Split New York City Mayoral Race

[Derec]

Is the proper time and place to serve watercress sandwiches with crusts in your forthcoming your etiquette book?

 

[Politesse]

But I grew up under actually existing socialism, and know that it does not work.

We all did. Our American economy is a blended system by design.

 

[Derec]

We all did. Our American economy is a blended system by design.

BS. While every economy has a public sector, that does not make them socialist.

"Actually existing socialism" refers to socialist countries, i.e. those where economies are dominated by public ownership and control of the means of production, such as those in the Warsaw Pact, but also countries like Titoist Yugoslavia.

 

[Politesse]

We all did. Our American economy is a blended system by design.

BS. While every economy has a public sector, that does not make them socialist.

"Actually existing socialism" refers to socialist countries, i.e. those where economies are dominated by public ownership and control of the means of production, such as those in the Warsaw Pact, but also countries like Titoist Yugoslavia.

It does not surprise me that you would think so. I rarely meet conservatives who understand the distinction between socialism and communism in the first place, let alone what it would mean to adopt some socialist principles but not others. It's always silly lopsided conversations like "So I was thinking, we would really benefit from unionizing the support staff here at our lucrative company whose stock I am heavily invested in" "OH SO YOU WANT MONEY TO BE OUTLAWED EH?"

 

[Derec]

It does not surprise me that you would think so. I rarely meet conservatives who understand the distinction between socialism and communism in the first place

I understand the distinction pretty well.
The countries like USSR that are called "communist" colloquially were not actually communist, but socialist. Note the name, "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics". Similar with Titoist "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia".
Sure, they were ruled by communist parties, but communism was the end-goal of the evolution of socialist societies, and one that had not been achieved in any actually existing socialist country.
That's where jokes like these come from:
Caller: We are told that the communism is already seen at the horizon. What then is a horizon?
Radio Yerevan: Horizon is an imaginary line which moves away each time you approach it.
And
This is Armenian Radio. Our listeners asked us, "When the final phase of socialism, namely communism, is built, will there still be thefts and pilfering?"
We're answering: "No, because everything will be already pilfered during socialism."

, let alone what it would mean to adopt some socialist principles but not others.

Mamdani may have toned down his rhetoric when he decided to run for mayor, but only a few years ago he was much more honest about what his endgame is. I do not trust that the change of rhetoric represents a genuine change in what he wants to accomplish.

It's always silly lopsided conversations like "So I was thinking, we would really benefit from unionizing the support staff here at our lucrative company whose stock I am heavily invested in" "OH SO YOU WANT MONEY TO BE OUTLAWED EH?"

Except Mamdani is on video talking about his end goal of seizing the means of production, and on another video talking about abolishing private property. Both have been posted upthread.

 

[bilby]

I grew up under actually existing socialism, and know that it does not work.

Great.

Did you also learn from that experience that it isn't brought about by city mayors, no matter how large or wealthy their city?

Or are you too busy trying to scare people to notice that the New York Mayor doesn't control US federal or constitutional law, but is instead bound by it?

Mamdani could be the most fervent revolutionary communist since Lenin, and he still couldn't turn NYC into a replica of your "actually existing socialism" - because that isn't one of the powers a city's mayor has.

You seriously need to stop being scared of non-threats. The fear of non-threats is the most significant contributing cause to the rise of MAGA insanity, which unlike Mamdani, is a very clear and present threat to the USA.

 

[Derec]

Did you also learn from that experience that it isn't brought about by city mayors, no matter how large or wealthy their city?

That does not mean that he can't do a lot of damage. For example, I think his rent freeze is part of a gambit to force expropriation of landlords who own rent-controlled apartment buildings. That would be well within his power.

You seriously need to stop being scared of non-threats.

And you seriously need to stop being blind to threats. Just because Mamdani cannot declare People's Republic of New York as mayor does not mean he cannot do a lot of damage.
But there is also a longer term threat. He is hailed by some as the future of the Democratic Party. The danger is that DSA types that think like him take over the Democratic Party nationwide like Trump/MAGA took over the Republican Party.

The fear of non-threats is the most significant contributing cause to the rise of MAGA insanity, which unlike Mamdani, is a very clear and present threat to the USA.

I think both are threats. MAGA is more immediate, since they have federal power, but that does not mean that Mamdani/DSA are benign.

 

[Politesse]

Whoever heard of a benign politician? A ballot is a vote for the crook whose interests most align with yours, or generously, with the overall health of your nation as you understand it.

 

[Derec]

Whoever heard of a benign politician?

Fair enough. I was grading on a curve, taking this into account.

A ballot is a vote for the crook whose interests most align with yours, or generously, with the overall health of your nation as you understand it.

Indeed. Mamdani's policies may appeal to many people's shortsighted focus on self-interest, but they will not be good for the City, nor for those same people's long-term self-intrest. That too is where he and Trump are alike.

 

[laughing dog]

Is the proper time and place to serve watercress sandwiches with crusts in your forthcoming your etiquette book?

Your pronouncements on what is not appropriate to eat during an interview and how not to eat. When did you become Amy Vanderbilt of etiquette?