See no true scotsman.
this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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Socialism
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Man people can't seem to get their terms together. Some people define left as communist/anti capitalist. Some define it as just anyone who wants equity for minorities. Some people define it as anyone they don't like and them damn hippies.
People use "The Left" contextually. See the Overton window for reference.
I mean if you're talking about this version of capitalism, sure. But capitalism is more than one thing. These monolithic ideas that you are either capitalist or socialist or something else really downgrades the debate.
I have no love for what we have today. But there's a version of capitalism I could live with - it's just a far cry from what we have.
These overly simplistic memes don't do any favors, in my opinion. Saying if you believe in capitalism you are right wing is more alienating than galvanizing, and it reduces so many concepts down to such basic ones that there's no real meaning left.
Which version of capitalism would you prefer? Does it still involve the private ownership of the means of production?
Having a small business or store doesn't require capitalism.
It does if you employ someone
And employment was not invented until the 1800s either?
Much much earlier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation#History
Middle-ages at the latest at least in writing, but the idea of an employer we know of today probably goes way further back. People have owned and bought people longer than cities have had walls.
The ability for an individual to be able to fire someone is not really compatible with leftism. Employers don't really desire unions, ya know?
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Yeah. You can have a left based on a version of 'value' where the productive apparatus is made for the benefit not of all, or the benefits of those who do the work, but for those who 'own', who reign, who hold dominion over.
I really don't see how this is so hard for these people to understand.
What are your skull measurements, BTW?
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What nonsense.
Politics is not a one dimensional right and left split.
Real people, who have a personality beyond their political opinions, are all over the spectrum on issues.
I think you kind of missed the point. What we're talking about is reality right now where in fact there are two dominant parties and two dominant voter bases in the US. In fact, most politicians at the national level situate themselves in one of those two groups.
All of the nuance that you described exists. It's absolutely real. And so is the above paragraph, so go back and read the original post and maybe you can uncover some meaning.
I don't think they mentioned a specific country in their sweeping statement?
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This is a decent way to self-exclude yourself from relevancy in the political sphere.
Most of the global left is not strictly anti capitalist but rather advocate more nuanced systems.
Bars.
Absolutely true statement. Capitalism may be nuanced and politics may be, but support for capitalism is not pro-left in the least.
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