The capitalist and nationalist propaganda against communism has been at a completely insane level in the US for 70 years now... yeah, it's hard to go against, but I do have faith it's dying out. Conservatives can't even really remember the USSR currently and younger people, mainly liberal (IN A US POLITICS SENSE) can clearly see the problems with the current system and have desire and will to make it change. Still lots of completely deluded younger folks too, though, and the levels of fascist propaganda we're dealing with now are massive.

I read about Robinson and it all sounds pretty reasonable.

I'd love for the US economic system to somehow be wholly restructured, but incremental improvements are the best we can do currently.

I agree that corporate hegemony is non-negotiable in mainstream US politics. The question is what to do about it, and which version is worse. Republicans are far, far worse about everything that is on the table. Democrats are willing to reign in the corporations a little bit and actually help people. The Republican propaganda and the insane policies they think of are far, far worse.

No, this election is about what Trump might do and what a Harris admin would do better. Getting Trump in office to 'not reward bad behavior' makes no sense at all, considering that Republican behavior is beyond abysmally horrible. We don't get many choices in the US, but it makes sense to be pragmatic and not make things worse.

No, I'm going on what Trump and dozens of high level Republicans have very clearly stated about the current war, as well as the long history of Republicans supporting Israel with funds and weapons. That isn't speculation at all.

Not precisely as I mentioned public ownership of some industries and services that are privately owned. Healthcare and drug production would be two good examples.

Defeatist because I'm not pushing for full communism or are you referring to something else?

• practical: I don't have any delusions that the US will implement leftism more extreme than EU style socialist policies any time soon
• American: I'm from the US
• socialist: I feel the government should be involved more in regulating industries, owning certain categories of services, moderating excess wealth, and ensuring the financial/economic well-being of citizens, as opposed to the conservative style which is basically 'well, if you're poor then fuck off'.

Eating it when I had zero tolerance was cool for a while. When I am smoking regularly though, I either don’t feel it or I take too much and feel awful.

I’m more of a practical American socialist than a radical communist (since that’s unlikely to happen here) but it offends me because republicans are just so ignorant. The average Republican essentially has no idea what socialism, communism or fascism actually are, and conservatives have been using this as a scary label for my entire life.

nice, it only took them 10 years or so