this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2026
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Liberalism is right-wing because it supports capitalism. It isn't the only right-wing ideology, but anyone calling themselves "progressive" that opposes moving on from capitalism to socialism is in fact holding progress back from where it needs to go.
That's a moot point.
I agree capitalism will stop progress.
But if these individuals support social progress, even if they incorrectly believe it can be achieved within capitalism, this does not make them Republicans.
The distinction between left and right in the U.S is democratic and Republic ideologies.
Social progressives vs traditionalists.
Support for capitalism is not the dividing line. It never has been.
You can all pretend liberals are the cause of all your problems.
The right wing is the actual cause of our slip into fascism. They worked to get their own people into every seat. Plenty of blue maga. These are not actual liberals. They only ran as Dems to get elected.
The right wing conservatives are the ones stripping women of rights. Of trans peoples rights.
It's sure as fuck not the liberals.
I've given multiple definitions of liberals from multiple sources and you all just pretend that's not the definition.
That your personal definition is the "real" one and call anyone who disagrees as uninformed.
I can use Google. Apparently you cannot.
You don't get to just make up your own definition and push it and pretend that everyone else , all other sources are wrong.
And besides.
Instead of blaming liberal progressives who push for civil rights , environmental controls, and taxes on the rich, you should consider what it is that you have contributed to this country by pretending to be better than the people actually advocating for these progressive changes.
What have you done to make this country better?
You remind me of those Christian fundamentalist who think they are better than everyone else because they stick to rules they made up.
Honestly it all feels like you all must either be grifters or infiltrators.
No one believes this b.s that liberals are the problem right now.
We all know it's the conservatives. The Republicans. The right wing and especially the alt right.
You're confusing effect with cause, and as a consequence are mis-analyzing the key issues here. Fascism is rising because imperialism is decaying, and austerity is being brought home. It isn't rising abstractly, but due to concrete material conditions. Perpetuating capitalism perpetuates the rise in fascism, so liberals, like it or not, are ineffectively fighting fascism by supporting the very system that gives rise to it.
As for what I do personally, I organize with a communist party, one that focuses on unionization, striking, protesting, and educating the working classes. I don't sit on my hands for years at a time waiting for the next genocidal democrat to vote for, but instead make political activism a part of my life. Trying to claim that leftists are all infiltrators or grifters for having principles and coherent political analysis is absurd.
I never disagreed with the capitalism problem. It's at the root and until it's addressed, it will inevitably lead to ruin. You won't get any argument from me there on that one.
But many still think socialism can exist in a regulated capitalist society.
Neither of us thinks so, but I can understand why some do think that's possible. And I'm not going to criticize them for all the problems that are caused by this when there are other groups at a much greater fault.
Socialism in capitalism has semi worked (let me explain what I mean by "worked",) at a surface level. And especially looks promising when being viewed remotely.
For instance an American may look at Sweden and say "look how well socialism is working there ".
And it looks like it is working. Free healthcare. Equality. Better educated.
But you and I know it's unsustainable and will always be in decline because that's how capitalism works. It demands sacrifice after sacrifice. Profits must continue to increase. Finite resources must be used faster than they can regenerate. And this of course is not sustainable long term.
But many people don't see this aspect of things. They just see that things in Sweden look much better than they are here. And they see socialism working. Dare I say "perfected" from the perspective.
Not everyone is capable of following cause and effect long term. Or tracing back problems to their sources.
So. This is getting long but. I study psychology. My area is perception and cognition but I've also studied social.
To make a short as point as possible. For a society to exist cohesively, most members need to be "sheep". It's the only way they will cooperate and collectively follow rules.
But a society needs people who challenge things. Or progress never happens.
If you have too many of those types, they all think they know best. And they all just fight constantly.
The masses will follow whichever one appeals to their existing ideals the most.
Existing ideals that are a product of the environment they grew up in.
I do think there is a level of personal responsibility here that is real. But at the same time I acknowledge that most people are incapable of going very far from the cultural ideas they were raised with. Liberals want a better world. They just can't let go of capitalism because they were raised in capitalism and they can't imagine it any other way. They are ignorant of where capitalism leads.
This doesn't mean they deserve to be lumped in with the anti-social fascist on the right.
They aren't the same.
First of all, Sweden doesn't have socialism to begin with. You're right that capitalism decaying means their safety nets have a time limit, but they subsidize them via imperialism. Socialism refers to an economy where public ownership is the principle aspect of the economy, and the working classes are in charge of the state.
As for your point on "sheep" and "people who challenge things," a lot of this is again trying to look at the effects of class society and presuming it to be the cause. The superstructure is shaped by the base, which is reinforced by the superstructure. The superstructure does not create the base.
Liberals are right-wing, because, regardless of intentions, they contribute to the perpetuation of capitalism and the rise in fascism. It has nothing to do with what they want the outcome to be, and everything to do with what they actually do.
Sweden has socialized medicine and education.
You contribute to capitalism as much as any other citizen.
Do you buy things?
Do you work for money?
You promote capitalism too. Even by being on Lemmy. You promote capitalism.
Your mental gymnastics to blame other citizens is ridiculous.
There are actual people responsible. And they aren't your fellow powerless neighbors.
They are as guilty as you are.
Social safety nets like medicine and education are not socialism. Socialism is a mode of production characterized by public ownership as the principle aspect of the economy, and the working classes in charge of the state. Buying things and working for a living is not "promoting capitalism," it's existing within it. Someone deliberately saying "we need capitalism, imperialism, and genocide" like liberals do, who continue to prop up the DNC and GOP, are the ones promoting capitalism. You're projecting hardcore right now.
Both Republicans and Democrats subscribe to the same ideology: Liberalism. That is: the supremacy of private property and absolute freedom (for those who posses said private property). That's what liberalism is, not whether you believe deep in your heart in the neccesity of "social progressivism".
They just play the good cop/bad cop routine; and just like with those cops, their goal is the same, they just trick you into trusting one of them because he's stopping the 'bad cop' from hurting you.