It’s another muggy day, here in the CatBox. Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, so I’m not too sure how much I’ll have for you then. Then Monday, I’ll be gone for my cardiac stress test from 9:30 in the morning until around 5 PM with no food and no nap. I’ll be exhausted, so I may not cover Iowa very well. Have a great weekend!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:05 (average 5:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Takes:
From Alternet: 3. The Soviet Union and China achieved state capitalism, not socialism
As leader of the Soviet Union, Lenin once said that socialism was a goal, not yet an achieved reality. The Soviet had, instead, achieved “state capitalism.” A socialist party had state power, and the state had become the industrial capitalist displacing the former private capitalists. The Soviet revolution had changed who the employer was; it had not ended the employer/employee relationship. Thus, it was—to a certain extent—capitalist.
Lenin’s successor, Stalin, declared that the Soviet Union had achieved socialism. In effect, he offered Soviet state capitalism as if it were the model for socialism worldwide. Socialism’s enemies have used this identification ever since to equate socialism with political dictatorship. Of course, this required obscuring or denying that (1) dictatorships have often existed in capitalist societies and (2) socialisms have often existed without dictatorships.
After initially copying the Soviet model, China changed its development strategy to embrace instead a state-supervised mix of state and private capitalism focused on exports. China’s powerful government would organize a basic deal with global capitalists, providing cheap labor, government support, and a growing domestic market. In exchange, foreign capitalists would partner with Chinese state or private capitalists, share technology, and integrate Chinese output into global wholesale and retail trade systems. China’s brand of socialism—a hybrid state capitalism that included both communist and social-democratic streams—proved it could grow faster over more years than any capitalist economy had ever done.
The only Socialism we need to fear in the US is the National Socialism of the Republican Reich. This is the third of ten things you should know about Socialism. Please click through for the other nine. RESIST!!
From YouTube (CNN Channel): Watch ER doctor confront Mike Pence
While evading the question, Republican traitor Pence failed to mention that he fought Medicaid expansion in Indiana tooth and nail. It passed in spite of him. What a liar! RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline High Quality
Ah… the memories! RESIST!!
Vote Blue!!
8 Responses to “Open Thread–2/1/2020”
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George Orwell brilliantly satirized the Soviet Union in “Animal Farm.” If you’ve read the book, you know that at the end the pigs were indistinguishable from the humans they had overthrown. The Soviet Union was communist, but not socialist – it was capitalism in socialism’s clothing.
5:58 It almost looks like a B&W phtot that’s been hand colored.
Anyone besides me remember Herblock?
This was in the New Yorker, but here’s a link to it on Pinterest so you can see it, paywall or not.
Cartoon – I doubt there’s ever been a time when women did what Republicans call “knowing their place.” There have been times when large numbers of women humored men
AlterNet – An excellent article in every way. One to clock through to and to save for future reference.
CNN – That was certainly a horrible example of mealy-mouthed doublespeak. (Are you trying to console us for Trump still being President?)
Past – That was a very pretty one – and catchy. (Watch out for earworms.)
Cartoon: @the Million $$ pier in Atlantic City. Most of the buildings are boarded up now…
AN: Good read, and w/save.
CNN: What Joanne said. ty
BFTP: Anything Neil Diamond is allright! with me!!
Hi, WWWendy! Tomorrow is Super Bowl LIV Sunday! Got my eyes on the winner…..KC Chiefs over the 49’ers…we’ll see though. Will have everything from soup to salad for a quick flyby….and one birthday also, so ice cream & cake…if you decide to stay. Hope that your MonDAY goes well and goes by quickly too. Take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: “Dershowitz’s argument for an ‘Emperor Trump’ did not help their cause either. It’s not an acquittal without a trial. It’s not a trial without witnesses. It’s a cover up. It was not merely a ‘quid pro quo’, it was an exortion.!!” ~ John N. ~
2. “In the future when dt shoots someone on 5th Avenue, BBMM will be there to lick the blood off his shoes.”
~ Bill Maher ~
3. “The criminal cowards and corrupt R’s should do the Walk of Shame (GOT) *pb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDSqODtEFM
An article related to Pat’s comments, the context of yesterday’s travesty, and your choice to illuminate factual distinctions about political theories, practices and systems…the article was prescient indeed:https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/donald-trump-has-broken-the-constitution/507146/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&fbclid=IwAR1kpEX0UaRLXMV4IVhpLzGIv1HOGF6YbrGMUrLsv-sWmtnikzezGTxHe78
I would certainly take some granola bars with, because after a certain part is done – and certainly while waiting for TriMet – you’ll be able to eat.
You don’t want to get hypoglycemic.
Cartoon: Knowing their place?? I don’t think so.
AN: Good article.
CNN: I too agree with Joanne’s comment.
BFTP: Great tune. Always have and still am a big fan of Neil Diamond.
Hope you have a great Sunday. That you and Wendy get things done. Enjoy the Super Bowl if you watch it. I hope the Chiefs win.
I will be praying that everything goes well for you with your cardiac stress test on Monday.
Take care. Thanks TomCat
Make sure you’re rested before having your stress test done, TomCat.
3:40 That’s a big ship.
Alternet: We have missed the boat on Socialism after WWII when in a time of rebuilding and sharing (rationing) the little there was in Europe. Many northern countries there made a good start of it, but since then have lost the battle with America’s greatest influence, Capitalism. Greed apparently is a far older, more ingrained human trait than altruism.
CNN: Kudos to that doctor. He wouldn’t be sidetracked and kept pointing to “your administration”, implying that Pence should either know about these plans for cuts if he doesn’t already or else Pence is lying. That doctor is no fool, he knows exactly what Pence is about and kept pushing politely for an answer.
BFTP: The memories came later when my first boyfriend gave me a “Best of Neil Diamond” album with this on it.
Thanks and Rushed Hugs to all!