Widely considered one of the most significant and influential figures of the 20th century, Lenin was the posthumous subject of a pervasive personality cult within the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. He became an ideological figurehead behind Marxism–Leninism and a prominent influence over the international communist movement. A controversial and highly divisive historical figure, Lenin is viewed by his supporters as a champion of socialism, communism, anti-imperialism and the working class, while his critics accuse him of establishing a totalitarian dictatorship that oversaw mass killings and political repression of dissidents.

I was looking for an analysis of Watchmen that isn't filled with "everyone is evil, there's no saving humanity" but I couldn't find anything that made much sense.

The obvious remarks are that Veidt is a megalomaniac "self made" bourgeois that has day dreams of being a great emperor/general, idolising the likes of Alexander the Great, Hitler, probably Napoleon even if he wasn't referenced. In his narcissistic view of the world, it's justifiable for him to commit a genocide among other additional crimes in order to achieve a peace that he supposes will be final. He is very similar to a huge CEO, much like Elon, that make the world their play toy and claims that any harm done was for the better good.

Another obvious remark is the critique of superheroes in general, as a concept of superhumans that use their natural superiority to "bring justice" to the world through brute force, when all they end up doing is enforcing the status quo just like the fascists. Their human nature makes them corruptable, strong enough to inflict massive violence on the working class but not that strong against the oppressive power of the bourgeoisie. They have physical power but their view of the world is still that of a human with no consciousness of how the world works, except the Comedian perhaps. Knowing the grim reality of the world, but unable to change it single handedly, he becomes a radical cynic and sees the world as his stage and himself as a puppet. He commits unspeakable crimes with the excuse that he is only playing his part in a dark comedy.

Dr. Manhattan essentially becomes a god, and with the massive power he gains, he also gains the "weakness" of seeing the whole universe in its entirety all at once, losing interest in the miniscule matters of a form of life in a tiny tiny part of it. This could be a way of showing why a god, if any exists, allows so much pain and misery while being powerful enough to stop it. It's because such a being would have no reference at all to the world as we see it, our pain is not more to him than specs of dust floating from one place to another aimlessly.

The working class is largely oblivious to everything going on, observing events unfold around them through the carefully written headlines of newspapers, conditioned to admire people like Veidt as the only remaining hope due to his power and benign facade. Their revolt against masked heroes is an exception that leads to the Keene act being passed, but after that they lose their revolutionary spirit, not seeing that masked heroes were but a large weapon of an already established system that still remains.

Overall I don't know if there's a single moral of the story at the end, it feels like the point of Watchmen is the whole critique done throughout the comic, and that the ending is not meant to lead to some resolution but to provoke thinking instead.

Feel free to add any thoughts

What are the most notable differences between Stalin's and Mao's implementations of socialism?

Many of the differences are likely because of the different state that the two countries existed in before and during the revolution, so I'm more interested on the abstract topics rather than overly specific details.

Today on my bus to work I was sitting reading my book and opposite me was a senior couple who were unemployed and were going to the hospital, they had hospital papers and weren't lying about it. Then a ticket inspector walks in and checks everyone. Turns out their unemployment card had expired 11 days prior and they hadn't yet renewed it so the inspector started writing them a ticket. I protested with the couple telling the inspector to make an exception since the couple is obviously wronged here. The other people on the bus though were either silent or they took the side of the inspector, except very few voices that said something supporting the couple. Some bourgeois looking lady told me that I don't know because I'm young and haven't paid taxes. After I told her that I'm on my way to work right this moment she changed her tune and said that I haven't been on the inspector's place and I stopped dealing with her then. Some other people were ironic after the couple left saying that "it's not even a long distance to walk" while the couple was on the bus before me and we had passed tens of stops already. This really opened my eyes to what society around me really is, I want to believe that most people were sympathetic but too cowardly to also step up but I don't know. I'm really frustrated even hours later and I've lost a lot of hope on people after this event. Communists and real leftists in general are the only people that give me hope for change.

The government in my country is planning to install sea wind turbines as a part of the transition to green energy, and the communist party led local town govenment body is against it.

Lots of sensible reasons are stated, like the impact on local people and fishermen, and the energy being used for capitalists and not for the people, but one of the reasons is them supposedly being harmful to the environment. Is there any proof for this?

I would get them saying it for wind turbines being installed in forests or mountains where you would have to cut down many trees, but I don't get it when it's at sea.

First off, I love the new changes on

One question I have is on the megathread chat mode. I noticed that it's not using the same sorting as with choosing "New" without the chat mode.

What is the difference?

Many people who are filthy rich by being corporate asslickers, the human trash that get paid huge amounts for manipulating the masses, and other similar people don't own anything yet they can hardly be called part of the proletariat.

Are they petty bourgeoisie or an exception of the working class that works against it?

13-18 November 1973 the Athens Polytechnic university was occupied by students protesting against the US supported junta in Greece, wanting NATO out and better living conditions.

The most famous chants were "US out, NATO out" and "Bread, Education, Freedom" (translated).

As of today, the police forces started becoming violent and the first innocent people had died.

The following two days martial law was declared and police with the army were beating and shooting at anyone outside of their homes.

In total, 34 innocent people were killed and 1103 were injured, though the numbers are still very uncertain.

Less than a year later, the junta ended giving place to parliamentary democracy. Many factors led to its fall, most notably its failure in politics surrounding Cyprus that led to the Turkish invasion, but the uprising and public opinion was surely another major factor.

Every year those days are kept in memory especially by the communist party KKE and communist youth KNE. Tommorow a protest will be taking place towards the US embassy against imperialism.

A Vodafone store in my country tried firing an employee once she announced her pregnancy. They tried to do it in a sly way claiming that she had signed a contract that ended, I haven't completely understood the details.

The union quickly responded by gathering outside the specific store and demanding her to stay, and they talked to the management afaik.

Today they announced that she is hired again like she was supposed to be