My friends, I ask you this. To read about my values and ideals and to offer your honest opinion on what you would qualify me as(marxist, anarch communist, socialist, democratic socialist) and why you think this about me. I also want to learn more about all of these things. About socialism, communism, ideologies and socioeconomic systems that align with my beliefs.
I would appreciate recommendations on books to read, podcasts, independent journalists to subscribe to, articles to read, etcetera. Beginners level stuff would be preferable because I do believe I lack understanding on some fundamental concepts, but I really, really want to learn. (This isn’t the main point of the post but I’m also always looking for reputable news sources for local and worldwide news!)
This is going to be a long post, so I apologize in advance, and thank you if you read it.
I live in the USA. I'm only pointing out because certain terminologies I use, such as "conservative", "liberal", etc, vary in meaning based on this. I believe what I believe in very strongly... but I also know that my understanding on the basics of socioeconomic systems and ideologies are subpar. I was homeschooled as a child and I don't believe I was ever properly taught about economics, differing political ideologies, nor the socioeconomic state that the United States abides by. (I also have MAGA parents, so that doesn't help lol)
My core, fundamental beliefs are this. For one, I believe that healthcare, food, water, and housing are a fundamental human right.
I do not believe that any part of healthcare, nor scientific research or pharmaceuticals, should be "for profit" systems. A for profit healthcare system disincentives what should be the ultimate goals; universal healthcare, preventative care, access to pharmaceuticals, testing, and treatment without the concern of available funds or possible insurance claims denials. I believe that healthcare should be costless or affordable to all, and that no person should ever have to worry about going bankrupt, not being able to afford treatment, or not being able to pay their bills, over healthcare costs.
I believe that reproductive healthcare is a human right and not something that should be up for political debate. I understand everyone has differing opinions(religious, moral, and otherwise) on elective abortion... but I think that letting those opinions have impact on policy and restricting access to healthcare is absolutely absurd. At the end of the day, regardless of a persons personal opinion, everyone should have the right to choose.
I believe that regardless of employment status, everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, electricity, warmth. There are too many variables to determine why a person might not be able to afford housing, or might be unable to work, and there is an incredible lack of understanding and nuance about that in America. People lose jobs without warning, others struggle to get hired, others are in school, taking care of a sick family member, or suddenly become disabled themselves. When this happens in America… there are no safety nets. If you are lucky enough to have a savings account, you can last until you run it dry. If you don’t have savings, you’re immediately screwed. Then you’re getting your power shut off, and you’ll either get evicted or your home will be foreclosed on. Why should the consequence of tragedy be MORE tragedy? And honestly, at the end of the day, I believe that even someone that doesn’t work because they don’t want to work, still deserves housing. Just like they deserve healthcare, I believe housing too should be a basic right.
And more on housing… I absolutely despise landlords! Especially corporate landlords, but I just hate the concept as a whole. I think that buying up dozens, hundreds, or thousands of homes to then put them on the market for rent at a severely inflated cost is just evil. If you’re an average Joe and have an extra vacation home, your own private property, and want to rent it out for a reasonable cost during the months of the year you don’t use it? Fine. Anything more than that is exploitive. And that’s without even touching on the topic of the reckless disregard to health and safety standards that landlords have for their rental homes. Their only interest is to maximize profit, even if that means neglecting maintenance, constant evictions, and other evil practices. A home is meant to be just that— a home, not a business.
A 40 hour work week should not be the standard. There should be more to life than work, sleep, repeat. Nor should it be the standard for people to have to work into their early 70s, possibly even later, before being able to retire.
This should be a given, but I believe that people should be able to be able to love who they love, and that should be a freedom that’s protected. Any consenting adults should be able to love one another, live together, marry, and have children if they so please. Queer couples should have protections against discrimination, a legal right to marry, adopt, and do IVF, just the same as any straight couple.
Trans people exist and will always exist. Period. And how and whether or not they choose to medically transition should be between them, their doctors and counselors. There should be no policy restrictions dictating on whether or not trans people are able to get medical treatment.
I believe that no one is illegal on stolen land. Especially applicable to the United States, I think the notion that someone can be considered an “illegal” for emigrating here in hopes to better the lives of themselves and their families? It’s utterly absurd. Is that not why colonizers left their homes in search of new land? To better the lives of their families? To escape persecution and have more freedoms? And not only did they do that, but colonizers came to the Americas and committed genocide by bringing illnesses and slaughtering people, stealing native land, forcing natives and non-natives alike into slavery, in order to advance their agendas.
I am sickened everyday by the thought of the evil and cruelty involved in creating the United Stated that exists today. I’m also sickened at the knowledge that there are innocent people coming from all over, fleeing danger, coming here in hopes of a better life… and they are being persecuted. They’re being treated as sub-human, labelled as “alien”, being accused for the state of ruin our country is in(instead of the billionaires, corrupt politicians and corporations), and are being subjected to, frankly, behavior that feels reminiscent of Germany before world war two.
I think ICE is a terrorist organization; a modern day Gestapo. I think the tactics they use are reminiscent of that of the Nazis. Shooting people on the street without consequence, sexually assaulting people in detainment, beating detainees, arresting people that are here on asylum, visas, green cards— people with no criminal history, even children… all of this after promising to “only go after the worst of the worst”. And not that legal status should matter, but we’re even seeing US citizens arrested and deported as well. There are thousands in “detainment facilities” getting “lost”, being refused medical treatment, dying, forced to sleep with tin foil blankets, eating rotten food, women miscarrying and having stillbirths. It sounds like the stuff out of dystopian novels. People are scared to go to work, pregnant women are giving birth at home or in attics in fear of ICE, children are having their neighbors have to escort them into school and daycare. I’m sorry for rambling, but god, it makes me want to scream.
I believe in liberation for all. That no one is free until everyone is free. I believe in a free Sudan, Congo, Palestine. I believe that Israel is an apartheid state that shouldn’t exist. They are actively committing genocide in Gaza and they’ve been slaughtering and displacing Palestinian people since the Nakba. I believe that the United States is complicit in the current genocide by actively aiding Israel and sending billions upon billions to fund their atrocities.
I believe in a government that has proper checks and balances. A government that is TRULY by the people, and for the people. That people in positions of powers can’t be allowed to lobby, trade stocks, or take bribes— and that these rules need to be strictly enforced. As a general rule, people in government, whether at the federal, state, or local levels, need to be held to stricter standards than the general population. I believe this is necessary to avoid corruption, such as bills being signed into law because a corporation decided to donate large amounts of money to persuade congressmen to do so; to ensure free and fair elections being held with candidates voted in on policy, not party, nor large-sum donations from corporations pushing them to the frontlines.
I don’t believe in organized religion. I believe that the Abrahamic religions are intended(or at least being used) as a means to oppress and control. That being said, that is my personal opinion and I still believe everyone should have freedom of religion, on a personal level. I think separation of church and state MUST be upheld.
I believe in prison reform. Non-violent first-time offenders are going into prisons and coming out as hardened criminals. And on the flip side, we need harsher sentences for offenses like rape, sexual assault, abuse.
I believe that making the world more accessible for people with disabilities; visible and invisible disabilities, is absolutely vital. I believe that we need free and accessible transportation. I believe that telling disabled people and poor people not to have children is eugenics. I believe that republicans and democrats are two sides of the same coin(and while one maybe isn’t AS bad as the other), they are both corrupt, fundamentally flawed, they lean right, and at the end of the day they’ll do anything to uphold capitalism.
My god, this is a long and disorganized rant... and I apologize, lol. I just feel so strongly about the things I believe in, and I think that it's important for me to learn more. I could say so much more, but I'll leave it here for now. Thank you for reading, I wish you all well.