Reply #96: If I thought it was a genuinely held and informed opinion ...

[Alhena]

then I would treat it with more respect. But I've seen the type many times- Starbucks revolutionaries who have no earthly idea what is is actually like to live under a Marxist regime. I don't either personally, but I can look at countries that have tried Marxism and I can't think of a single one I'd like to live in.

And the "true Marxism was never implemented" argument doesn't hold water - you can't separate some abstract political ideology from human nature. Marxism sounds noble in the abstract. When implemented by human beings it has repeatedly shown itself to be a disaster, all throughout history. Those in power use the power to benefit themselves and their cronies.

So you combine that with the fact that there are a lot of posers on this board who seem to think that if being left of center is a good thing then being WAY left of center makes them cool and hardcore, and, no, I don't respect their views very much.