Image of tweet by Kim from Kansas @kim_from_kansas:
Capitalists would like you to believe that liberalism is the left-most edge of the economic spectrum, precisely because it is the left-most point on the spectrum that doesn’t threaten their power.
True leftism threatens the power of capitalists. Liberalism is not leftism.
I think the objection that myself and other leftists would offer, is that the fight is against fascism is fundamentally a fight against, white supremacist, capitalist, patriarchy, and that capitalism is in many ways a progenitor and protector of the other two. The wealth generated by capital, captures regulatory bodies, manipulates voters, generates disinformation, all in service of perpetuating itself. A notable example is in your own comment, the power of the capital used by the fossil fuel industries to influence elections, buy political power, misinform voters, because the base scientific reality is that their industry cannot function in a world that is inhabited by people.
So for fossil fuels and tangentially, billionaires, the global issues cannot be tackled without recognizing that the core of capitalism is itself a vital part of the building of fascism.
To re-frame this in hopes of giving insight, imagine we were talking about racial justice in America, and one party was arguing that with various other ways to fight inequality, the police as an institution, have fundamentally rotten, and end goal needs to be abolition. The other party argues that we need to come together and stop the right wing fascists like proud boys, et al, that support white supremacy. So when you say we need to come together and tackle the issues without dismantling the tools that are use to create them, it sounds hallow.
We need to dismantle the tools that create fascism.
Yes, including capitalism, it’s primary driver.
Absolutely. Billionaires are a scourge. (And millionaires) Greed is shit.
Indeed! So if liberalism as an ideology, wants to keep billionaires, don’t you think it’s a little counter to that logic to say liberals and leftists need to come together and not dismantle the primary driver of fascism?
I don’t see liberalism as wanting to keep billionaires. Perhaps that was the case 20 years ago, but not anymore. Making them pay up is a tricky thing to do, but that imo is where we need to start.
GAFAM is already shattered after new EU laws are in effect
Yes. There have been some recent bold moves in the right direction
I guess I just don’t see much value in opposing billionaires when liberals want to leave in place the fundamental tool they use to perpetuate their control.
Which fundamental tool are you referring to?
Private wealth that enriches an ownership class to a much greater degree than obtainable through working.