General Discussion

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

21. Yes, Germany was the most liberal country.

Wed Sep 3, 2014, 04:13 AM

Sep 2014

Hitler's rise had nothing to do with "people behaving strangely"...it was an example of an opportunist taking advantage of an opportunity.

If there had been a successful socialist revolution in Germany(as Marx hoped, and as there should have been)it wouldn't have been possible for anyone like Hitler to come to power...and a revolution in Russia following that, which wouldn't have been isolated and economically desperate, would probably not have degenerated into Stalinism at all.

Both Hitler and Stalin needed desperate conditions and siege mindsets in the countries in which they worked to be able to rise to power at all. Those conditions were created, in both cases, by the winners of the first World War, who were determined to prevent the Soviet Union from succeeding in building socialism and in preventing post-imperial Germany from building a prosperous and peaceful democracy.

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If there WAS a broad mass-based left-wing revolution during a Democratic presidency... [View all] Ken Burch Sep 2014 OP

the broad mass-based race would then have a leader. Haven't we been there done that already? lonestarnot Sep 2014 #1

you're assuming she or he would HAVE to be leading it. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #2

A natural leader will have the tendency to lead. Anarchy doesn't work well. It can be a pain in lonestarnot Sep 2014 #3

"Anarchy" and "anarchism" are not interchangeable terms. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #16

The current President would view any left-leaning popular movement as hostile. [n/t] Maedhros Sep 2014 #32

Possibly as terrorists. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #41

That's sort of how he viewed OWS, judging from the Federal coordination of the crackdown. [n/t] Maedhros Sep 2014 #42

That's where I got the idea. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #43

It's truly a disturbing notion. Maedhros Sep 2014 #47

first one has to have a really democratic president nt msongs Sep 2014 #4

If we had one of those, the question would be moot. n/t. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #13

Great Man Theory of History strikes again YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #69

Define "revolution" Prophet 451 Sep 2014 #5

I was talking about the first. n/t. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #14

That's surprising; I suggest you add that to the OP to make it clear muriel_volestrangler Sep 2014 #45

I don't think you understand what revolution is BainsBane Sep 2014 #6

Yes, it's against a state and a social order. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #12

No, my comments are not right-wing BainsBane Sep 2014 #17

Why are you dwelling on people complaining about HRC and WalMart? Ken Burch Sep 2014 #22

There is no 'Left' in the US leftstreet Sep 2014 #33

"having taught the subject at the college level" malokvale77 Sep 2014 #54

Yeah, I at least understand that BainsBane Sep 2014 #60

Your first paragraph was fine. If all your posts in this thread had been like that, Ken Burch Sep 2014 #63

Thank you for injecting some actual knowledge of history into this thread YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #65

Revolutions eat their children Recursion Sep 2014 #7

True, but Stalinism wouldn't happen here. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #10

Revolutions make their own logic; Germany was the most liberal European country for a while Recursion Sep 2014 #19

Yes, Germany was the most liberal country. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #21

Forget trying to make "them" understand malokvale77 Sep 2014 #55

Maybe you should be very afraid then malokvale77 Sep 2014 #56

Lead it RobertEarl Sep 2014 #8

Send Victoria Nuland CJCRANE Sep 2014 #9

Armchair revolutionaries BainsBane Sep 2014 #11

Again, I'm not TELLING people to revolt. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #15

Genovese was a Marxist radical BainsBane Sep 2014 #18

Genovese's point was bogus Ken Burch Sep 2014 #20

I didn't read the Genovese quote as an accusation of cowardice against slaves. Nuclear Unicorn Sep 2014 #23

But that wasn't why people were asking the question Genovese condemns. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #25

"They wondered why Nat Turner was the only one" BainsBane Sep 2014 #59

The thing is, as far as I know, nobody actually WAS asking why Nat Turner was the only revolt leader Ken Burch Sep 2014 #62

Only two things, that I can see, will cause such a revolution steve2470 Sep 2014 #24

What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub? FSogol Sep 2014 #26

Bwahahaha!!!! JoePhilly Sep 2014 #27

Wait...I'm Spartacus. MineralMan Sep 2014 #35

maybe pull this behind it ... JoePhilly Sep 2014 #39

As long as it's really small... MineralMan Sep 2014 #48

If we had a real progressive Democratic president, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic House Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #28

"If we had a real progressive Democratic President" YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #64

I'd join up. hifiguy Sep 2014 #29

that. is not how the major political parties run. if they are able to get a consensus that is what still_one Sep 2014 #30

Most Democrats are political weather vanes... conservaphobe Sep 2014 #31

Not a realistic proposition, so I can't vote. MineralMan Sep 2014 #34

See 1968 Democratic Convention for the precedent. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2014 #36

Currently the young are not conscripted Skidmore Sep 2014 #38

The SHOULD join it, but in reality, most would crush it. Jamastiene Sep 2014 #37

I still have to wonder about it's focus. Xyzse Sep 2014 #40

Lead it (nt) bigwillq Sep 2014 #44

Other - negotiate with it, and call a constitutional convention muriel_volestrangler Sep 2014 #46

That is also an option. Ken Burch Sep 2014 #49

Since this such an unlikely hypothetical situation, I'll assume the good faith is obvious muriel_volestrangler Sep 2014 #51

It would only help the Republicans. baldguy Sep 2014 #50

How about the democratic party join the left, instead? Scootaloo Sep 2014 #52

There will always be people who would rather burn the village down in the name of "saving" it. baldguy Sep 2014 #58

Why should it? YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #68

If individuals can't gain power through elections they shouldn't take it by force. N/T Chathamization Sep 2014 #53

Join it but history shows only one had the foresight to do it, FDR. mmonk Sep 2014 #57

FDR did no such thing YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #66

when the left primaries Tom Carper I'll start considering their potential to lead a revolution nt geek tragedy Sep 2014 #61

Since the Democratic Party is neither revolutionary nor left-wing, why would a Dem POTUS do that? YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #67