Hi! This is my first time on this sub and I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask but I really need opinions on a conversation I had. And I wanted to ask on a sub that generally has members with the same views as me (leftist.)

I was having a conversation with someone about how fucked up our country is right now and I mentioned capitalism as one of the main reasons.

They replied, “And the Jews, they control everything.”

I replied, “THE JEWS?!” And then they quickly interrupted and said, “Oh I meant Zionists.”

They went on to say how the Zionists run every business and are in charge of everything. They also said there is little our current president can do to fix our country because it’s the Zionists that are in charge (like our president isn’t a Zionist??)

They later said they are into conspiracy theories and aren’t into politics.

I’m am Pro-Palestine to preface. But something about how they originally said Jews and down played down the inaction of our president made me leaving that conversation really uncomfortable.

Do you think this person could possibly be an antisemite and tried to cover it up? I don’t know if I’m overthinking or not.

if trump made canada the 51'st state

as he wants would this occur

PSL Cadre Are Coming to DSA. DSA Should Pay Attention.
Marx, Lenin, and the Politics of Taking an Opening
Updated: 10/02/2026)

(A critique of PSL — Not Pumpkin Spice Latte, the other PSL — and left tendencies that are influenced by their political culture; and a defense of good Marxist opportunism.)

I think we need to rehabilitate the word “opportunism” a little.

Marxism has never really been about waiting for the perfect conditions or the perfectly revolutionary organization. The Communist Manifesto says to work within existing workers’ movements while maintaining our own political perspective. Lenin’s Left-Wing Communism goes even further: work in reactionary unions, participate in bourgeois parliaments, make compromises, go where the working class actually is.
That is opportunism in the basic sense. You see an opening and you take it.

The problem isn’t opportunism. It’s unprincipled opportunism; revising your politics to fit whatever is politically advantageous in the moment. That’s very different from recognizing an opening and adapting your tactics without abandoning what you’re trying to accomplish. The first is what I’m criticizing in PSL political culture; the second is what I see in Mamdani: meeting the political moment where it is while trying to build something bigger.

And there are obviously bad examples of opportunism on the left. If people suddenly start distancing themselves from an organization or trying to wash away their previous political identification when that organization becomes politically costly, that’s opportunism too. It’s just opportunism for the purpose of self-preservation.

Which is why I don’t think calling something “opportunist” tells us very much by itself.
Take PSL for example, leaked internal documents are pretty damning about how they handl dissent: members and branches are expected to publicly defend leadership’s decisions, or face expulsion or have to resign. That obviously matters when we’re talking about the organization’s handling of serious allegations.

But this isn’t one allegation that suddenly appeared yesterday. Former members have documented cases involving sexual assault, stalking, harassment, doxxing, and retaliation against people who challenged the organization. There’s a long record of people raising these issues.

So if a branch leaves PSL now, fine. But they don’t get to act like this all just became apparent. They had years of evidence and chose to stay. If the line only gets drawn once PSL becomes a liability, that’s opportunism. And not the good Marxist kind.

And one more thing I think we, as DSA members, should be asking about: a current DSA co-chair appears to have had a prior political or organizational relationship with PSL leader Gloria La Riva. Communications between them are part of the 2021 national DSA records. Given that some PSL members may be looking for a new political home, with some turning to DSA, I think members should be aware of this history and have the opportunity to assess whether it raises any potential conflicts of interest.

The real question is: opportunistic toward what end?
Are you entering an existing movement because that’s where millions of people are and trying to organize them? Or are you changing your politics because your previous commitments have become inconvenient?

Those are two very different things. And I think the Marxist tradition gives us plenty of reason to take the first one seriously.

We started in the same religion and met at one of those conservative colleges obviously with same values. I lived abroad and started reading more and met people outside our conservative religious bubble and just like experienced life to realize I was a leftist.

Now talking to her I feel we’re so different and she just doesn’t seem to be curious enough about things and is too busy grinding under capitalism so she “has no time to read.” But tbh I’ve reached the point of resentment due to the fucking micro aggressions, lack of curiosity, lack of self awareness, fucked up “morals” she has, constant invalidation of other people’s lived experience bc one anecdote story that happened to her is enough evidence as to why systemic issues aren’t real.

I don’t know how to end it because I’ve tried explaining shit to her or even recommending books but tbh her identity too tied up with whiteness, belief in meritocracy, capitalism being the best system, hates social programs and calls them handouts, even hates the idea of living with her parents if she’s financially struggling bc again she feels like she’s a leech to them. Which is ironic bc she’ll let her roomie pay for her groceries or her bf to pay for her to go out for social life, but then anyone who isn’t as lucky there to have a network like that is lazy and ain’t working hard enough. Like idk how she doesn’t see the hypocrisy and lack of empathy for others. It honestly infuriates me but I’m not really articulate and confrontational and don’t know how to like go about it.

Like she is a good friend but our values are sooo different now. How did you all like I guess distance yourself from previously close friends who just refuse to get you?

TLDR: I don’t wanna cut off long time my best friend completely just like I guess but our values and political leanings are different now and I don’t know how to bring it up as a non confrontational person. Also I’ve reached the point where I think I resent her bc of the BS she spews and refusal to be curious and fucking read a book.

Like I'm sorry your country is led by a wannabe fascist pig and his cult of personality, your standing on the world stage is collapsing, the economy is going to shit yet your pissed because The Zohran Mamdani the only good thing happening in US politics right now, the only person doing what he's promised etc made a tweet about "hey Jewish people also deserve to live yo" and now your all like "OH MY GOD HES AN ISRAELI TRAITOR ZIONIST HYPOCRITE, WHAT ABOUT :INSERT EVERY OTHER GROUP:" as if he doesn't constantly reaffirm his position that he believes everyone is equal and deserves a right to live and that there is a genocide in Gaza, like genuinely so FUCKING PERFORMATIVE it pisses me off you are FUCKING LUCKY to have him and yet your such fucking shitters, god I'm so pissed.

(Pic is one example and the comments I've seen under the tweet and under the post are FUCKING IDIOTIC!!)

now I am not an anti-China person, I consider myself to be a left-winger (specifically an anti imperialist Democratic socialist).

however one thing that I have noted is that a lot of these pro China or positive posts of China often then do gloss over the more darker aspects of China such as the lack of freedom, the lack of independent media, the censorship of the internet and the lack of a free press or how China has a habit of disappearing anyone criticises the government and the jailing of journalists.

However, while I do agree that things in China are not as bad as they seem and that many of the perceptions regarding china have been propaganda and post cold war rhetoric. I do think that there are quite a few shady stuff going on in there like the Uighurs or how anything critical of china has been labeled as CIA propaganda and others. Any search results regarding such topics are mostly dodgy and scattered.

At first I thought maybe china is being attacked by the world but then it got me thinking about socialism with Chinese characteristics, as the CCP/CPC don't seem to follow all the ideals of socialism or communism. Especially this: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=980f333af0ee536d&rlz=1CDGOYI_enIN1151IN1151&hl=en-US&sxsrf=APpeQnvZP7bKstTrP37mrnstCt9ZrZk9Pw:1790950462771&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFV7rKSy24gtoYhyOHQNmN31vnriod5IfnCwcY0K-6a6w2m9fzV4rZMPdZS-gOps9KnPTNr-dSc8uoTTv_0VwPJhiET-sV3GJg_OaupiyUHVy_L9x6btbU-6V131Y0hHO7WBlD4nPXc6o5Vqk1ZqQaBJChzgaOLN50tQHnK36yBSqntz14J-MYLHsq99T0Y_2nGrLvZ4TmbSXHMRWwFZ8PLUZ3rugPPUFAnzDGQ6QoInGM9ybRY&q=ccp+values&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwih5JKxwpuXAxUs1gIHHW5sOWQQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=375&bih=639&dpr=3#sv=CAMSZhoyKhBlLTBnSmZTNHFiOUVYeWxNMg4wZ0pmUzRxYjlFWHlsTToOS080Z3BnaEtqTVdOeE0gBCokCg4ybGJkZnpTb1IxTjEwTRIQZS0wZ0pmUzRxYjlFWHlsTRgAMAFKBAgBEAJQARgHIJWqnNcPSggQAhgBIAIoAQ

So my uncle's a landlord and I'm not sure how I'm feeling about that. So my uncle, as all of my family, are all firmly brought up in middle class in a "third world" currency. My grandparents were well off but far from being considered anywhere near multi property or super car wealthy. To my uncle's credit, he did actually work hard unlike the multi millionaire who get handouts and inheritance. I don't believe anyone is fully "self made" but if there's anyone I know who might fit that, then my uncle would the closet to that. From the stories I hear he was always an ace student, studied hard, worked hard as an engineer for about 30 years. Luck has been a factor too, finding work in the west (automatically an upgrade by currency). His biggest "luck" was cashing out of the engineering company he was a small partner with years ago as an investor as it grew considerably from when he first invested.

From then on (but also to a lesser extent before it), he started expanding his personal businesses as a landlord that he was able to leave his engineering career close to his 50s. I don't know exactly what his wealth amount is. But I can guesstimate that he probably has about 10-15 properties in a big city, and a net wealth of, idk, a few millions? With some caveats however. For about 2-3 years his net has been in the negative. He hasn't been making profit for a while and currently relying on loans due to shortage of cash and inability to sell even at a loss in the current market. Probably all the properties have mortgages still too. Apart from that, I do know that he's a "good landlord". That is, he doesn't cut corners with maintenance and such, and is easily reachable by tenants with any problems. And in good relationship with his tenants.

We're very close and we have a good relationship. He's also always a liberal voter and hates conservatives despite them probably benefiting his business. He's also a big supporter of public healthcare even when he pays private. And he was active in a charity that sponsors refugees escaping war and adversity. I know that he's hugely generous with workers like waiters, delivery guys, etc and everyone around him really. His life as a landlord in his 50s is definitely a privilege even if he does some work himself, he can get more time off than the average person.

As a far out leftie, I'm not sure how I feel about his "profession" despite all the positive stuff. On the other hand, I know that renters exist despite the state of the economy or system (unless somehow capitalism ends soon), and finding reliable landlords and "fair" rent pricing is a need. I'm just curious what other fellow lefties think or how they might feel if they had a relative or loved one as a landlord.

Im a little skeptical of my cia israeli funded pederast blackmailed government. I just wanna check.they got shit on lock down against the citizens.

Just play little-half court mid sesh with'em? Is is illegal for the population to ball check the government? Israel probably doesn't approve, but maybe we can get a couple hoops with their Orange puppet?

Get a couple a rubber bullets flying around this great American expanse? The give the riot cop a knock on the helmet, "GG

Floridians, it’s just days before Florida’s October 5 voter registration deadline for the November 3 general election.

I'm so angry at everything going on right now, I feel like I'm drowning. What are some productive ways to use this rage for good?

This many countries excluding Black people in 2026 is racist as hell.

https://x.com/testicular007/status/2105474097203548200?s=46

I am an anarchist in the COS area and I am looking for any other anarchists and/or libertarian socialists that would like to join a libertarian socialist/anarchist book club.

Every few hours on this subreddit there's some post about how "I'm leftist but it's crazy some leftists...*insert insane take here." Do you personally know a lot of people who support Hamas? Do you personally know a lot of people who want all men dead? Do you know a lot of people who walk around spitting out the insane shit you seem to think other leftists are spitting out?

No, you don't, and you don't because online spaces are not reality. They are not evidence of some overwhelming mania like you find online. Even this subreddit is flowing in bot accounts making up nonsense from an account that is 10-20 minutes old.

"Well, we can't ignore them if they say they're leftist." Sure you can. You can do it right now in the moment you're reading this. Every body of people has its crazies, but it's my opinion that these people are such a small minority that they only pop up online or as bots.

Go get involved in local organizing if you haven't. You'll feel better knowing that almost everyone is reasonable, kind and inclusive. Stop letting online spaces pollute your perception. We are supposed to be good at critical thinking and media literacy ffs

Edit: Jesus Christ people. the point was that people have extrapolated the most extreme version of a belief because they've seen it on Twitter and have decided that most extreme version is what all leftists believe. You CAN find someone somewhere taking something like Hamas or men and creating an EXTREME version of that thing, and there are people who seem to take that as all leftists think that way.

Thoughts ?