What is your opinion of Joseph Stalin? - eviltoast

I believe in socialism, but I feel Stalin shouldn’t be idolised due to things like the Gulag.

I would like more people to become socialist, but I feel not condemning Stalin doesn’t help the cause.

I’ve tried to have a constructieve conversation about this, but I basically get angry comments calling me stupid for believing he did atrocious things.

That’s not how you win someone over.

I struggle to believe the Gulag etc. Never happened, and if it happened I firmly believe Stalin should be condemned.

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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    13 hours ago

    Why is an extreme a bad situation? What if said extreme was an eradication of poverty? Eradication of racism? Extremes are not inherently superior to moderatiom, nor is the reverse true.

    If you want a reading list, I have one linked on my profile.

    • Boomkop3@reddthat.com
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      5 hours ago

      An extreme version of capitalism would leave the weak and poor to die. And I’m pretty sure that in any financial/political situation you need some sort of constantly adjusted approach. Any extreme would fail to address the nuances (and humanity) of people, we’re not humans after all.

      • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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        18 minutes ago

        When you say an “extreme Capitalism,” what does that mean? That already happens. Moreover, what haooens when all of the companies centralize?

        • Boomkop3@reddthat.com
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          12 minutes ago

          Maybe where you are, here we have tax funded social programs. And that would be called a monopoly, they’re usually bad for everyone except the few people at the top.

          • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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            8 minutes ago

            Yes, how do you avoid that trending towards a monopoly? Competition forces centralization over time, and even extension into hyper-exploiting the Global South. Further, you absolutely have people dying out of being impoverished.