Problems With Liberal Democracy

[William Lemmerhirt]

If you don't know if FDR was, or wasn't a communist, you don't know what a communist is. I asked, because the link I posted shows Mamdani saying he supports a return to FDR's "New Deal" policies. That's what makes it relevant and also not communist.

A communist saying he supports something about a non communist does not make the non communist a communist. No offense, but I think that’s a straw man.

 

[jinjuku]

I don't know why, but you seem to look at my posts with a cynical eye, assume bad faith on my part, then fire broadsides - "disingenuous excuse", indeed - generating needless conflict that I am certainly not seeking. So, please spare me the hyperbolic bluster, as it got tiresome long ago.

You gave an out that Mamdani didn't know about the lead out on the Muni-Grocery and the initial floating of an ID requirement.

I found it disingenuous. It stretches credulity to think on Voter ID, Universal Health Care, Israel, or 2nd Amendment issues that Mamdani doesn't know on a key point basis what is happening in his own administration.

He's the mayor of the largest GDP city in the U.S. He's got daily briefings. The Luxury home tax, the Muni-Grocery, The expanded rent control, these are all projects that he pitched his election tent on. To insinuate he didn't know....

Cmon'.

 

[GO-NAD!]

A communist saying he supports something about a non communist does not make the non communist a communist. No offense, but I think that’s a straw man.

Let's see if I understand what you're saying...

"A communist (Mamdani, I assume?) saying he supports something about a non communist (FDR, I assume?) does not make the non communist (FDR) a communist. No offense, but I think that’s a straw man."

If I'm reading you correctly, well, I agree that Mamdani saying he supports FDR policies doesn't make FDR a communist.

But, it doesn't make Mamdani a communist either. He says he is a democratic socialist, which is not communist. While both philosophies may reside on the same side of the political spectrum, words have meaning and they are two different things. However, to a person whose own politics are far enough to the right, the differences between democratic socialism and communism may be of little consequence.

 

[jinjuku]

Let's see if I understand what you're saying...

"A communist (Mamdani, I assume?) saying he supports something about a non communist (FDR, I assume?) does not make the non communist (FDR) a communist. No offense, but I think that’s a straw man."

If I'm reading you correctly, well, I agree that Mamdani saying he supports FDR policies doesn't make FDR a communist.

But, it doesn't make Mamdani a communist either. He says he is a democratic socialist, which is not communist. While both philosophies may reside on the same side of the political spectrum, words have meaning and they are two different things. However, to a person whose own politics are far enough to the right, the differences between democratic socialism and communism may be of little consequence.

Madami is a result of prior failure and an attempt to fix it. Healthcare and Housing in this country are broken machines. Toss in our incarceration system also.

I really hope he has some new ideas that will work and can be templatized.

I don't think he's a communist. I just hope he's not a head in he sand idealist.

 

[GO-NAD!]

You gave an out that Mamdani didn't know about the lead out on the Muni-Grocery and the initial floating of an ID requirement.

I found it disingenuous. It stretches credulity to think on Voter ID, Universal Health Care, Israel, or 2nd Amendment issues that Mamdani doesn't know on a key point basis what is happening in his own administration.

He's the mayor of the largest GDP city in the U.S. He's got daily briefings. The Luxury home tax, the Muni-Grocery, The expanded rent control, these are all projects that he pitched his election tent on. To insinuate he didn't know....

Cmon'.

Suggesting that it is possible that he didn't know ID would be required to shop at these stores doesn't really give him an out. It would reveal a blind spot that could - and should - have been avoided. So, no I'm not insinuating that he didn't know, just that it hasn't been established beyond doubt. In the end, it's an embarrassment to him and his administration, regardless of him knowing/not knowing/should have known.

If you don't like his politics, it would be no shock if you assume the worst. While I'm neutral on the guy, I'm not a democratic socialist, so his politics don't align with mine. Just to be absolutely clear, unlike Mamdani, I'm not on board with a no ID requirement to vote*, just that it be fairly applied.

*I'm OK with a vouching accommodation, such as the one we have in this country. It's option 3 in the link.

https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=ids&document=index&lang=e

 

[GO-NAD!]

Madami is a result of prior failure and an attempt to fix it. Healthcare and Housing in this country are broken machines. Toss in our incarceration system also.

I really hope he has some new ideas that will work and can be templatized.

I don't think he's a communist. I just hope he's not a head in he sand idealist.

I have no argument with this.

 

[jinjuku]

uggesting that it is possible that he didn't know ID would be required to shop at these stores doesn't really give him an out. It would reveal a blind spot that could - and should - have been avoide

Thanks for the added nuance/clarification. I rescind my prior reply. Sorry.