weirder stranger ideologies that the average person cannot.
The average person engages in capitalism because they have to. Once you have a billion dollars, the only communist-compatible option is to use it to create a better society. Keeping more than you need does not help anyone.
I don’t need to counter it, you were trying to debate-bro something you already largely appear to agree with. That’s my point, saying a Communist can randomly win the Lottery and be a billionaire temporarily adds absolutely nothing to the conversation.
Here’s the counter-argument: nobody is saying a Communist randomly gaining a billion dollars is no longer a Communist. This is an argument you invented purely to be a debate-bro contrarion. This is not well thought out or a point worth discussing, bevause it is meaningless.
As for the debate bro stuff. Whether or not you realize it, you are also debate bro-ing. We are both trying to convince others of our thoughts though discussion and arguments. You are also using some of the strategies. I hope one day you will realize your potential and turn into a great debate warrior.
It’s a good way to understand others and get closer to truth. Mostly, it helps others to see the arguments on both sides.
It absolutely can. If you’re a billionaire, but say you’re a communist, you are lying.
I disagree.
Let’s say you are a poor communist. You believe all the communist things in you heart of hearts. Then for shits and giggles, one day you try your luck at the lottery and you win billions of dollars. Now, at that moment when you went from being poor to a billionaire. Does Karl Marx disappear from your mind? Do you lose sympathy for your fellow human being? I would say no. If the answer is yes, then I would say you didn’t actually believe in communism in the first place.
Now, that you are a billionaire, is there pressure for you to ditch communism? Ooooohh yes my friend, big pressure! But a person can be strong enough to resist that temptation and maintain their ideology.
I am fine with generalizing most billionaires as not communist, but I think it is very reactionary to say that it is impossible for a billionaire to be a communist.
Let me rephrase. If you stay a billionaire, you cannot be a communist. It’s hypocritical to horde wealth while advocating for the abolition of money.
I still disagree. This is kind of like arguing communists should go live in the woods and disconnect themselves from markets and capitalism. We live in a capitalistic society. Even as leftists we must engage in capitalism.
If a billionaire were to broadcast communist propaganda. Require their workforce to be in unions. Donate substantially to leftist causes. I feel like you could argue pretty strongly that they are a communist.
Again, ideology is not limited by wealth. In fact, you can argue the wealthy can enjoy weirder stranger ideologies that the average person cannot.
The average person engages in capitalism because they have to. Once you have a billion dollars, the only communist-compatible option is to use it to create a better society. Keeping more than you need does not help anyone.
Agreed, invest the billions. Keep some of the interest for yourself. Donate the rest to causes.
This is an exception to systemic pressures and rules, and does not really answer the original statement. It’s more pedantry than anything.
It’s such good pedantry though, that you don’t have a counter argument.
Where did I say systemic pressures weren’t at play? I even agreed that there was pressure to drop communism when becoming a billionaire.
What do you mean by rules? Is this just another word for systemic pressures to make your post bigger?
How can one answer a statement? I was disagreeing and I laid out my reasoning why with a though experiment.
Nothing in your reply makes sense in the context of this discussion.
I don’t need to counter it, you were trying to debate-bro something you already largely appear to agree with. That’s my point, saying a Communist can randomly win the Lottery and be a billionaire temporarily adds absolutely nothing to the conversation.
I’m sorry you don’t like how well my thought experiment proved my point.
Instead of whining about it and pretending it’s not real, you could always come up with a counter argument.
Here’s the counter-argument: nobody is saying a Communist randomly gaining a billion dollars is no longer a Communist. This is an argument you invented purely to be a debate-bro contrarion. This is not well thought out or a point worth discussing, bevause it is meaningless.
Thank you!
I am having this discussion with someone else here: https://lemm.ee/comment/11426307
Feel free to add your thoughts
As for the debate bro stuff. Whether or not you realize it, you are also debate bro-ing. We are both trying to convince others of our thoughts though discussion and arguments. You are also using some of the strategies. I hope one day you will realize your potential and turn into a great debate warrior.
It’s a good way to understand others and get closer to truth. Mostly, it helps others to see the arguments on both sides.