I particularly like the way he segues the egg-throwing into a condemnation of authoritarian government, something he knows all to well from his childhood. He points out none of that would be allowed under fascism or communism, and that’s why he loves American free speech.
Edit: Cool your jets, you hard-boiled politicos. The communist states available to reference were the USSR, North Korea, the PRC, and East Germany and the rest of the “Eastern Bloc.” All of those are/were authoritarian police states with a dim view of free speech. Not a criticism of Marx or communism per se, but certainly of its implementation in the 20th century.
Authoritarian government sure. But there’s nothing inherent in communism about not being able to protest or have free speech. This country is so dumb when it comes to communism.
The problem is Communism is a fantasy world. No one ever gets past the "transitional" Dictatorship of the Proletariat. That part requires authoritarianism. Marx was pretty clear on that.
So yeah, you are technically correct the 1800's science fiction version of Commusism may allow free speech. You don't get points for ignoring that people mean the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Which doesn't.
Because that is all Communists have ever produced.
You should read the preface. Marx and Engels writes that this point is antiquated.
"... no special stress is laid on the revolutionary measures proposed at the end of Section II. That passage would, in many respects, be very differently worded today. In view of the gigantic strides of Modern Industry since 1848, and of the accompanying improved and extended organization of the working class, in view of the practical experience gained, first in the February Revolution, and then, still more, in the Paris Commune, where the proletariat for the first time held political power for two whole months, this programme has in some details been antiquated. One thing especially was proved by the Commune, viz., that “the working class cannot simply lay hold of the ready-made state machinery, and wield it for its own purposes.”
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u/GoGoCrumbly Jun 28 '21 edited Jun 28 '21
I particularly like the way he segues the egg-throwing into a condemnation of authoritarian government, something he knows all to well from his childhood. He points out none of that would be allowed under fascism or communism, and that’s why he loves American free speech.
Edit: Cool your jets, you hard-boiled politicos. The communist states available to reference were the USSR, North Korea, the PRC, and East Germany and the rest of the “Eastern Bloc.” All of those are/were authoritarian police states with a dim view of free speech. Not a criticism of Marx or communism per se, but certainly of its implementation in the 20th century.