Canadian Politics Today

You don’t “steal” parts of Marxism. He described a process of historical change and the conflict between the material interests of the economic classes. If you mean that advanced capitalism and the welfare state are Marxist, that’s incorrect.

Advanced capitalism interrupts the process Marx described. He would likely decry it for prolonging exploitation while doing nothing to move towards a classless society. This is exactly why I am not a Marxist, ie, because I believe in social programs and the welfare state.

Argus doesn’t understand these positions or theories well enough to see the distinction. Given how blunt his thinking is on immigration, showing a constant  need to operate in binaries, I don’t think he can understand the differences.

And yet some of the ideas were good enough for the West to steal.  There are definitely aspects of it that are more appealing than pure capitalism.

Which ideas? Marxism was just one type of Socialism, after all.

Not sure how much of that can be attributed to Marxism.

Public health care wasn't inspired by socialism so much as by businessmen in the UK and Germany whose employees now took considerable time and effort to train, and who were tried of them dying through the various communicable diseases which swept through society. Actual medical care, aside from disease treatment, was only available to workers, at first, because those were who businessmen cared about. Similarly, free public education is needed by business to provide workers educated enough to do modern work.

“White cis gay men are now considered the most privileged people in the community, which must have been shocking and uncomfortable to some. But it matters very much what you do with that shock and discomfort,”

I’m Afraid of ‘Woke People’

for Vivek Shraya, upon reading her book -- I'm Afraid of Men

I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because they divide humanity into either ‘us’ or ‘them.’
I’m afraid of “Woke People’ because they taught me to fear being gay. It was something that I worked very hard to be proud of, and now — once again — I am ashamed.
When I go to a theatre event or a sexuality conference, I am careful not to dress in a sexual way, because I know that for many ‘Woke People’ it fits an evil gay stereotype.
When I go online I brace myself for the postings about how politically insensitive, hyper-sexual and super-rich gay men are.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People because they can’t see that I’m gay, but only that I’m a man.
When I send ‘Woke People’ emails, I have to go out of my way not to appear too gay, too sexual, or too irreverent. I do not want to offend them.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because if I mistakenly use the wrong pronoun to describe them, they may become furious and never forgive me.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because, for them, good intentions are not enough.
When I dress in drag, I fear I will be ‘dressed down’ by a “Woke Person,’ screamed at for enjoying appropriated music, for making fun of trans people, and for my camp sense of humour.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because when I appeal to them for generosity and kindness they see it as trying to make them weak.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because I am worried they will measure my lack of privilege against theirs, and find it wanting.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because they have said to me ‘your time is up.’
When I see a group of ‘Woke People’ laughing and tittering in a corner, I can’t help but imagine they are laughing about me.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because my intersectionality does not have enough intersections.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because our very human imaginations may not be able to survive the rigorous scrutiny of social justice.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People’ because I’m afraid they will kill art.
You see I believe (gulp!) that we should try and love everyone, even (gulp!) the people who hate us.
I’m afraid of ‘Woke People,’ because — I’m sorry.
Because I’m sorry I exist.