But in the meantime this conversation has dead ended.

You're probably right about the dead-end, but if you're an Orwell fan, I highly recommend Homage to Catalonia. His memoir of going to Spain as a volunteer militiaman in the Spanish civil war. Likely his best work. His experiences in Spain played an important role in shaping his political views and his books 1984 and Animal Farm.

Free PDF copy here https://libcom.org/files/Homage%20to%20Catalonia%20-%20George%20Orwell.pdf

anti-communist, pro libertarian

Where does that leave someone like me, who is both communist and libertarian?

I did try and give the video a try, but it is intellectually dishonest and scripted for the pro communist argument to win.

I'm a bit confused why you think this. The debate was about pro abolition vs. anti abolition, not pro or anti communism. It's clear there is an anti-capitalist bias but the debate was focused on what to do about the police, not what to do about capitalism.

Anarchist Communism is an oxymoron and a pipe dream. If you believe that a system of government can be created in which people will willingly be taxed sufficiently to provide a communist utopia under anything but the threat of violence you still have much to learn about human nature.

This is a misunderstanding of anarchist communism. There is no taxation and no state in anarchist communism.

I'm a libertarian-socialist. I'm vehemently against the state and hierarchical authority, which means I'm vehemently against Bolsheviks, Leninists, Maoists, etc.

The left is more diverse than most people on the right or center realize. It's not just the left/right spectrum, it's also the top/bottom spectrum of authority vs. liberty.

Edit: I'm still interested in hearing what you think of the video...

Local militias have no effective controls, oversight, or restrictions on them. In all cases this leads to greater corruption and the use of militias to enforce vendettas. Look to all of the ungoverned spaces in the middle east and north Africa for examples.

Thank you for engaging with my post in a sincere way. This is definitely a fair concern, though there are ways to mitigate against that, which are discussed in the video.

I'll give you credit for being ballsy enough to push communist you tube channels in this corner of the internet though.

Thanks. I'm pretty pissed off right now, though, because the mods deleted my post. I thought this was a gun rights forum, and as long as a post is relevant to and supportive of that, it would be welcome even if not popular. It shouldn't be censored because political sectarianism. What a shame. The right criticizes the left for restricting free speech yet it seems either side is just as likely to do it when it suits them. Though I realize this was the actions of an individual moderator and I shouldn't hold it against the people of this forum as a whole.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just disappointed. I don't like to restrict myself to a political bubble or echo chamber and I wish more people felt this way.

Anyways, did you watch the video? I'd love to hear your take on it.

This was addressed in the video. What did you think of it? (I'd be interested in your opinion.)

Did you watch the video? (I'd be interested in your opinion.)

If a little kid came to my door saying that, they're definitely getting extra candy.

I enjoyed watching this video and found it informative, thought-provoking, and at times quite funny. It's a debate over whether police should be reformed or abolished, with the YouTuber LuckyBlackCat playing both characters.

In my opinion, anyone who cares about gun rights or liberty in general should be concerned by the fact that the state has an effective monopoly on armed force, both legally and practically speaking in that they have us far outgunned. Police brutality and corruption is a serious problem (for people of all racial groups) and too many of them act like they're above the law.

I believe police should be replaced with community self-defense militias, with mechanisms of accountability in place to ensure the community retains control and the militias don't become an oppressive force in themselves. The abolitionist character in this video discusses this and gives a fascinating real life example of this occurring in certain regions of Mexico where the police are so corrupt or ineffective that people had to take things into their own hands.

All in all, an interesting video for anyone concerned with liberty, justice, and armed self-defense.

I love this photo because even though you're wearing a ski mask I can see you have a big fucking smile. :D

This should be the new line instead of Trick Or Treat. :D

I say do this either way.

Damn, Rusty, you won't protect a non-American atheist? That's cold. :(