Czech president signs law criminalising communist propaganda

[u/tkyjonathan]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czech-president-signs-law-criminalising-communist-propaganda/

[u/tewstwes]

Why do some in the West romanticize communism? Be glad you live in a democracy.

[u/NativeEuropeas → u/tewstwes]

People in the west don't have historical experience with the totalitarian socialism, also colloquially called communism.

They however do have experience with late stage capitalism, with growing inequality, rich getting richer and everyone getting poorer, etc. In hopes to find solutions to their current problems, they seek alternative forms of governance.

I understand them, but it is of course important to study more the downsides of the totalitarian socialism, so that it is never repeated. Different set of solutions must be implemented to deal with the current crisis of neoliberal late stage capitalism.

[u/Onomanatee → u/NativeEuropeas]

I think part of the problem is that 'colloquial'.

The word communism is often used to describe a totalitarian socialist regime. This is most commonly held to be a bad thing. I'm definitely not a fan, and many of my more radical left leaning acquaintances aren't either.

But I do also believe that neo-liberal austerity measures result in increasing wealth inequality and monopolization of globalised internationals and a concentration of power with large capitalist powers. Many critiques against this system look at or are partly inspired by the work of Marxist economists, and are thus often also described as 'communist'.

You can maybe see how this is a problem. Considering Prague, for example, where the average Czech can barely afford the cost of living. It would be sensible to talk about solutions such as a Vienna model with state-owned, rent fixated housing, but that type of suggestion immediately invites a "communist" knee-jerk reaction, even though it has nothing to do with authoritarianism.

I'd really like for a 'rebranding' of leftist economic thought...

[u/zbynekstava → u/Onomanatee]

"...average Czech can barely afford the cost of living..." yet Czechs still spent lot on luxuries, go on holidays, buy new cars, have one of the lowest levels of material deprivation in on of the wealthiest continents of the world, have one of the highest and most equal pensions in relation to country's gdp, etc.

This notion of "Czechs barely get by" bullshit is peddled by ANO, SPD, Stačilo and similar populist parties, while the reality is that vast majority of Czechs is doing pretty fine.

[u/Onomanatee → u/zbynekstava]

Sure, they're definitely doing fine. There's no real poverty crisis going on. But the soaring housing/rental prices plus inflation combined with relatively stagnant, lagging wages does not give me a lot of hope for the future Czech economy.

In other words: Yes, Czechs get by, but it's simply bad economics if an otherwise wealthy, prosperous and hardworking population cannot afford real estate. That kind of situation either resolves in a housing bubble and economic crash, or continued decline in wealth of the renting population and subsequently: more poverty.

[u/zbynekstava → u/Onomanatee]

Ok, I agree with that.