Sorry gents, don't mean to disrupt this wonderful bit of dialogue but I can't let this one pass.
JJ,
"I'm sorry, I guess the font was too small for this part, but what exactly it is that you think would be different about the overall positions advanced by these faculty members and people who self-identify as "socialist" or "Marxist"...especially those in typical Internet forums, again?"
I daresay that many of those people who support Marxism and socialism on the interwebs are going to be a lot more supportive of abolishing private property and having the economy run entirely or in extremely large part, by the state, quite possibly following a revolution in which the poorer classes seize wealth and or control of the political system from the upper classes. This will probably be followed by a radical increase in wealth equality through the state distribution system. This is particularly true of people who call themselves "Marxists" as opposed to
This is opposed to the common liberal who merely supports higher taxes upon the wealthy and in general to support a greater degree of government provided services, especially more "humanistic" ones such as healthcare and education, and finally a greater degree of regulation on business, especially ones regarding large banks and treatment of laborers. These interventions, while potentially significant ( but which vary based upon how radical a liberal one is talking to) are no where near what the normal socialist advocates, especially ones that Marxists almost always advocate.
While moderate socialism and radical liberalism may look fairly identical, Marxism is not comparable to liberalism and most liberals are a far cry from true socialists.
Student,
If I have represented a pretty obvious fact viewpoint different than yours, feel free to comment.
"Similarly, Marxists could refuse to identify as liberal (the 2 Marxist students I met as an undergrad hated the term liberal and identified as "radical" whatever that meant)"
Yea, I've noticed that socialists tend to use the term "radical" in a way that no one else does, that is to say they use it synonymous with "socialistic". For instance they use phrases like "radical doctrine" as if this implied that it was implied that it was also socialistic. When reffering to what would be viewed as the radical (or even just somewhat far right) rightists, they tend to use "reactionary". I don't know why this is... Just a culture thing I suppose, and perhaps there's some pride mixed in there as well.
Student:[really large gif]
I'm not sure what all this is supposed to say. I certainly don't see an answer to my question there either.
Neodoxy, nope. no comment. words right outta my mouth.
now this for no reason:
Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine - Elvis Presley
Neodoxy:While moderate socialism and radical liberalism may look fairly identical, Marxism is not comparable to liberalism and most liberals are a far cry from true socialists.
I guess it would depend on how one defines "true Scotsmen socialists". You might wish to talk to the definition guy for more discussion on this.
Student:Neodoxy, nope. no comment. words right outta my mouth.
I'm so sure those words were coming right in your next post, Cleveland Bark...I mean, Student. (Wow you're right, this name thing is kind of hard now that I think about it.)
"I guess it would depend on how one defines "true Scotsmen socialists".
I daresay it would if we were attempting to determine whether or not people identifying themselves as liberals were socialists, in my opinion.
"now this for no reason:"
While we're at it Im gonna post this just because I found it the other day and I thought it was funny.
THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED AT YOU TEXAS TRIGGER, JUST POSTING FOR THE LULZ
idk, maybe it's just me but I found it clever... You have to know the original meme though.
lol yah. that is among my favorite memes.
In some way Social Democrats are close to liberals and they would be considered socialists. I guess you could say that liberals are more moderate then social democrats who are more moderate then marxists.
'Men do not change, they unmask themselves' - Germaine de Stael