me at 25: this bernie sanders guy seems cool
me at 30: bernie sanders is a boot licking social fascist who has shown far too much deference to the imperialist foreign policy consensus
:meow-tankie: Mr Bernie sir I voted for you twice but it's time to answer for your crimes against the people of Yugoslavia
I never tire of pointing out that Michael Parenti stopped being friends with him after that
That interview is really sad, because it's clear how much he's struggling to stay on track and remember the points he's trying to make. It's such a decline from how sharp and quick he was in his old speeches, and it's even worse knowing that his condition has deteriorated a lot since that interview as well.
As sad as it is to say I hope he passes soon because he's completely dementia-addled now. Some r/genzedong kids visited him a few months ago and the footage of him was very bittersweet.
EDIT: was replying from my inbox so didn't see that Maoistlandlord already covered this
Feel the same but I also have somewhat of a soft spot, even though I know who he'd side with if a revolution comes.
:snipes-hesitation:
Me at (literally) 70: You're all liberals, but you're working towards not being liberals.
:lenin-laugh:
It always blows me away when I realize that despite being well well over the average age of hexbear posters we also have some actual boomers here.
:fidel-salute-big: Much respect for staying the course through so much defeat.
Really, I’m grateful to all of those who “carried the torch”. I can’t imagine what it felt like being a socialist between 1989 and 2016.
It sure isn't easy. I didn't really develop a coherent communist ideology until a few years ago but I always was sympathetic to radical left ideas and respect for revolutionary movements.
I did, however, witness my share of defeat and comrades being imprisoned and persecuted by the government while being involved in drug decriminalization and police abolition stuff only to see our crowning achievement (cannabis decriminalization) be wholly coopted and turned into another speculative investment for neoliberal technocrats.
It's when you have money that aligns with class interest that younger people become more conservative as they get older. Their class interest aligns with it to protect their wealth. When you're poor you really have no reason to watch Fox News and vote for republicans (or democrats for that matter).
That or the hustle culture line of bullshit, you're poor because you haven't worked hard enough. But yeah, there was a time I was an antisemite and I blamed my personal failings on jewish people.
Yeah, sadly. Especially the old-school "I'm middle class dammit!" working poor. Too bad emulating the attitudes of the rich doesn't make you rich, huh?
:grillman: You'll stop being a liberal when you're older
:frothingfash: wait no not like that
The becoming more conservative as you get older thing used to be true. Back when you had to provide a somewhat reasonable living standard for the working class just to prevent them from throwing too many loving glances at the Soviet Union. It's very long ago now.
I think it is much like saying "During your 20s alcohol will be illegal". It has been historically true for some people, but maybe that was a part of history that will not repeat itself for every generation.
Yeah, perpetuating the idea that you get more conservative as you get older just means you don't have any concept of materialism or class consciousness... which checks out since it's always rich conservative dumbfucks saying it lmao
Me in my teens: "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!"
Me in my thirties: "Fuck you, do what the People's Liberation Army tells you!"
as you own more property you get more right wing is the accurate version. Past generations gaining access to homeownership led to an increase in right wing material interests for them.
People prefer the as you get older you get more right wing line as they use it to imply they are wiser than left wingers rather than just richer
It's interesting that they hold this belief but also hold "public schooling and universities are turning kids into Marxists!", since they've internalized that right wing thought is natural and therefore good. I even had some accusation of that thrown my way by some of the more conservative parts of my family, despite the fact that I was nominally SocDem at best by the time I graduated and made a hard shift left when I actually worked (much further when the shitshow of 2020 rolled around).
made a hard shift left when I actually worked
Working for low wages is radicalizing in itself.
Funny thing is that this was when I still had the privilege of my folks covering or at least partially supporting my life expenses. So the money I was earning was more of a nice bonus than anything else before I could train and find a job in my field. It's just that, with the amount of strenuous work they offloaded onto us, I could see the struggles friends and associates I've made on the job who weren't as lucky and needed to work with that meager pay, many of whom older and less energetic than me.
I suppose for a lot of conservatives, even the ones who actually worked these jobs when they were younger, many never really got that exposure. Or they did, but comforted themselves with sufficient ideology to make the weird feelings and inner conflicts go away ("They could easily get out of that situation if they just work hard enough").
NGL, there would be a much greater chance of me staying a :LIB: if I was a boomer and the IRL Monopoly game wasn't won 20 years before I was born.
That, and the implication was also that I would be more bigoted as I get older, but bigotry is one of the most immature characteristics I can think of. How can it be a sign of wisdom to be mean to others for your own entertainment?
They mean you'll become more racist.
Which is also true :england-cool: :france-cool: :ukkk: :kkkanada:
Turned 30 this year and I only grow more communist with every passing day.
