From what I can tell Mamdani has been speaking our against these events. So he’s spoken about Gaza at least once since election… Though I am neither from NYC nor the US, so don’t know in great detail.

Again, Mamdani isn’t a socialist, and isn’t gonna bring about any sort of meaningful restructure of US society. But it seems like a stretch to say he’s actively supporting US imperialism given the scope of his power.

Lesser evilism only really applies when no other choice exists. In the US voting system, you must vote for the lesser evil, because first past the post is trash. The part that people haven’t been doing at large scale is still continuing to bring about change outside the terrible voting system, 1. at a minimum to fix the voting system and 2. to build workers movements that use things like, unionism, general strikes, protests, boycotts and eventually revolution to overthrow the ruling class by (mostly) peaceful means by numbers (and probably some violence when there’s inevitably a retaliation by the ruling class).

But not voting in the US and feeling high and mighty about it is really stupid.

Luckily, in Australia, we can at least preference, meaning we don’t need to deal with that particular hurdle. Though it’s still not democratic as representatives are unrecallable, and like all capitalist counties, the real power is with the capitalist class who put their finger on the scale to get their desired outcomes.

Lesser evilism in the context of world governments is absurd (i.e. supporting Russia, China, Iran, etc just because they’re not the USA), especially socialists who believe in international worker solidarity.

We get absolutely nothing but supporting totalitarian regimes, be they in the US, Russia, China etc. We ought to be supporting workers in all countries to achieve socialism, not bloody the ones in power just because their ruling class are enemies of the US ruling class… (and for the record, China, Russia and Vietnam are all capitalist countries… one needs to delude themselves to believe otherwise).

In conclusion, it’s weird that you don’t mind being called a tankie, because it hints are your disregard for democracy and self-determination.

And by definition you can’t really call yourself a socialist if you don’t believe in democracy, since how else can a society be “worker controlled” if the workers don’t get a say over society…

Indeed, hence the second half of my comment :)

Oh I don’t disagree. Just pointing out that 1. Socialism isn’t a dirty world like the meme above implies and 2. That Mamdani calls himself a democratic socialist

He’s not very socialist, no. But based on your take that socialists on the west are imperialist simply for existing within an imperialist nation, something tells me you think anyone who’s the enemy of the USA must be great. (Do correct me). And that usually ends up being tankies.

He’s been outspoken on the genocide in Gaza, at least. Which is one of the USA’s proxy imperialist projects.

USA, Russia, China, they’re all terrible in their own way. We don’t get to choose where we’re born.

I’m a socialist (edit: not a “democratic socialist”, like actually a socialist who wants revolution and institution of a worker controlled society) in Australia. Am I okay with imperialism too because of Australia’s actions?

In conclusion, Mamdani isn’t gonna bring about socialism, but he’s certainly not as bad as you’re describing (that I can tell, so far).

Isn’t he self-described as a “democratic socialist”? (I mean, his faction aren’t super radical socialist as far as I’m aware, in terms of trying to bring about a workers democracy. The NYC “city run” grocery stores are just contacted out, not actually city run. But hey, it’s way, way, way better than what other US political factions are doing)

Haha nice

There are currently 5 parties vying for position here

I know you’re not disagreeing, but I find it absolutely hilarious (in a bad way) that UK political parties will put out flyers of who is most likely to win, as a way to convince people to vote for them.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zDLxgEquxA0

All while having rejected bringing in preferential voting at a referendum, not even that long ago.

As an Australian, may I say, you royally fucked up on that one. We have issues in our electoral system too, (mostly around lower house electorates being single-member, and not say 3-member to more accurately represent the electorate), but thank Christ we have preferential voting.

Sort of. A lot of us (countries) have some kind of public healthcare, but it’s not really universal.

From experience in Australia: dental isn’t included, physio is limited, out of pocket costs can be large for non-hospital visits because it’s not a public system just a private subsidy model (mostly), wait times for “elective” surgery can be way, way longer on the public system because private health is permitted to exist and the public system is underfunded/understaffed.

What’s worse is that private health cover is allowed to just cover the difference between public and private, meaning even if you go private, the public is still paying. Like, you wanna be private, fuck off and go be private then… (Talking to the private healthcare advocates, not the people. I have some level of private healthcare cover, even though I think it’s a fucking stupid system)

List goes on.

It’s WAY better than the US, but I refuse to call it universal.

They are asking for a revolution

This show was so freaking good

I think those were cancelled a while ago.

Other than the ones protecting capital, of course.

Oh, but haven’t you considered the shareholders of the refineries previously set up to refine the type of oil found in Venezuelan reserves?

The poor share holders want to make more money.

Just wait, unless the US public drastically ramp up resistance.

As much as not protecting endangered species sucks and is stupid, what you’re talking about is the MUCH more concerning part.

Annoucement by annoucement, the US accepts rule by decree.

How, in the ever-loving-fuck, are people not marching in the streets (I am aware people are, but as a percentage of the population it’s really not enough given what’s happening)

Sadly, only sort of: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TwPLqGkYnBA

Your “left wing” democrats are further right wing than our mainstream conservative party coalition. (The Liberals, and probably the Nationals too, to be honest)

And that’s with an extremely right-wing owned press (Murdoch & Nine Fairfax, Australia).

Let that sink in.

And please, for the love of God, actually riot. I don’t enjoy the notion of being under the thumb of the US with the fuckwits at the helm.

It was bad enough with vaugely competent imperialists in charge.

The No Kings marches are piss-weak given people are ALREADY DYING and more will die because of the Dems capitulation.

I’m not a revolutionary, but I damned well would be in your country.

Seriously, and kind regards from the provinces.

I’m sorry, but the rules for how your government works are so confusing.

And requiring budget bills to pass every year or you entire government shuts down is a bug most other democracies patched out last century. (You just make everything roll over by default if you can’t pass a budget). The US Government seems to be constantly in shut down. It’s kinda dumb folks, it doesn’t need to be this way.

I could have sworn I heard that the 100 person US senate only needs 51 members to pass a bill, but I vaguely heard they don’t want to do that because it overrides the option to filibuster?

What???

Very lost over here

This is the real answer. Really, really gross, just not necessarily illegal.

Age of consent varies. Example in Victoria Australia is it’s within 2 years until 16, anyone from 16 as long as they’re not your teacher or someone else with authority, and then 18 anyone older than 16.

Prevents stupid shit like I’ve heard from the US where an 18 year old gets booked because the parents don’t like that their 17 year old is having sex…

Don’t look up the age of consent in China, they’ve really dropped the ball on that one 👀

Honestly at this point, because of first past the post, this probably splits the establishment vote. Which I personally think is hilarious (ranked choice being implemented would be better, of course).

This take makes a lot of sense, fair enough.

I guess I’m just expecting the worse because of all the norms they’re breaking. Maybe not a war, but I would not be surprised if the CIA leans on us a little more heavily than they already have (allegedly, but let’s be honest, very likely).