China started export oriented zones but remains socialist, similar to policies followed by other Asian economies. The Philippines, in contrast, followed the U.S., leading to an average economic growth much lower than that of China and of various neighbors.
Cuba, meanwhile, did not privatize, and yet its economy quadrupled in size in two decades, even with an illogical trade embargo from the U.S.
About leftism and liberalism not being the same, that was my point. That’s why what I mentioned initially is what a leftist would support. But liberalism is seen as the opposite of conservatism, which is right-wing.
The folks I knew (Trotskyists mostly, with the odd old school Maoist or three) considered themselves well to the left of the American Communist Party who were regarded as compromising stooges that tacitly supported trash like the Democrats (non-existent God forbid!). And historically they considered the Democrats to not be particularly distinguishable from Republicans other than being bigger hypocrites when they sucked up to working people despite wanting to continue to exploit them like any good capitalist. Old age and the horrors of Trump have somewhat altered that equation, but only somewhat. In the past they typically refused to vote in presidential elections. But then those folks represent an absolutely infinitesimal portion of the American body politic . They were lucky if there were more than 10 or 15,000 of them nationally in therir 1970’s heyday. For all intents and purposes they are completely ignorable in any political equation.
“We should stop acting like Democrats are in the majority in the Senate. They’re not. The Senate is made up of 50 Republicans, 46 Democrats, 2 Independents that caucus with the Democrats, The Joker, and Poison Ivy.”
Considering how Trump treated the immigrant children he warehoused, a tent on the sidewalk is almost certainly better. Or were you under the illusion that Trump would provide people with livable facilities, edible food, potable water, medical care, and mental health care in these warehouses? And there was no indication the homeless people were going to be consulted as to whether they wanted to be taken off the streets. Trump wasn’t interested in addressing any of the many reasons people become homeless, he just wanted people he found offensive out of sight. Chilling, in my opinion.
. They were lucky if there were more than 10 or 15,000 of them nationally in therir 1970’s heyday. For all intents and purposes they are completely ignorable in any political equation.