What do you know about Leon Trotsky? (The “smart communist”)

[NZ Poke]

Fascinating person and life.

If you start reading about Trotsky, and watching YouTube videos on him, you won’t it find it boring — regardless of any opinion you have on communism, Bolshevism etc (worst ideologies ever).

One of the earlier things I knew about Trotsky is Christopher Hitchens (who I was a big fan of) called himself a “Trotskyist” in his earlier years — and so did Irving Kristol (Bill’s Dad — The Godfather of neoconservatism).

I also knew that Trotsky was exiled by Stalin and lived in Mexico, with legendary artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera — and Stalin’s assassin eventually killed Trotsky, in Mexico.

What I didn’t know until recently (and not many do), is Trotsky was exiled in 1917 and spent three months living in NYC — before going back to Russia and leading the successful Bolshevik revolution.

What did Trotsky do when he lived in New York?

After beginning to learn about him, I don’t think it’s possible to have a truly informed analysis of the 20th century without some studying of Trotsky. Bold statement but true.

Trotsky changed the world, even to this day.

Trotsky in Mexico with artists Frida Kahlo (her paintings are everywhere today) and Diego Rivera.

Stalin’s assassin killed Trotsky in Mexico in 1940, with an ice pick!

 

[my_2cents]

Fascinating person and life.

If you start reading about Trotsky, and watching YouTube videos on him, you won’t it find it boring — regardless of any opinion you have on communism, Bolshevism etc (worst ideologies ever).

One of the earlier things I knew about Trotsky is Christopher Hitchens (who I was a big fan of) called himself a “Trotskyist” in his earlier years — and so did Irving Kristol (Bill’s Dad — The Godfather of neoconservatism).

I also knew that Trotsky was exiled by Stalin and lived in Mexico, with legendary artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera — and Stalin’s assassin eventually killed Trotsky, in Mexico.

What I didn’t know until recently (and not many do), is Trotsky was exiled in 1917 and spent three months living in NYC — before going back to Russia and leading the successful Bolshevik revolution.

What did Trotsky do when he lived in New York?

After beginning to learn about him, I don’t think it’s possible to have a truly informed analysis of the 20th century without some studying of Trotsky. Bold statement but true.

Trotsky changed the world, even to this day.

Trotsky in Mexico with artists Frida Kahlo (her paintings are everywhere today) and Diego Rivera.

Stalin’s assassin killed Trotsky in Mexico in 1940, with an ice pick!

Trotsky is a fascinating person NZ, whether one agrees with his political philosophy or actions.

What is interesting to consider is how the history of the Soviet Union would have been different had Trotsky ascended to power instead of Stalin.

 

[NZ Poke]

Trotsky is a fascinating person NZ, whether one agrees with his political philosophy or actions.

What is interesting to consider is how the history of the Soviet Union would have been different had Trotsky ascended to power instead of Stalin.

Yep, agree.

That's one of the things that intrigued me about Trotsky -- I knew he was considered the smart communist, and people have questioned (and many still do) how the USSR would have gone had Trotsky led it.

Trotsky was an ourstanding public speaker too, while Stalin was terrible.

Wonder how that impacted Stalin's mental state? (Mao was a bad public speaker too)

Christopher Hitchens said Trotsky was an extremely good author and writer on many different subjects, and that was one of the original appeals of Trotsky to Hitchens.

 

[AC_Exotic]

The only good commie is a dead commie.

 

[NZ Poke]

The only good commie is a dead commie.

For 20th century dictator-related deaths, Mao and Stalin win by a long shot (Mao is a distant first) — both communist.

But I’m interested in knowing why many people believe Trotsky would have been less bad.

I know Trotsky was super intelligent — how would his policies have been different from Stalin?

And how cruel was Trotsky? This guy seems like one of the most major figures of the 20th century, and maybe even all time. But he’s not widely talked about in the modern US.

Trotsky led the Bolshevik revolution alongside Lenin, and was a military leader in the Russian Civil War (after the revolution).

Also, Bolshevism and communism never actually went away when the USSR crashed in early 90s — it’s just been packaged differently (using identity politics, all the various “isms” etc).

So I actually need to learn about this history, idea and philosophy — though what I’m learning so far sounds utterly awful and nightmarish to have lived though.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Why do people bring up communism as if it’s a truly ambitious goal of left-wingers? You gotta be fvcking dumb to get that idea. Socialism and communism are quite different ideologies, period.

 

[AC_Exotic]

Why do people bring up communism as if it’s a truly ambitious goal of left-wingers? You gotta be fvcking dumb to get that idea. Socialism and communism are quite different ideologies, period.

BWAHAHAHA!

 

[NZ Poke]

Bernie Sanders was regularly drawing 20k person crowds in 2016 (far more than Hillary) — mostly younger people.

And Bernie has praised communist revolutionaries before.

So it absolutely makes sense to learn about Trotsky — who is an enduring historical figure, and briefly lived in New York (the same city Bernie grew up, ironically).

Source: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/10/trotsky-new-york-socialist-party-debs-revolution/

 

[BIGOSUFAN]

Why do people bring up communism as if it’s a truly ambitious goal of left-wingers? You gotta be fvcking dumb to get that idea. Socialism and communism are quite different ideologies, period.

Look up the definition of “useful idiot”.

 

[NZ Poke]

Look up the definition of “useful idiot”.

From what I’ve learned so far about Marxist / Leninist / Stalinist societies, useful idiots received zero “tolerance” from the state and bureaucracy — after they were deemed no longer useful.

I recently got the book below — it’s about the average person’s life in the Soviet Union in the 1930’s.

Incredible book but terrifying subject matter — far worse than anyone today can imagine. Most people have no idea how good we have it compared to these peoples’ daily existence.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

From what I’ve learned so far about Marxist / Leninist / Stalinist societies, useful idiots received zero “tolerance” from the state and bureaucracy — after they were deemed no longer useful.

Is that like Trumpets who hate his guts now cuz he lied to them during the campaign?

 

[GunsOfFrankEaton]

 

[Medic007]

From what I’ve learned so far about Marxist / Leninist / Stalinist societies, useful idiots received zero “tolerance” from the state and bureaucracy — after they were deemed no longer useful.

I recently got the book below — it’s about the average person’s life in the Soviet Union in the 1930’s.

Incredible book but terrifying subject matter — far worse than anyone today can imagine. Most people have no idea how good we have it compared to these peoples’ daily existence.

I've read that book. The amount of control the government had over the daily lives of common Russians was downright creepy. The secret police were a legitimate terror organization.

 

[GunsOfFrankEaton]

I've read that book. The amount of control the government had over the daily lives of common Russians was downright creepy. The secret police were a legitimate terror organization.

That is a wet dream to many on the left today.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Taking your cues from Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens lol...

 

[Medic007]

Taking your cues from Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens lol...

And you take yours from Rachael Maddow and Joy Behar. What's your point?

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

And you take yours from Rachael Maddow and Joy Behar. What's your point?

I didn’t watch either lol. Are you always this stupid?

 

[GunsOfFrankEaton]

Taking your cues from Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens lol...

Looks like you're still taking your cues from Roberta Fairchild and Oscar Sweeney.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Looks like you're still taking your cues from Roberta Fairchild and Oscar Sweeney.

I have no idea who you’re talking about, so obviously your statement is completely full of shit haha

 

[GunsOfFrankEaton]

I have no idea who you’re talking about, so obviously your statement is completely full of shit haha

That makes us even. I did not know who you were talking about, either. Thanks for playing. Carry on.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

That makes us even. I did not know who you were talking about, either. Thanks for playing. Carry on.

Mmm hmmm...riiiiiiiiiigggggghhhhht lol

 

[SoonerRedYukon101]

That makes us even. I did not know who you were talking about, either. Thanks for playing. Carry on.

Bwahahaha!!!!!

 

[Medic007]

I didn’t watch either lol. Are you always this stupid?

Suuuuuure, Mr. CNN isn't biased.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Bwahahaha!!!!!

****laughs...then sees GOFE posted a turningpointUSA pic***

Idiots lol

 

[NZ Poke]

Trotsky is a fascinating person NZ, whether one agrees with his political philosophy or actions.

What is interesting to consider is how the history of the Soviet Union would have been different had Trotsky ascended to power instead of Stalin.

What else do you know about Trotsky?

And do you think the history of the Soviet Union would have been different if Trotsky ascended to power?

The book on Trotsky in New York (original post) is only a few years old. You might enjoy it. Story sounds fascinating.

 

[NZ Poke]

Trotsky quote — sounds like he’s promoting absolute relativism for everything.

Isn’t this the current philosophy of the left in 2018?

Anything goes, all the time, a blending of genders, roles, sexes, borders etc.