wheezy

What's awesome is that the US was using its own ships in hopes Iran would attack them so they could headline "US ships attacked during peace negotiations with Iran!"

Like they can form a narrative that they "win" here no matter which way it went down.

Iran doesn't give a shit if your military does a joy ride through the strait. They are shutting down trade for US and US Ally oil - that's the point. There is no reason to attack US military ships if it doesn't offer a strategic advantage to do so.

"Spending" is doing a lot of work here. That's not how the national debt works. Spending would imply that there is money changing hands.

Even with regular consumer debt no one is "spending" money on interest if they aren't paying their credit card bill.

You can think of the US debt as more of a "bet" on the US economy and it's military. As long as their is faith in those things the US isn't "paying interest". The only time the "national debt" would matter is if the power and stability are put into question. And, when that happens, it won't matter if the debt is $1 million or $1000 trillion. The world economy will crumble.

The only reason they try to mention this "debt" like it's some loan we are trying to pay back is so they have something to point at when they cut your social security and Medicare to raise the military budget. It's not something that is actually being paid in interest every month.

Thanks. I think I might have been misreading these in my head. Dyslexia is a dickhead. The number codes really helped.

I don't think doing a competition between genocidal leaders is worth having.

Having said that. It's NOT about who is more evil in their head. It is absolutely about the material impact and results of actions.

Some loser without and influence or power can have the worst ideas and plans for human extinction in there head. It really doesn't matter to me if they have no actual ability or influence to carry them out. There have been a million "worse than Hitler" people throughout human history that you and I don't know the name of then. At least by that logic.

You are right though in a sense. The potential impact of a genocidal leader with the power and influence of the American empire can result in much more substantial death and destruction than Hitler could ever dream of. This is what makes Trump (or any fascist that follows him) have the potential to be so much worse.

But, again, if I was going to engage in a "who is worse" competition (that I still think is meaningless) I would still have to judge it on the material outcomes and not who is a worse guy "in their head". What's in their head can only come to impact through their position and extent of power.

There are plenty of people that are genocidal pedophiles "in their head". But they can't actually act upon those ideas because they didn't get put into positions of power and influence. The material outcomes are the only way to actually engage in a conversation like this.

Otherwise there is always some potentially worse person that existed or could exist. Limiting it only to the extent of the human imagination to cause pain to others. Which is not really a meaningful conversation to have.

TLDR: You're pointing to Trump because of the material position he holds and the real power and influence his ideas can have. But then say that the ideas are all that matters to judge "who is worse". If the "ideas" are all that matter there is no reason to point to Trump or Hitler over any other person in history or the future with genocidal ideas. It is specifically the material impact that makes their ideas matter. You can't ignore the material outcomes. The entire reason we know their names is because of those outcomes.

Gee, I wonder why it's fragile...

Lee’s comments followed a post by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on X, which accused him of digging up a story from 2024 and presenting it as a current event.

So their objection is that the video wasn't from this week? Israel is really not even trying to pretend anymore.

Advocating for unionization efforts is far more damaging to capitalism than adventurism.

I'm sorry comrade. You are advocating for "the propaganda of the deed" over someone directing people to one of the best and only forms of organization that exist in America.

Unions are where people feel solidarity. Unions are where people begin steps to radicalization when they realize organized efforts CAN improve their material conditions.

Rosa Luxembourg was also very critical of adventurism and the "propaganda of the deed". So it's ironic to quote her.

Pointing people to actually organize is not "reform". We aren't in a world that has a massive trade union party that is advocating against the socialists and working with the liberals to prevent their popularity from rising. If we get there I'll have a conversation about unions being a part of "reform".

I think you might have done some reading. But it definitely doesn't sound like you've tried to apply any of it to the world you live in today.

We aren't getting to revolution through adventurism.

I agree with you. But there is definitely a better way to communicate this. I tried to do my best in an above comment.

People don't like having the air pulled out from the feeling of justice these types of "deeds" result in. This type of adventurism is not something that results in progress. I agree.

But, it is an opportunity to use that feeling as a means of propaganda for what actually does work. We all feel the frustration and rage that led to this act. Instead of taking the gas out of that feeling by focusing on criticism, it's better to just redirect that feeling towards things that actually work.

This country has a history of militant labor unions seizing warehouses until demands are met. If people are angry enough to cheer on a warehouse being burnt down they should be open to ideas like that.

They either say "fuck yeah" or they are forced to recognize their own fear and apathy that causes them to cheer on this type of adventurism but remaining inactive themselves. "Hmmm, I'm not gonna go burn down a warehouse and hope other people do. What are other actual options beyond the useless political system we have?"

Sometimes the best way to communicate these things is to just acknowledge and communicate to the alienation people feel and directing it to the right resources.

No one reading this is gonna go burn down a warehouse; but they might unionize their workplace. They might go join socialist organizations.

I agree with the sentiment but the "it didn't happen right away" argument would be true of either type of action.

Thankfully, we can look back at history for assistance. "Adventurism" or "the propaganda of the deed" have very often resulted in apathy within the masses and not in any revolutionary potential building.

So, you're right. But things do take time to build movements that actually result in change. Thankfully we also have history to help direct us there as well.

We meet at many places now but you don't show up to an Amazon warehouse armed as your first step. Not how that works.

Shit like that needs material support built. That will be highly dependent on your local area right now as there are no country wide movements.

But, if you're looking to start doing something instead of nothing and you aren't quite ready to burn a warehouse down then you can look for PSL or DSA in your area. You'll at least be around people that are working for these things and likely be able to find local organizations from these relationships. Union resources, weapons training, etc.

The "Propaganda of the deed" has historical resulted in apathy just like yours. It's why people cling to it. Enjoy it. But never actually go and do something to fight back. You sit back waiting for the next "deed" to make you feel good. Or maybe you are the small small fraction that go do the deed themselves.

Also, there is no rule that that says you can't keep enjoying workers burn down warehouses. But criticizing actual militant workers actions that HAVE historically worked. The only reason you'd do that is either fear or apathy.

This isn't something new. People have been trying to spark changes to society this way for centuries. There is literally mountains of literature written on the failures of the "propaganda of the deed". You're advocating for something that makes you feel good. Not that actually works.

What they mean is violence (that is not enacted by the state) is never the answer.