So, my main point here is that very few people in Europe think we have any problems with free speech, and those that do are either grifting right wingers or impressionable young people in the first flush of youthful revolutionary ardour. I thought that American liberals should at least be exposed to that point of view.
An interesting side point, and I apologise if this is a hijack, is how the champions of free speech seem to think that they are somehow authentically left wing. I suspect they are making similar mistakes to the charmingly enthusiastic young people protesting the genocide in Gaza. But on this board in particular, without the excuse of youth.
It seems to me that most of the advocates for ‘free speech’, here and elsewhere, are advocating for classic liberal values while explicitly identifying as liberals? Am I wrong? Is there anyone else in this thread who identifies as a socialist?
Bourgeois liberalism is only left wing when compared to bourgeois conservatism and aristocratic conservatism. I’m not sure it’s even left wing compared to populism. To the extent that middle class liberals do support the working class, it is inevitably paternalistic, and, if we are honest, entirely contingent on not materially impacting the interests of the liberal middle class. That’s not meaningfully left wing in any shape or form.
Free Speech is not a socialist value. If you are not a socialist then, with respect, you should not be claiming to be left wing.
For sure, socialists think that individual workers and citizens should be entirely free from oppression, and so should be free to talk freely. Indeed, the most motivated and talented individuals should be encouraged to contribute to the work of their local citizens’ councils. But advocating against the dictatatorship of the proletariat? No. Hell no, with extreme prejudice.
A free press? Nope. The common ownership of the means of production and distribution includes the common ownership of all the media. Sure, you want a free and frank debate amongst the comrades to better progress the journey to perfect the socialist society, but the current situation where effectively all media is dominated by the global hyper-rich who are explicitly manipulating public opinion to deliver global fascism is, and how can I put this bluntly, not a good thing. At least we have the CPC as a partial bulwark against this.
Individual rights. Sure, we absolutely want to improve the lot of the individual citizen, but the common collective good always takes precedence over individual rights. Always. Which brings us around to the activists vandalising public property, and their supporters. Their supporters need to be careful not to act against the public good. The vandals themselves - that’s sabotage, and the authentically left wing response is to drag them in front of a commisar to organise their summary execution. Now, you may disagree with that approach, indeed as a liberal be vehemently opposed, but please don’t try to claim left wing virtue for your position. That’s just silly.
So, you’ve probably worked out that I am abandoning any pretence to accomodation with the liberals. Working across the aisles has not worked. The menshiviks will always cave to the liberals, and the liberals will always cave to the conservatives, who will always gleefully support the fascists. I don’t care about liberal concerns and strongly worded disagreements anymore.
So, where does that leave us globally. The genocide in Gaza seems to be an important touchstone for the free speech debate. I suggest that there is very little left wing relevance to this. Israel is the only country in the region with anything like a liberal democracy, and it has it’s own unique circumstances which lead to an odd mix of far-right aggression and egalitarian communalism. It does have organised socialist organisations, but there is no scope for a socialist revolution anytime soon. Not least because it is surrounded by implacable enemies organised on feudal or barely post-feudal lines. Everyone involved seems committed to total war and letting (their own) god sort it out. Sad really, particularly since there are no gods. How ironic is that?
The hyper-capitalist United States seems to have entered into its final phase, where it will destroy itself as predicted by Marx. It won’t be pretty, and may not lead to a socialist revolution. I’m glad that there is an ocean between me and it.
Following the end of US hegemony, China will become the pre-emminent global power. Since it already has a broadly socialist system, that’s quite encouraging. We observe with interest.
The EU is making a fair fist of negotiating a peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism. This transition is necessary for civilisation to continue - climate change and the high technology society demand the end of all inegalitarian political systems. It’s socialism or a descent into a new dark age.
Which leaves us with dear old Blighty, the main subject of this thread. I think it’s about 50/50 if we implode in imitation of the USA, or somehow come to our senses and at least try to maintain civilisation in alignment with the EU. Interesting times.
Congratulations if you got this far. Thank you for reading.
Power to the People!