We need a name for Socialists...Communists are Commies, what could Socialist be?Socialist Bastard just doesn't have the same ring as "Commie Bastard...".Ideas would be appreciated.
the communist/socialist name game is based on the 19th and early 20th century language conventions.
at that time, when marxism was being drafted in the first communist international meetings, the word "social" was associated not with government, or politics, but "society" as in "High Society", including cotillions, debutante balls, opera openings and general well-to-do-ness, which was NOT considered evil at the time. in fact most of the world ASPIRED to well-to-do-ness. Waistcoats, gentleman's walking sticks, top hats, monocles, spats, and whatnot for the lads, and bustles, parasols and demure winks from behind a lace fan for the ladies. it just wasnt very scary.
when those who saw the coming wave of marxism needed to warn the populace of the approaching storm 9in the form of fascism, nazism, stalinism, etc etc etc... (all forms of
Nationalist Socialism based in the theories of marx and the communist manifesto with all the good wholesome parts removed) they couldnt use the actuaal word preferred by marx "Socialism" due to it's positive connotations (which was why marx used it, instead of the more accurate
"Forced Collectivism", or
"Violent Overthrow of Government by the Rabble". so the pundits, journalists and intellectuals who saw, and understood the coming wave of violence by the disgruntled persons not part of "Society" at the time used the word Communism, with it's sinister hard consonants and relative obscurity in the english speaking world. The word "Communism" was a fat juicy plum, just waiting to be plucked by the anti-marxist faction, and ever since has been the Go-To word for describing ALL forms of marxism not just the parts which are actually communistic in nature.
the irony is, Communism is the non-compulsory marxist utopia where everyone shares everything, and there is no Dizzyingly High Upper Crust, and no Downtrodden Oppressed Proletariat. only the creamy middle. Communism is the Dream, the Worker's Paradise of legend, and Socialism is the dreary ant colony where everybody slaves away for The State until eventually after much tribulation finally The State can be dissolved and paradise appears. the two words and the ideas behind them have switched in the popular consciousness, but anyone with an actual understanding of marxist theory cannot pretend to be unaware of the real meanings of these words.
if you read the communist manifesto and das capital, you would know them for what they are. pretending otherwise is folly, or a deliberate lie. thats the Name Game used by the New Left to confuse the marks, and distract them while they move the shells around, till hopefully the sucker wont be able to locate the pea, and get his $20 back.