"Progressives should not make the same mistake that Ernst Thälmann made in 1932. The leader of the German Communist Party, Thälmann saw mainstream liberals as his enemies, and so the center and left never joined forces against the Nazis. Thälmann famously said that ‘some Nazi trees must not be allowed to overshadow a forest’ of social democrats, whom he sneeringly called ‘social fascists.’
After Adolf Hitler gained power in 1933, Thälmann was arrested. He was shot on Hitler’s orders in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944."
He does this because - it may surprise you to hear, but it’s true - America does not have a parliamentary system of government. Here, everybody left-of-nazi is forced to pretend like they are all members of the same party. If America’s system de facto allowed for more than two parties, then the progressive party could actually choose whether or not to form a coalition with the centrists, conditional on policy concessions. Since we do not, the centrists offer is “we get what we want or else you get nazis.” Then make the progressives out to be the bad guys if they call the bluff, which isn’t a bluff, because the centrists today genuinely would prefer 4 years of nazis over conceding anything to progressives.
So, exactly like the top level comment described. Weird take.
I’m just gonna not go down this particular propaganda bullshit rabbit hole again.
You’re absolutely right: dismissing anything you don’t want to hear as “propaganda bullshit” is a much easier way of having a discussion than participating.
