Democratic Marxism

[Bob Armstrong]

Democratic Marxism
(Started: 24/1/3)

Weekly Overview

Notes:

1. The “Weekly Overview” of the topic is posted for the benefit of new members who may have come in between the “Weekly Overviews”. It provides an executive summary of the issue for new viewers.
2. The Stats of participation are important to allow all to determine the extent of continuing interest. For thread originators/responders, they are important to see if the interest no longer warrants the labour. Or alternatively, they show that those of us discussing it are drawing in more participants, because they have begun to see the importance of our topic

A. Statistics

1. Weekly Stats:

Week # 29 of 2024 (7/15-21 [7 days])

(Sometimes Adjusted for no. of days)


.....................................................2024 Average
Last Week's......Prior Week's........Views/Day
Views/Day........Views/Day.............(29 wks.)

….…34...................20.......................23


................................................2024 Average

Last Week's.....Prior Week's......Responses/Day

Responses/Day....Resp./Day.......(29 wks.).

........4......................1......................2


2. Analysis of Last Week's Stats

Last week's stats are way ahead of the prior week, and the year to date – Dilip and I got into a rapid back and forth......which hopefully did provide some new insights into both our positions. Generally, at the start of a thread, there is a flurry of responses, and then things slow down.

So the current rate of response is much higher than normal for this late in the thread.

More discussion/increased participation does happen when a current controversial issue is brought into the thread. The thread does involve discussion of current political affairs from the different perspectives of the various participants, so “current” issues do arise.

Fundamentally, though, this thread is an “educational” thread about something that may not be that attractive to some CT'ers. Nonetheless, the yearly average stats for this thread (Per day: Views – 24; Responses - 2) are good.

The stats do show that CT'ers are interested in learning more about DM, and about government from the DM perspective. This thread is an opportunity to learn something about the political system known as “Democratic Marxism”! It is also an opportunity to question DM in a good and safe forum, where we try to respect the right of all CT'ers to have their own analysis, and to be entitled to put it forward for consideration, even if differing from DM.

Note: I, as originator/main poster, am now just posting per week, on Mondays, the past week's stats, and on Tuesdays, 1 DM discussion paper. But I do try to respond to response questions, and introduce new “current” topics when they seem appropriate, especially re “current events”. So, overall, it is expected that the stats have slowly come down, and are now at a slower, steady pace.


B. Goal of this Thread

• To make clear what Democratic Marxism is, and what it is not (Old-style USSR Communism)
• To provide materials that help CT'ers analyze the pluses and minuses of DM.

Additional Notes:

1. The goal of this thread is not to try to beat opposing views into oblivion. Political economy spans the spectrum. Every position is entitled to post as it sees fit, regardless of the kind of, and amount of, postings by other positions. What is wanted is serious consideration of all posts........then you decide among the many competing political philosophies.

2. CT'ers are welcome to post responses here regularly, in addition to our core group of very active responders.



Democratic Marxist Global Institute (DMGI)



Author: Bob Armstrong, DMGI Coordinator

Most Recent Revision: 24/7/21

Fb Page: Democratic Marxism – Global

(https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064839518717)

Fb Group: Democratic Marxist Global Forum

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2045...ref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARB5MaP7fzlN9ItgmSkMWzv60Rd9mIxsQIkIgIa6_Guh2MGR6mV82GdH-IxgmiiVaJcZ-NLi7Cz46VX0nn78clmPjd-pttzlYPR9dmEubTBnBdnGohd0bl3Fy4k02cb3BVHNVOcfjANvEEUCRw6k1IZDDsZV6l9V1Id5_NomySGWmEpA3Inygttyrt3-jYH1m1M50W3d94tVElUVaZ-SrM-WZ4BkYEj0ZYF5Y5X2d7KRG_MQJtND8fXyDSkU0F1I4FVHkI_eoiyOazUgCRS0lmfetiENOGsaJPb6MfuHzQ92-u7gMI_E8888fus

E-mail:

demmarxglobalin@gmail.com

Snail Mail:

DMGI

P.O. Box 3246,

Meaford, Ontario, Canada

N4L 1A5

Website:

In development



Copyright – Democratic Marxist Global Institute (DMGI) - 2024

[Bob Armstrong]

The Father's Day Manifesto : A Human Government Alternative Identified

(Democratic Marxism - Elaborated by the DM Global Institute – A Recommended Platform)

1. Ownership of the Means of Production

a. Generally, Worker majority, at least.

b. Worker Cooperatives will be favoured by tax incentives, over legal corporations.

c. Abolition of private Capital investing in enterprises of others. [Recent Revision]

In Post # 394 (24/7/19) I tried to elaborate on the original wording for Dilip (Which was "Capital investing"):

".....the concepts are four:

1. Abolition of "private" capital investing;
2. Start-up capital will generally be obtained by "loan";
3. There may be "State capital investing" should the workers desire a Public/Private Company;
4. There may be "State-owned" enterprises."

Dilip questioned elaboration # 1, advising that he felt my wording blocked a wealthy entrepreneur from using his/her own money for starting a business. If the wording may be interpreted this way, then the wording is bad.

So I will make a revision similar to that I have recently made in the FDM:

1. Abolition of private Capital investing in enterprises of others.[Recent revision].

The main point I have trying to drive home is that Democratic Marxism is forcing capital return to be modest by forcing it into the "loan" structure from the "investing" structure. Loans only garner "interest" return (Well below the current obscene profit return on "private capital investing").

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Bob Armstrong]

Democratic Marxism
(Started: 24/1/3)

Weekly Overview

Notes:

1. The “Weekly Overview” of the topic is posted for the benefit of new members who may have come in between the “Weekly Overviews”. It provides an executive summary of the issue for new viewers.

2. The Stats of participation are important to allow all to determine the extent of continuing interest. For thread originators/responders, they are important to see if the interest no longer warrants the labour. Or alternatively, they show that those of us discussing it are drawing in more participants, because they have begun to see the importance of our topic





A. Statistics


1. Weekly Stats:

Week # 30 of 2024 (7/22-22) [7 days])

(Sometimes Adjusted for no. of days)


.....................................................2024 Average
Last Week's......Prior Week's........Views/Day
Views/Day........Views/Day.............(29 wks.)

….…8...................34.......................23


................................................2024 Average

Last Week's.....Prior Week's......Responses/Day

Responses/Day....Resp./Day.......(29 wks.).

........1......................4......................2

2. Analysis of Last Week's Stats

Last week's stats are normal for this thread now. The week prior to that was quite high and a bit of an anomaly. Generally, at the start of a thread, there is a flurry of responses, and then things slow down.

More discussion/increased participation does happen when a current controversial issue is brought into the thread. The thread does involve discussion of current political affairs from the different perspectives of the various participants, so “current” issues do arise.

Fundamentally, though, this thread is an “educational” thread about something that may not be that attractive to some CT'ers. Nonetheless, the yearly average stats for this thread (Per day: Views – 24; Responses - 2) are good.

The stats do show that CT'ers are interested in learning more about DM, and about government from the DM perspective. This thread is an opportunity to learn something about the political system known as “Democratic Marxism”! It is also an opportunity to question DM in a good and safe forum, where we try to respect the right of all CT'ers to have their own analysis, and to be entitled to put it forward for consideration, even if differing from DM.

Note: I, as originator/main poster, am now just posting per week, on Mondays, the past week's stats, and on Tuesdays, 1 DM discussion paper. But I do try to respond to response questions, and introduce new “current” topics when they seem appropriate, especially re “current events”. So, overall, it is expected that the stats have slowly come down, and are now at a slower, steady pace.

B. Goal of this Thread

• To make clear what Democratic Marxism is, and what it is not (Old-style USSR Communism)
• To provide materials that help CT'ers analyze the pluses and minuses of DM.

Additional Notes:

1. The goal of this thread is not to try to beat opposing views into oblivion. Political economy spans the spectrum. Every position is entitled to post as it sees fit, regardless of the kind of, and amount of, postings by other positions. What is wanted is serious consideration of all posts........then you decide among the many competing political philosophies.

2. CT'ers are welcome to post responses here regularly, in addition to our core group of very active responders.



Democratic Marxist Global Institute (DMGI)



Author: Bob Armstrong, DMGI Coordinator

Most Recent Revision: 24/7/28

Fb Page: Democratic Marxism – Global

(https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064839518717)

Fb Group: Democratic Marxist Global Forum

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2045...ref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARB5MaP7fzlN9ItgmSkMWzv60Rd9mIxsQIkIgIa6_Guh2MGR6mV82GdH-IxgmiiVaJcZ-NLi7Cz46VX0nn78clmPjd-pttzlYPR9dmEubTBnBdnGohd0bl3Fy4k02cb3BVHNVOcfjANvEEUCRw6k1IZDDsZV6l9V1Id5_NomySGWmEpA3Inygttyrt3-jYH1m1M50W3d94tVElUVaZ-SrM-WZ4BkYEj0ZYF5Y5X2d7KRG_MQJtND8fXyDSkU0F1I4FVHkI_eoiyOazUgCRS0lmfetiENOGsaJPb6MfuHzQ92-u7gMI_E8888fus

E-mail:

demmarxglobalin@gmail.com

Snail Mail:

DMGI

P.O. Box 3246,

Meaford, Ontario, Canada

N4L 1A5

Website:

In development



Copyright – Democratic Marxist Global Institute (DMGI) - 2024

[Bob Armstrong]

It seems that CT'ers who wished to know about Democratic Marxism have learned a lot through this thread's postings and discussions.

So I will now go back to the Fb Page, Democratic Marxist Party of Ontario (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064448603475), as my main place of continued activity and posting educational material.

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Dilip Panjwani]

Good news for you, Bob. Sri Lanka to try out Democratic Marxism (the Marxist leader winning with a minority (42%) of the vote):
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../113573694.cms

My sympathies are with the Sri Lankans...

[Bob Armstrong]

Thanks Dilip......

So we now have 2 countries to be under the microscope:

Libertarianism - Argentina
Democratic Marxism - Sri Lanka

[Bob Armstrong]

The Americas - Argentina

Libertarian Government under President Javier Milei



"Since he stormed to power pledging to take a chainsaw to the state, Milei, a libertarian and outspoken admirer of Donald Trump, has managed to drag monthly inflation from 26% down to 4%.

But Argentines now see unemployment — not rising prices — as the country’s biggest problem. Official numbers due today are expected to show more than 50% of the population has sunk under the poverty line."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsl...m_campaign=bop

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Sid Belzberg]

The Americas - Argentina

Libertarian Government under President Javier Milei



"Since he stormed to power pledging to take a chainsaw to the state, Milei, a libertarian and outspoken admirer of Donald Trump, has managed to drag monthly inflation from 26% down to 4%.

But Argentines now see unemployment — not rising prices — as the country’s biggest problem. Official numbers due today are expected to show more than 50% of the population has sunk under the poverty line."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsl...m_campaign=bop

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

"Official numbers due today are expected to show more than 50% of the population has sunk under the poverty line."

So, how does it help to pay people with worthless currency, as was the case previously?

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Sid:

My solution is not to go back to old politics. And it is certainly not Libertarianism with the ordinary citizen being sacrificed to the God of Capitalism.



As you know, I suggest "new" politics: Democratic Marxism (Which is definitely not the old USSR-style Communism).

DM is the legitimate progeny of the writings of the early Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto & Das Kapital.

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Dilip Panjwani]

Hi Sid:

My solution is not to go back to old politics. And it is certainly not Libertarianism with the ordinary citizen being sacrificed to the God of Capitalism.



As you know, I suggest "new" politics: Democratic Marxism (Which is definitely not the old USSR-style Communism).

DM is the legitimate progeny of the writings of the early Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto & Das Kapital.

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

Nobody gets sacrificed to anything in Libertarianism. In fact, enforcement of the Natural Law ensures that the rich cannot harm the not so rich. And the not so rich are given easy access to capital to be able to work hard and smart and build their own lives, if they wish to...
In DM, fairness and betterment of society get sacrificed to the political need to rob the minority and transfer that stolen wealth to the majority, in order to win the majority vote.
Understand, Bob?

[Dilip Panjwani]

Hi Sid:

My solution is not to go back to old politics. And it is certainly not Libertarianism with the ordinary citizen being sacrificed to the God of Capitalism.



As you know, I suggest "new" politics: Democratic Marxism (Which is definitely not the old USSR-style Communism).

DM is the legitimate progeny of the writings of the early Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto & Das Kapital.

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

Something more for you to chew on, Bob:

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/pub...in-your-pocket

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Dilip:

This is out of step with all prior reports I have read on "UBI" trials over long periods in many countries.

I will have to now go research UBI, since I have not archived this to my knowledge.....but I will go look to see if I have a folder on it, or have put them in another broader archive folder.

My understanding was that, over all, trial participants did start working less (fewer part-time jobs).

But they became more productive (unpaid hours) and used talents that were unused because previously they had no time to develop them, and because they were going to be unpaid hours, which they could not afford.

Read: Josef Pieper: Leisure - the Basis of Culture (1948).

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Dilip Panjwani]

Read: Josef Pieper: Leisure - the Basis of Culture (1948).

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

Okay! So the hard and smart working tax payers have to pay for the Leisure activities of all Marxists too!! Add that to your DM principles, Bob!!!

[Dilip Panjwani]

But they became more productive and used talents that were unused because previously they had no time to develop them

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

All this 'productivity' was not charity, right? Then why could they not convert their talented productivity into income to sustain themselves and their families, instead of making the Marxist government rob other hard and smart working tax-payers to pay them?

[Bob Armstrong]

Universal Basic Income (UBI) [Sometimes called the Guaranteed Annual Income]

Under most planned UBI, you can opt in or opt out.

Live on a low modest income supplement (With earned income). Do paid work for fewer hours (Fewer Part-time Jobs) because you now have a modest total "living" wage.

BUT, trial recipients have been seen to be productive in the new unpaid time, such as developing their talents, to contribute something to society (maybe charitable works, etc.)

Or

Opt out, earn as much as you want, don't take a handout, be taxed on a progressive system, and do your own thing as to division of paid work hours/unpaid productive hours.

Note: Those receiving UBI are taxed under the same progressive system as those opting out. The UBI payment is treated as "Income".

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)