Marx talking about censorship in the context of 0 existing socialist states is entirely different from the question of whether or not the capitalist class should be given free reign and control of the press, by which it can freely espouse disinformation and attempt to undermine democratic institutions for the purposes of restoring their class power. You cannot simply take a statement outside of its necessary context, Marx advocating for freedom of the press within capitalism does not at all mean he believes capitalists should be able to undermine socialism once established.
As for whether or not it is “wise” for capitalists to censor communist speech, the answer is yes, for capitalists to protect their class interests. I can despise that choice while recognizing its strategic advantage for capitalists, just like I can approve of socialists restricting bourgeois class power. By equating the oppression of capitalists by the working classes with the oppression of workers by the capitalist classes, you’re reducing your analysis to simple phrasemongering. As long as class struggle is alive, the working classes must make use of what they can to prevent capitalists from regaining control. Allowing the spread of misinformation and disinformation out of some abstract moral virtue is to sabotage the working class.
Marx talking about censorship in the context of 0 existing socialist states
Ok, so you are saying that Marx has never had a context that allowed him to make the statement you just made about him before.
This implies you admit Marx never said what you attributed to him. You can make hypothesis of what he would say, but I can make mine too. I don’t necessarily think he would be ok with censorship in a mature communist state, he’ll see that as a means to keep people from “coming of age”, a form of oppression. Free workers don’t need an elite to to tell them what they need to think.
whether or not the capitalist class should be given free reign and control of the press
But that was not the point. Where did I say that the capitalist class should be given free reign and control of the press?
You talk as if any thought that’s anti-system must automatically make the person who had it part of the capitalist class.
The “capitalist class” is not a state of mind… it’s a real oppressor with economic power… one does not become “capitalist class” just because they have a wrong thought. For me, as a materialist, “thought” is not really relevant when it comes to modelling the economic power structure.
I can despise that choice while recognizing its strategic advantage for capitalists
Then that’s our difference. I despise that strategy because it’s fundamentally flawed, for the reasons I provided before.
equating the oppression of capitalists by the working classes with the oppression of workers by the capitalist classes
I did not say or imply that, this is another strawman.
A worker is not a state of mind, it’s a real person at the bottom of the hierarchy… you don’t suddenly stop being a worker just because you had the wrong thought.
I don’t follow your logic here. Marx was explicit in saying the working classes need to establish state power over capitalists, and control the means of communication and transport. Any elements used by the capitalists to maintain or gain political power should be stripped away from them, including killing them if necessary. When you speak of freedom of speech in “mature communist society,” you’re speaking of a society beyond class struggle, which has never existed. Socialist states have ongoing class struggle.
Secondly, regarding “anti-system” speech vs. Capitalist speech. You quite literally said you despise it when socialist states control the speech of capitalists earlier. In China, our relevant example, speech criticizing the system and the government is allowed and happens all the time. Of course capitalist isn’t a “state of mind,” but private, bourgeois press is the mouthpiece of the capitalist class. This is what is held in higher scrutiny.
I have never once indicated that being in a class is determined by what you believe. What I have done is recognized the class character of the press as it relates to the overall mode of production and the classes governing it. In capitalist society, I would frustrate for freedom of speech for the working classes, but in socialist society I would advocate for controlling the speech of capitalists. In classless, communist society, we will have moved beyond such a struggle and can begin to truly speak of genuine freedom of speech for all.
Capitalist speech in a communist system is “anti-system” speech.
Communist speech in a capitalist system is “anti-system” speech.
I want to defend the right of the working class for spreading anti-system speech without fear of oppression from any elite.
To me, this (along with transparency) is more important than the economic system, because it establishes a basis for the workers to be able to react and mandate change… if a fully transparent system were put in place properly, I believe ultimately the rest of the pieces will slowly fall into place.
The other reason they get power is because millions of people listen to them. Do you think they could take over without being heard? It’s not that their speech is flawless and logical, is that people are hungry for answers that reaction pretends to provide.
Ah really? can you link me a true main-China capitalist group organized by the working class? and I mean proper capitalist, not some pro-market CCP-friendly commerce, give me a CCP-adverse one.
Let me know where is the Chinese social media group (ideally with a .cn domain) where the working class can discuss alternative forms of government and are allowed to organize discussions about how to peacefully orchestrate a change of system.
You’re talking about something different now. Pro-capitalist speech is different from the speech of capitalists. Either way, there are liberal groups in China, but the ones that would undermine socialism and restore capitalism are censored or shunned, as they should be. Socialists should protect socialism and build communism, not give free reign to reactionaries to do as they please.
I was not talking about “the speech of capitalists”… this is why I was telling you that you don’t suddenly stop being a worker just because you had the wrong thought… and that the “capitalist class” is not a state of mind… I was always referring to “capitalist speech”, particularly when it comes from regular citizens.
the ones that would undermine socialism and restore capitalism are censored or shunned, as they should be.
Ah thanks, so you confirm that the working class is not allowed to spread anti-system speech.
This is not what we do in the EU, where being able to discuss peaceful orchestration of changes in our government is explicitly protected. As it should be.
This is just nonsense, though. You’re focused entirely on a vague ideal over what has a concrete impact on benefiting the working classes. Further, no, you can’t speak freely in the EU, pro-Palestine protestors are arrested frequently in Europe. Of course you don’t embody a class based on ideas, but you did say capitalist speech, as in the speech of capitalists in my interpretation.
Marx talking about censorship in the context of 0 existing socialist states is entirely different from the question of whether or not the capitalist class should be given free reign and control of the press, by which it can freely espouse disinformation and attempt to undermine democratic institutions for the purposes of restoring their class power. You cannot simply take a statement outside of its necessary context, Marx advocating for freedom of the press within capitalism does not at all mean he believes capitalists should be able to undermine socialism once established.
As for whether or not it is “wise” for capitalists to censor communist speech, the answer is yes, for capitalists to protect their class interests. I can despise that choice while recognizing its strategic advantage for capitalists, just like I can approve of socialists restricting bourgeois class power. By equating the oppression of capitalists by the working classes with the oppression of workers by the capitalist classes, you’re reducing your analysis to simple phrasemongering. As long as class struggle is alive, the working classes must make use of what they can to prevent capitalists from regaining control. Allowing the spread of misinformation and disinformation out of some abstract moral virtue is to sabotage the working class.
Ok, so you are saying that Marx has never had a context that allowed him to make the statement you just made about him before.
This implies you admit Marx never said what you attributed to him. You can make hypothesis of what he would say, but I can make mine too. I don’t necessarily think he would be ok with censorship in a mature communist state, he’ll see that as a means to keep people from “coming of age”, a form of oppression. Free workers don’t need an elite to to tell them what they need to think.
But that was not the point. Where did I say that the capitalist class should be given free reign and control of the press?
You talk as if any thought that’s anti-system must automatically make the person who had it part of the capitalist class.
The “capitalist class” is not a state of mind… it’s a real oppressor with economic power… one does not become “capitalist class” just because they have a wrong thought. For me, as a materialist, “thought” is not really relevant when it comes to modelling the economic power structure.
Then that’s our difference. I despise that strategy because it’s fundamentally flawed, for the reasons I provided before.
I did not say or imply that, this is another strawman.
A worker is not a state of mind, it’s a real person at the bottom of the hierarchy… you don’t suddenly stop being a worker just because you had the wrong thought.
I don’t follow your logic here. Marx was explicit in saying the working classes need to establish state power over capitalists, and control the means of communication and transport. Any elements used by the capitalists to maintain or gain political power should be stripped away from them, including killing them if necessary. When you speak of freedom of speech in “mature communist society,” you’re speaking of a society beyond class struggle, which has never existed. Socialist states have ongoing class struggle.
Secondly, regarding “anti-system” speech vs. Capitalist speech. You quite literally said you despise it when socialist states control the speech of capitalists earlier. In China, our relevant example, speech criticizing the system and the government is allowed and happens all the time. Of course capitalist isn’t a “state of mind,” but private, bourgeois press is the mouthpiece of the capitalist class. This is what is held in higher scrutiny.
I have never once indicated that being in a class is determined by what you believe. What I have done is recognized the class character of the press as it relates to the overall mode of production and the classes governing it. In capitalist society, I would frustrate for freedom of speech for the working classes, but in socialist society I would advocate for controlling the speech of capitalists. In classless, communist society, we will have moved beyond such a struggle and can begin to truly speak of genuine freedom of speech for all.
I think this might clarify things:
I want to defend the right of the working class for spreading anti-system speech without fear of oppression from any elite.
To me, this (along with transparency) is more important than the economic system, because it establishes a basis for the workers to be able to react and mandate change… if a fully transparent system were put in place properly, I believe ultimately the rest of the pieces will slowly fall into place.
Reactionary, feudal-revivalist speech in a capitalist system is “anti-system” speech too.
We have no interest in defending their right to speak.
Reactionary, feudal-revivalist speech is so easy to defeat that I personally would rather see it exposed so that it can be openly dismantled…
Hiding/censoring it would only make it stronger.
Fascists love to cloak themselves in the banners of kings and shit, and they’re kind of a problem.
Also you’re saying this in the context of reactionaries calling for reinstalling the Shah in Iran.
The reason they get power is because those positions benefit those in power, so the powerful naturally adopt reactionary positions.
It’s not that their speech is somehow flawless and logical.
Fascism is friend of censorship for that reason.
The other reason they get power is because millions of people listen to them. Do you think they could take over without being heard? It’s not that their speech is flawless and logical, is that people are hungry for answers that reaction pretends to provide.
If you don’t silence them they can recruit.
Sure, but then this isn’t about China at all. Further, the working classes in China can and do critique the government.
Ah really? can you link me a true main-China capitalist group organized by the working class? and I mean proper capitalist, not some pro-market CCP-friendly commerce, give me a CCP-adverse one.
Let me know where is the Chinese social media group (ideally with a .cn domain) where the working class can discuss alternative forms of government and are allowed to organize discussions about how to peacefully orchestrate a change of system.
You’re talking about something different now. Pro-capitalist speech is different from the speech of capitalists. Either way, there are liberal groups in China, but the ones that would undermine socialism and restore capitalism are censored or shunned, as they should be. Socialists should protect socialism and build communism, not give free reign to reactionaries to do as they please.
I was not talking about “the speech of capitalists”… this is why I was telling you that you don’t suddenly stop being a worker just because you had the wrong thought… and that the “capitalist class” is not a state of mind… I was always referring to “capitalist speech”, particularly when it comes from regular citizens.
Ah thanks, so you confirm that the working class is not allowed to spread anti-system speech.
This is not what we do in the EU, where being able to discuss peaceful orchestration of changes in our government is explicitly protected. As it should be.
This is just nonsense, though. You’re focused entirely on a vague ideal over what has a concrete impact on benefiting the working classes. Further, no, you can’t speak freely in the EU, pro-Palestine protestors are arrested frequently in Europe. Of course you don’t embody a class based on ideas, but you did say capitalist speech, as in the speech of capitalists in my interpretation.