I think we’re doing pretty well… Let’s see: A quarter of humanity living under socialism. The biggest, most powerful nation in the world unabashedly Communist. More and more nations switching over to socialism every year. The last true bastion of capitalism teetering on the edge of utter economic collapse.
Yes, it’s a good time to be a Communist. Our future is here.
I’m surprised you’re slumming it in the U.S. and not enjoying the fruits of the glorious revolution back home.
It’s Timothy Zahn, not Hahn.
Sure he could - just take over control of the crew of the Death Star, or at least the command crew; he did that to some Star Destroyers at one point. Arguably the power of a weapon is less impressive than the power to control those who wield that weapon. Thulsa Doom’s argument for the superiority of Flesh over Steel, basically.
SteveG1, please remember not to tell other posters to fuck themselves, even in the Pit.
No warning issued.
Hmm. Fair point. I’d submit, though, that exceptional super-weapons (such as super-powerful Dark Jedi masters) are intrinsically less useful than more pedestrian weapons - they can’t be readily reproduced, can only be in one place at a time, and one lucky bullet ends them. The same objection could be raised regarding the Death Star project, of course, and it wouldn’t be a bad point - there’s a lot to be said for a fleet of Super Star Destroyers instead of a Death Star. But at least in principle, I believe the idea was the Death Star wouldn’t be a one-off, but one of a class of ships integrated into the Imperial force structure. There weren’t plans like that with the Dark Jedi.
[Yakoff Smirnoff voice]
In the Soviet union, the posters …
Yeah, I got nothing.
Are you talking socialism, like, Germany, where there’s universal health and stuff? Or, you know, SOCIALISM, where the oligarchs determine the price of a loaf of bread based on the labor it takes to produce it, instead of Adam Smith’s invisible hand taking care of it? Because conflating those two things is a grave, grave error.
Joruus C’baoth is the Dark Jedi you are thinking of.
That’s true… from a certain point of view. From the point of view of a Sith Lord, a weapon that only he can control is vastly more useful than a weapon anyone can get their hands on, because such a weapon can never be turned on him. A Sith ultimately only cares about gaining power for himself. He has no particular interest in something that makes it easier for everyone else to gain power. He’d likely be actively opposed to it, unless he can ensure that it helps him more than it helps everyone else combined. And if that one lucky bullet ends him, well, so what? He’s dead. What does he care about what happens after that, if he’s no longer in a position to profit from it?
So, to Vader’s way of thinking, a Death Star is less powerful than the Force, because with the Force, you can get yourself a Death Star. But with a Death Star, you can’t get yourself the Force.
What about at Costco? I think they have some bulk force at Costco.
Why are so many Dopers even paying attention to this wannabe America-hater? Commissar is obviously just a kid in university who has just started reading Marx or Lenin.
Kudos to those of you who see him (and his screeds) for what they are, and fuck with him with humor instead of argumentative engagement.
That country has a system based on “from each according to his abilities,” right? And your ability in that country is as a language teacher? Yet, teaching languages is beneath you? Teaching English to the citizens of the last nation on Earth that is under your glorious system of government in order to help that nation make better and more profitable economic deals with the last bastion of capitalism is beneath you?
Yeah, you’re really committed to the cause.
Keep in mind that “each according to his abilities” refers to the BEST and most PRODUCTIVE abilities of the person in question. So yes, while teaching English is one of my abilities, it is not my best ability. I believe that I can make a much more important contribution to the cause using my other talents and knowledge.
Also, I am not thrilled about the prospect of working with children.
I don’t think you could make a worthwhile donation to a sperm bank.
So, Commissar, (if that’s your real name) could you get the The Straight Dope in Russia? I couldn’t (unless I used Google Cache). Same goes for Kazakhstan. Is the Dope an existential threat to either country? Or some bureaucrat who doesn’t understand the need for million thread boards? Or is the Dope one of those mindless garbage websites?
Not buying your argument entirely mind you. I’ve worked with a lot of Russian immigrants. Interestingly enough, few of them feel like becoming American citizens. They miss Russia a lot, but the opportunities are lacking over there so you can’t argue America is the hell-hole you espouse.
I can’t help but note a perverse sense of satisfaction on your part that America’s decline as an economic world power is undergoing the same kind of psychological battering that the folks of the USSR underwent as a result of their break-up (serves-you-right attitude?).
Historically, we like to ignore problems until they threaten our national existence (Civil War, The Great Depression, WWII) and then at some point we unite and can do wonderful things (the moonshot would have never happened without the Soviet Union). Yeah, you took a shellacking in WWII, and we benefited your loss of blood verses our treasury and stayed on top for about 50 years.
But let’s face it, the Cold War was lose-lose for both sides. Each side blew a bunch of money on the Military-Industrial-Government complex, fought proxy-wars that got a lot of civilians killed on both sides, and came close to wiping out all higher life forms at least three time since 1945. One consequence is our great nation can flip more burgers than Russia can. Why spend money on education, when a bedazzling weapon that’s useless against terrorist looks like money better spent when shown on the Military Channel? Don’t tell me Russia didn’t have that problem–Khrushchev noted that in his memoirs.
Speaking of which: Battleship Potemkin great film!. Burnt by the Sun heart-breaking, dark, but good. And a smattering of others…only other films I’ve seen were actually in Russia and Kazakhstan. This was during the Georgian–Russian conflict from a few years ago (2008). My advice: to understand the nuances of the Stalinist film technique, you’ll need strong coffee and a lot of it . . . come to think your’re going to need a lot of Vodka too.
And the Communism stuff you rant about? Come on dude, get a life! Head on out to Brighton Beach, pick up a sweet young chickie who’ll be whispering sweet nothings in your ear–maybe you’ll wake up in the morning with a better attitude…
Yeah, let us know when you find those.
Thank god.
Welcome to Costco. I love you.
What is your best and most productive ability? Does the capitalist system recognize that as your best and most productive ability, and pay you accordingly?
I suspect that had you any value as an English teacher, you would be working with the best and brightest products of the Chinese educational system, those who were designated as China’s future communicators with the western world.
Teenagers, at least. Highly motivated, well educated, and socially ambitious teenagers. Above your league, probably.
Besides, since when does Communism care what you want? You’re a cog; where do you best fit into the machine? Caring about what you want is a antisocial affectation, and is against the needs of the people.
Commissar, it seems you accidentally forgot to explain why you aren’t living back in glorious Russia instead of our crappy country.