this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2025
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Lefty Memes
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An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.
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Rules
0. Only post socialist memes
That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme. Please post agitprop here)
0.5 [Provisional Rule] Use alt text or image descriptions to allow greater accessibility
(Please take a look at our wiki page for the guidelines on how to actually write alternative text!)
We require alternative text (from now referred to as "alt text") to be added to all posts/comments containing media, such as images, animated GIFs, videos, audio files, and custom emojis.
EDIT: For files you share in the comments, a simple summary should be enough if they’re too complex.
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0.5.1 Style tip about abbreviations and short forms
When writing stuff like "lol" and "iirc", it's a good idea to try and replace those with their all caps counterpart
- ofc => OFC
- af = AF
- ok => OK
- lol => LOL
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- bs => BS
- iirc => IIRC
- cia => CIA
- nato => Nato (you don't spell it when talking, right?)
- usa => USA
- prc => PRC
- etc.
Why? Because otherwise (AFAIK), screen readers will try to read them out as actually words instead of spelling them
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That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).
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The only dangerous minority is the rich.
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We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.
(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)
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Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.
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founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Most of them understand. They're just selfish and think that they will be and should be the ones deciding for everyone. When corrupt businesses will always be as corrupt as the government if not more so. Considering how they tend to always take it over.
"Universal healthcare? I don't wanna be forced to have healthcare or pay for someone else's healthcare."
Real argument I had with a moron.
They may indeed be stupid, but I don't strictly disagree with them. I think any intelligent person would want to contribute to such a system. But ideally shouldn't be forced.
Forcing these people is part of the reason we can't have nice things. They should be free to struggle and suffer to their hearts desire. Largely cut off and excluded from society according to their wishes. That will be the only way we will ever get such a system. And the only way they will learn the value of it.
It's going to and to some extent already is starting in places like California. Towns and States should work to take care of their own. As well as like minded neighbors. Those places will continue to grow and flourish. And places that don't, will suffer, wither, and die. And that's okay. We shouldn't be subsidizing bad behavior through force. They need consequences to their behavior.
I understand where you're coming from, wanting them to struggle and suffer under the system they want. The problem is, I've never met a poor libertarian so they wouldn't be the ones hurt by such a system. They are almost always born into (at least modest) wealth or privilege or if they have benefited from help from others or govt incentives/programs, want to pull the ladder up behind them to reduce the cost on them regardless of the impact on the rest of society.
I couldn't support a system that punishes them because that's pretty crappy but also, that same system would punish many others too.
They should be free to struggle and suffer to their hearts desire
That doesn't really make sense if they live in the same communities. If there's universal healthcare but it's opt-in, there will be people who opt out. Those same people will catch viruses and other diseases, not be able to go to the doctor, then show up on the same subways and airplanes as the people who take care of themselves. This means the uninsured become disease vectors.
They should be free to struggle and suffer to their hearts desire
This is actually how libertarians think as far as I can tell. Naive and short sighted.
Are those that didn't opt in to any kind of healthcare or social security just going to "struggle and suffer" in silence? Or are they going to beg, steal and otherwise subject others to the consequences of their poor decisions?
Having the state make those decisions is a bit shit but it's still less shit than letting the sort of people who vote for tax cuts for billionaires to decide for everyone else.
Libertarians and anarchists. Yes. Left or right they're both generally going to agree with that. But don't sleep on the language surrounding it.
Those on the right believe people should be forced to suffer, to subsidize the privilege of the wealthy. Where those on the left value consent and respect an individual's choice not to be a party to a system even if it's to their detriment. Though we would let them change their minds and consent in a heart beat. Since it would still benefit society.
Voluntarily contributing funds or time to such services should be viewed and treated as community service. And those that would refuse despite capability, not part of the community.
I consider myself way on the left and respect to the individual's choice is still a conservative view for me. It puts the choice of the individual above that of the society we live in. An example: I had to take my grandfather's driver's license away at 93. It's terrible for me. Terrible choice, huge burden on me and my loved ones but overall 100% the right choice for society.
Yes, but you wouldn't consider yourself libertarian or anarchist.
If a society can't value an individuals choice. Then why should anyone value societies choice? It's an education issue. If a society can't trust the decisions of those inside it. It's because society already failed.
Taking away your grandfather's drivers license isn't analogous to forcing things on society at large. We took away my father's as well. He's still technically legal to drive. But he's not safe and insurance crazy expensive. But not everyone his age is in that same boat. Ultimately we should have less people driving anyway.
I think any intelligent person would want to contribute to such a system. But ideally shouldn't be forced.
I think it's a matter of education, not (just) intelligence: If you understand how insurance and social security and all that work (and you trust the ones administering the funds do so fairly and faithfully), then you'll probably be willing to pay for peace of mind. Intelligent people can still make mistakes or underestimate risk, so I wouldn't trust them to arrive at that conclusion on their own, but they'll probably understand the reasoning more easily than others. Conversely, I think less intelligent people can understand it as well, though they may require a different or more personal approach for explanation.
Absolutely. Education is a better term I agree.
I saw an old wearing the Gadsden on a hat yesterday and the temptation to approach with "Nice to see a fellow leftist revolutionary against [list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence]" was unreal.
Nice to see a fellow leftist revolutionary against [list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence]" was unreal.
They really are so close to getting it, but then use flatearther style thinking to back flip into doubling down on capitalism.
Nevertheless, avoid stepping on rattlesnakes