The manifesto is a revised version of Principles of Communism. It is much more focused on the specific issues of the time, and is therefore much longer. Also, the Principles of Communism is in the form of 35 questions and answers, making it easier to read and answering the most common doubts that readers would have.

Amazing work! But I don’t know how relevant the Communist Manifesto would be today. Maybe use Engels’ Principles of Communism instead?

Why is he comparing the length of a pool to the height of a building???

Steban: The theorists Puncher and Wattmann — not infra-materialists, but theorists nonetheless — say that communism is a secular version of Perikarnassian theology, that it replaces faith in the divine with faith in humanity’s future … I have to say, I’ve never entirely understood what they meant, but I think maybe the answer is in there, somewhere.

You: Wait, you’re saying communism is some kind of religion?

Steban: Only in this very specific sense. Communism doesn’t dangle any promises of eternal bliss or reward. The only promise it offers is that the future can be better than the past.

“Sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.”

In Buddhist teachings, desire leads to suffering. For example, the desire for wealth may lead one to do dangerous things, hurting themself, or to exploit others, causing them suffering. So the aim of Buddhism is to transcend desire by following the ‘Eightfold Path’ (right thought, right action, etc.). When desire has been controlled, one will ‘want’ nothing, and can escape ‘samsara’ (wordly pressures; often compared to a wheel since it involves cycles of action and reaction, cause and effect) to reach ‘nirvana’ (a state of calm, bliss, peace, etc.). The meme is pointing out that one who truly wants nothing will also not want social media recognition for it.

The government does not need your tax to fund stuff. It first issues money by fiat and then collects it back as tax to control inflation.

Good for you and your friend! But

this was suicidal ideation disguised as self sacrifice

She is a Norse Pagan who isn’t a Nazi.

Don’t these Norse religions teach that you will go to heaven if you die in battle? Could your friend be thinking that way?

I guess it’s more like ‘having gut microbes that can help you digest the food you eat is helpful’, and less pokemon collecting all the microbes that can grow in your gut. H. pylori can grow in your gut, but you probably don’t want it.

That’s what I always disliked about Eastern philosophy, how it doesn’t seem to ever actually do anything and tries to think up the most clever tricks of language instead.

I actually like Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism, because of how materialistic it is. It’s about running a state and keeping people from killing each other, while a lot of Greek philosophy is about the nature of the self yada yada.

The development of the various schools, and their support bases, is also interesting from a historical materialist perspective. You have the Confucians (nerds), who look at a world in war and destruction, and say ‘this suffering is because of lack of knowledge. If we educate everyone to follow rules, respect their superiors and protect those below them, there will be peace. So we must fund education and research, and thoroughly educate emperors and officers.’

Then the Mohists, who come from the working classes, say ‘have you seen these snobs? They exploit us all the time and would start a war if it benefits them, since it’ll be us dying for them. So we need to train weaker groups to resist the strong, and do away with useless luxuries like rituals and elaborate musical performances’.

The Legalists (civil servants) attack the Confucians from another angle, pointing out that statecraft is not as black and white as the Confucians think, and that the only quality on which a public servant should be judged is the ability to get things done. ‘It does not matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.’

Finally you have the Taoists, who were originally mystics, but whose teaching that government should interfere as little as possible won them the support of the merchants. Absolutely fascinating how each class came up with its own philosophical tradition according to its material interests.

Bleach Garden Oath?

Imagine how many twitter users there are, and how many shootings there are in the USA.

Why are we hating someone for having a shitty father?

Is this making fun of ‘gamers’ who complain about free stuff because casuals would get it without having to grind? That’s actually quite similar to how some petty-bourgs complain about welfare.

We’re told that after the war the Nazis vanished without a trace

But battalions of fascists still dream of a master race

Also, Sanchez is rather pro-Ukraine, isn’t he?

He toes the EU line in public, but Spain has one of the lowest military budgets as a % of GDP, and his government has pushed back against increases.

That’s just neoplatonism.

Like if you aren’t a catholic why does the pope have any special spiritual weight?

My understanding is that many Orthodox churches recognise the Pope as the Patriarch of Rome.

They never said by how much.

You can slow down the earth’s rotation by climbing some stairs. (Assuming you aren’t at one of the poles.)

I’ve always been a blue enthusiast, but honestly the Russian system is even more correct.