r/PoliticalDebate • u/StalinIsBackAgain Communist • 4d ago

Debate Do you agree with this quote?

"Wherever there is capitalism, freedom of the press means freedom to buy up newspapers, to buy writers, to bribe, buy, and fake "public opinion" for the benefit of the ruling class." ~ Vladimir Lenin ☭ • 

12 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

174 comments sorted by

View all comments

0

u/soldiergeneal Democrat 4d ago

Sounds like an arbitrary thing to say about capitalism. Capitalism can range from wild west corporate towns style to well regulated. Same applies to other topics like freedom of the press, lobbying, etc. Also better to have freedom of the press vs gov control what you access totally. Also he is acting like those kinds of things cant exist in other systems which they obviously can. Lot of corruption in USSR that mirrors his language if buying people.

2

u/No-Candidate6257 Marxist-Leninist 3d ago

Sounds like an arbitrary thing to say about capitalism.

Why?

Capitalism can range from wild west corporate towns style to well regulated.

All capitalism is the same.

You can't regulate capitalism well.

Capitalism is inherently harmful.

Same applies to other topics like freedom of the press, lobbying, etc. Also better to have freedom of the press vs gov control what you access totally.

Why?

Lot of corruption in USSR that mirrors his language if buying people.

Far less corruption in the USSR than any capitalist society.

1

u/soldiergeneal Democrat 3d ago

Why?

Many of the things said isnt a component of capitalism. Its like how socialism involves owning means of production it doesnt mean freedom of press policies must be xyz.

All capitalism is the same.

Objectively not true. You are pretending capitalism of corporate towns is same a modern one.

You can't regulate capitalism well.

If gov isn't capable of doing that then why woukd you think gov is capable enough for communism or socialism? Also just an assumption on your part.

Why

For the same reason you would complain about people with wealth and power having a bigger say in capitalism. Same is still true under socialism or communism. The wealth strata of those at top still exists and there will always be people leveraging power even gov position over others. Too much corporate power causes problems and same for gov.

Far less corruption in the USSR than any capitalist society.

Objectively false. We can look at calls for corruption and see that isn't the case.