Would you feel sorry & sad if a Communist/ Socialist Government faces collapse?

There are a couple in the western hemisphere that come to mind.

When communist or socialist governments (Cuba, Venezuela, historical examples like the USSR) face potential collapse due to the failures of their own systems and policies, do you feel any sorrow or sympathy for the leaders, ideologues, and hardcore supporters who built, defended, and doubled down on those regimes?

I feel a little sympathy for ordinary Cubans who face third world blackouts, hunger, and desperation through no fault of their own, but I feel absolutely zero sorrow for the communist leaders and ideologues whose failed policies brought the regime to this point. They had decades of real world evidence they could fall back on that leads to collapse, yet they doubled down, crushed naysayers, and lived in luxury while their people suffered. Reaping what they sowed isn't tragedy, it's justice.

"Trump says Cuba will fall as Venezuelan oil lifeline is cut"

"Cuban American Joseph Hernandez explains why Cuba’s economy could spiral without Venezuelan oil amid power and food shortages"

The story is based on a Foxnews report

2 hours ago, riclag said:

Would you feel sorry & sad if a Communist/ Socialist Government faces collapse?

There are a couple in the western hemisphere that come to mind.

When communist or socialist governments (Cuba, Venezuela, historical examples like the USSR) face potential collapse due to the failures of their own systems and policies, do you feel any sorrow or sympathy for the leaders, ideologues, and hardcore supporters who built, defended, and doubled down on those regimes?

I feel a little sympathy for ordinary Cubans who face third world blackouts, hunger, and desperation through no fault of their own, but I feel absolutely zero sorrow for the communist leaders and ideologues whose failed policies brought the regime to this point. They had decades of real world evidence they could fall back on that leads to collapse, yet they doubled down, crushed naysayers, and lived in luxury while their people suffered. Reaping what they sowed isn't tragedy, it's justice.

"Trump says Cuba will fall as Venezuelan oil lifeline is cut"

"Cuban American Joseph Hernandez explains why Cuba’s economy could spiral without Venezuelan oil amid power and food shortages"

The story is based on a Foxnews report

One must not forget. After centuries of feudalism and clerical oppression, little people had enough. With a little help from Karl Marx they tried something new. Can you blame them? But human nature itself was the burial ground of "communism".

These days, neo liberalism (early day capitalism) is supposed to elevate billions of impoverished masses to "prosperity". Worldwide.

GOOD LUCK !

1 hour ago, swissie said:

One must not forget. After centuries of feudalism and clerical oppression, little people had enough. With a little help from Karl Marx they tried something new. Can you blame them? But human nature itself was the burial ground of "communism".

These days, neo liberalism (early day capitalism) is supposed to elevate billions of impoverished masses to "prosperity". Worldwide.

GOOD LUCK !

@Swissie

You're right that Marxism reared as a reaction to real historical calamities like feudalism and exploitation, nobody disputes that people were desperate for change back then. But as JFK himself pointed out in his 1961 speech to the American Newspaper Publishers Association, Karl Marx was essentially a frustrated, broke journalist working for a capitalist paper ,the New York Herald Tribune, who got P'ed when his pay raises were denied and turned to revolution instead. He saw Marx's ideas as the root of Leninism, Stalinism, revolution and the cold war, a lousy system that threatened freedom, which is why JFK pushed hard for containment through aid and military might, fast forward to today, and look at what's happened to JFK's own Dem Party. It started radically turning after his era, from the New Deal's on economic security, it shifted leftward with civil rights under LBJ ,losing the South, then embraced more progressive policies in the '70s and beyond, globalization, social reforms, and now what many common sense folk call a Marxist agenda with things like DEI initiatives, identity politics, and lax border policies that effectively invite the whole world in.

This is what happens when radical farleftists take over, they reform the party of JFK to fit their systemic progressivism, flooding the country with millions upon millions of unvetted illegal border crossers under the guise of inclusivity.

Tie this back to Cuba and Venezuela right now, with Maduro captured and oil cut off, their socialist experiments are crumbling, and we're already seeing refugee surges. If the extremists Dems open border approach prevails, who's going to handle the next wave? The U.S. can't & won't take in endless victims of failed Marxism without consequences. Human nature buries these systems every time, as you said, but some ideologies just won't learn.Curious if you see the parallel between historical Marxism's failures and today's lefty leaning policies?

Google ai overview:

"John F. Kennedy (JFK) viewed Karl Marx critically, seeing him as a disgruntled, poor journalist exploited by capitalist newspapers who eventually inspired communism, Leninism, and global conflict, prompting JFK to advocate strong containment of Marxist-Leninist ideology through economic aid and military strength, contrasting American democracy with the "lousy" system Marx described. He highlighted Marx's personal financial struggles and harsh words for employers like Horace Greeley to illustrate the perceived failings and revolutionary fervor of Marxist thought, which JFK saw as a threat to freedom".

"The modern Democratic Party's platform has evolved significantly from that of John F. Kennedy's era, a shift that some critics characterize as a move toward a "Marxist agenda," while others view it as a return to traditional Democratic support for social reform".

Like it or not. With the "Venezualan Action" by the US, the mainland Chinese have gotten a green light as far as Taiwan is concerned. In other words: Taiwan is doomed.Every military action to bring back a "hemispheric homeland" has been put into place again. For the US it's the "Monroe Doctrin" (south America), for the Chinese it's the historical background.

For the US, it will be hard to convince certain South American countries to become "Satellites of the US", as before. Whereas China rules S/E Asia already. Irrevocably.

PS: Globally operating "mutual funds" are strongly invested in "Taiwan Technology". I wonder how much monetary worth those shares will be, once Taiwan was incorporated into the "Chinese/hostorical/economocal homeland". You may want to check your percentage of Taiwanese shares as part of your mutual fund.

As it is not a question of "if", it is a question "when".

in short: no, nO, and NO

I am canadian and whether some agree or not canada has a very socialistic agenda. No wonder it is difficult to earn it and keep it

I feel sorrow for those in US who voted for one thing and got something else:

Foreign policy and drug trade weren’t high priorities for many Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) — There are few signs that President Donald Trump’s supporters wanted the United States to become more embroiled in foreign conflicts ahead of its military actions in Venezuela — even as many Republicans show initial support for his military strike there, according to an Associated Press analysis of recent polling.

Most Americans wanted the U.S. government to focus in 2026 on domestic issues, such as health care and high costs, rather than foreign policy issues, an AP-NORC poll conducted last month found. Meanwhile, polling conducted in the immediate aftermath of the military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro suggested that many Americans are unconvinced that the U.S. should step in to take control of the country.

https://apnews.com/article/poll-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-15c94665b41312f5613772726d710905

5 hours ago, riclag said:

@Swissie

You're right that Marxism reared as a reaction to real historical calamities like feudalism and exploitation, nobody disputes that people were desperate for change back then. But as JFK himself pointed out in his 1961 speech to the American Newspaper Publishers Association, Karl Marx was essentially a frustrated, broke journalist working for a capitalist paper ,the New York Herald Tribune, who got P'ed when his pay raises were denied and turned to revolution instead. He saw Marx's ideas as the root of Leninism, Stalinism, revolution and the cold war, a lousy system that threatened freedom, which is why JFK pushed hard for containment through aid and military might, fast forward to today, and look at what's happened to JFK's own Dem Party. It started radically turning after his era, from the New Deal's on economic security, it shifted leftward with civil rights under LBJ ,losing the South, then embraced more progressive policies in the '70s and beyond, globalization, social reforms, and now what many common sense folk call a Marxist agenda with things like DEI initiatives, identity politics, and lax border policies that effectively invite the whole world in.

This is what happens when radical farleftists take over, they reform the party of JFK to fit their systemic progressivism, flooding the country with millions upon millions of unvetted illegal border crossers under the guise of inclusivity.

Tie this back to Cuba and Venezuela right now, with Maduro captured and oil cut off, their socialist experiments are crumbling, and we're already seeing refugee surges. If the extremists Dems open border approach prevails, who's going to handle the next wave? The U.S. can't & won't take in endless victims of failed Marxism without consequences. Human nature buries these systems every time, as you said, but some ideologies just won't learn.Curious if you see the parallel between historical Marxism's failures and today's lefty leaning policies?

Google ai overview:

"John F. Kennedy (JFK) viewed Karl Marx critically, seeing him as a disgruntled, poor journalist exploited by capitalist newspapers who eventually inspired communism, Leninism, and global conflict, prompting JFK to advocate strong containment of Marxist-Leninist ideology through economic aid and military strength, contrasting American democracy with the "lousy" system Marx described. He highlighted Marx's personal financial struggles and harsh words for employers like Horace Greeley to illustrate the perceived failings and revolutionary fervor of Marxist thought, which JFK saw as a threat to freedom".

"The modern Democratic Party's platform has evolved significantly from that of John F. Kennedy's era, a shift that some critics characterize as a move toward a "Marxist agenda," while others view it as a return to traditional Democratic support for social reform".

As usual, you have no idea about the meaning of the words you use. Calling everyone a fer left communist when they want universal health care is just plain stupid.

43 minutes ago, stevenl said:

As usual, you have no idea about the meaning of the words you use. Calling everyone a fer left communist when they want universal health care is just plain stupid.

As a mod posted about a year ago on one of this same author's topics:

What happens here is just unimportant banter. You aren't changing the world, so don't get so worked up over it.

On 1/6/2026 at 7:56 PM, riclag said:

@Swissie

You're right that Marxism reared as a reaction to real historical calamities like feudalism and exploitation, nobody disputes that people were desperate for change back then. But as JFK himself pointed out in his 1961 speech to the American Newspaper Publishers Association, Karl Marx was essentially a frustrated, broke journalist working for a capitalist paper ,the New York Herald Tribune, who got P'ed when his pay raises were denied and turned to revolution instead. He saw Marx's ideas as the root of Leninism, Stalinism, revolution and the cold war, a lousy system that threatened freedom, which is why JFK pushed hard for containment through aid and military might, fast forward to today, and look at what's happened to JFK's own Dem Party. It started radically turning after his era, from the New Deal's on economic security, it shifted leftward with civil rights under LBJ ,losing the South, then embraced more progressive policies in the '70s and beyond, globalization, social reforms, and now what many common sense folk call a Marxist agenda with things like DEI initiatives, identity politics, and lax border policies that effectively invite the whole world in.

This is what happens when radical farleftists take over, they reform the party of JFK to fit their systemic progressivism, flooding the country with millions upon millions of unvetted illegal border crossers under the guise of inclusivity.

Tie this back to Cuba and Venezuela right now, with Maduro captured and oil cut off, their socialist experiments are crumbling, and we're already seeing refugee surges. If the extremists Dems open border approach prevails, who's going to handle the next wave? The U.S. can't & won't take in endless victims of failed Marxism without consequences. Human nature buries these systems every time, as you said, but some ideologies just won't learn.Curious if you see the parallel between historical Marxism's failures and today's lefty leaning policies?

Google ai overview:

"John F. Kennedy (JFK) viewed Karl Marx critically, seeing him as a disgruntled, poor journalist exploited by capitalist newspapers who eventually inspired communism, Leninism, and global conflict, prompting JFK to advocate strong containment of Marxist-Leninist ideology through economic aid and military strength, contrasting American democracy with the "lousy" system Marx described. He highlighted Marx's personal financial struggles and harsh words for employers like Horace Greeley to illustrate the perceived failings and revolutionary fervor of Marxist thought, which JFK saw as a threat to freedom".

"The modern Democratic Party's platform has evolved significantly from that of John F. Kennedy's era, a shift that some critics characterize as a move toward a "Marxist agenda," while others view it as a return to traditional Democratic support for social reform".

Well, at least in Europe we seem to have found something like a "middle way". A Market economy with a social "safety net". This form of semi-socialism I find quite acceptable. Some even say "we live in the best of 2 worlds".

However, neo-liberalism advocates a "no safety net society". They see olden day "soup kitchens" as the only safety net necessary/tolerable.

F.D. Roosevelt turning over in his grave.

14 hours ago, swissie said:

Well, at least in Europe we seem to have found something like a "middle way". A Market economy with a social "safety net". This form of semi-socialism I find quite acceptable. Some even say "we live in the best of 2 worlds".

However, neo-liberalism advocates a "no safety net society". They see olden day "soup kitchens" as the only safety net necessary/tolerable.

F.D. Roosevelt turning over in his grave.

By MAGA standards, Bismarck was a Socialist! 😀

On 1/7/2026 at 1:56 AM, riclag said:

many common sense folk call a Marxist agenda with things like DEI initiatives, identity politics, and lax border policies that effectively invite the whole world in.

Nothing at all to do with Marxism.

Your common people don't have much sense.

Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity.

It doesn't have a soft landing in a capitalistic free market.society .We'll see this play out in NYC.

Taking it to the ultimate far left extreme ,Communism , Marx needed to take or

advocated for a forcible overthrow .

4 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity.

I am starting to understand you. "Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity".

In other words, you prefer a 15nth century world ruled by aristocrats and the clergy. 95% of the population living is some form of slavery.

Strangely, every time the modern day world is trying to "recalibrate" the financial inequalities of this world, even a mild form of socialism is qualified as "devils work".

In your Avatar it swows that you consider Donald Trump as your "Boss". Make sure you are part of the political/financial elite licking the boots of Donald, so you may receive the benefits of such devotion. Hopefully you are part of the neo-liberalistic crowd, hovering around Donald.

Otherwise, as you get older, you may welome some form of "mild socialism". Especially when your realise that your "Boss" is not on your side and never has been.

11 hours ago, swissie said:

I am starting to understand you. "Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity".

In other words, you prefer a 15nth century world ruled by aristocrats and the clergy. 95% of the population living is some form of slavery.

Strangely, every time the modern day world is trying to "recalibrate" the financial inequalities of this world, even a mild form of socialism is qualified as "devils work".

In your Avatar it swows that you consider Donald Trump as your "Boss". Make sure you are part of the political/financial elite licking the boots of Donald, so you may receive the benefits of such devotion. Hopefully you are part of the neo-liberalistic crowd, hovering around Donald.

Otherwise, as you get older, you may welome some form of "mild socialism". Especially when your realise that your "Boss" is not on your side and never has been.

Nice try LOL. IM 70 and am old enough to remember Socialist murders. Keep living in your dream world.

Im from the US so Trump isnt my boss because I, as well as my fellow Americans tell him what to do. He is yours though.

Heck that means WE are your Boss LOL.

4 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Nice try LOL. IM 70 and am old enough to remember Socialist murders. Keep living in your dream world.

Im from the US so Trump isnt my boss because I, as well as my fellow Americans tell him what to do. He is yours though.

Heck that means WE are your Boss LOL.

I have no sympathy for Socialist/Communist countries,movements,states,cities, if they fail.

I love Billionaires , and those that want to be billionaires. I admire the rich & the middle class of all colors especially .

On 1/10/2026 at 6:25 AM, Yagoda said:

Nice try LOL. IM 70 and am old enough to remember Socialist murders. Keep living in your dream world.

Im from the US so Trump isnt my boss because I, as well as my fellow Americans tell him what to do. He is yours though.

Heck that means WE are your Boss LOL.

I am so thankful for your comment. I was a homeless wandering soul all of my life. Now you have enlightened me: Donald is my Boss. As a matter of fact, Donald is the Boss of the world.

Eureka! Thanks to you I have finally seen the light. Lets close down all churches as Donald is the new Messias, Mar al Lago the only place of worship that the world needs.

2 minutes ago, swissie said:

I am so thankful for your comment. I was a homeless wandering soul all of my life. Now you have enlightened me: Donald is my Boss. As a matter of fact, Donald is the Boss of the world.

Eureka! Thanks to you I have finally seen the light. Lets close down all churches as Donald is the new Messias, Mar al Lago the only place of worship that the world needs.

Sounds good, the decor there is nice and the waitresses are hot.

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Sounds good, the decor there is nice and the waitresses are hot.

You may want to google the word "sarcasm".

4 minutes ago, swissie said:

You may want to google the word "sarcasm".

You may consider you got back what you sent

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You may consider you got back what you sent

Yes yes yes. I am patiently await the day when Donald knocks on my door, excaiming with conviction " I am your Boss". A regrettable event for Donald.

13 minutes ago, swissie said:

A regrettable event for Donald.

Why?

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Why?

I will chase him off my property. With conviction.

On 1/9/2026 at 9:52 PM, riclag said:

It doesn't have a soft landing in a capitalistic free market.society .We'll see this play out in NYC.

Taking it to the ultimate far left extreme ,Communism , Marx needed to take or

advocated for a forcible overthrow .

Socialism/Communism,"It doesn't have a soft landing in a capitalistic free market society. We'll see this play out in NYC. Taking it to the ultimate far left extreme, Communism, Marx needed to take , or advocated for , a forcible overthrow of the existing order to impose it".

And look what's happening right now: Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani just quietly revoked the executive order letting federal agents monitor Tren de Aragua gang members,Designated terrorist group at Rikers jail,.

This Venezuelan gang, born from Maduro's collapsing communist hellhole, gets freer rein inside the jail while feds are sidelined. Classic far left priority, shield criminals over enforcing law & order. No sympathy when these experiments fail , and they always do.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani quietly makes it harder for feds to monitor Tren de Aragua gang at Rikers

https://nypost.com/2026/01/10/us-news/mamdani-makes-it-harder-for-the-feds-to-monitor-tren-de-aragua-gang-at-rikers/

On 1/10/2026 at 12:28 AM, swissie said:

"Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity".

In other words, you prefer a 15nth century world ruled by aristocrats and the clergy. 95% of the population living is some form of slavery.

What? You think the only possible opposite of socialism is rule by aristocrats and clergy? Silly, or deliberately obtuse… not sure which.

In any case, I guess you are European, where that may in fact be true. It is after all a place where countries still have kings and queens. Royalty and peasants, with little in between.

On 1/9/2026 at 8:14 PM, Yagoda said:

Any defeat for Socialism is a victory for humanity.

Very much so. These eighteenth century European utopian delusions have caused more damage to humanity than any other idea in history. All forms of marxism should be relegated to the dustbin of history — aggressively so, if needed.

And no, having police forces and trash collection is not SOCIALISM. It’s a SOCIETY. As you know, leftists sometimes get confused by this.

I think it's worth pointing out that your idol DJ Trump evidently has no problem with Venezuela being run by a socialist regime, since he's left it in place, allowing Maduro's second-in-command Delcy Rodriguez take over the reins.

In fact, according to many analysts, Rodriguez is even more of a hardline socialist than Maduro was.

Who is the die-hard socialist Trump favours as Venezuela’s new leader?

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-who-is-delcy-rodriguez-new-venezuela-leader/

On 1/6/2026 at 11:38 PM, swissie said:

After centuries of feudalism and clerical oppression, little people had enough. With a little help from Karl Marx they tried something new.

In reality, the exact opposite is true. After centuries of serfdom, the Emancipation Reform of 1861, decreed by Tsar Alexander II on March 3, 1861, put an end to it. The decree freed over 23 million serfs (37.7% of the Russian population), granting them personal liberty, property rights, and the ability to marry freely, though land redistribution was complex, involving redemption payments and often insufficient land allotments for peasants.

The abolition of serfdom in Russia (1861, only four years before slavery was abolished in the US) led to significant but contrasting consequences: increased agricultural productivity, industrialization, and peasant living and health standards thanks to better incentives and labor mobility, but also the creation of widespread peasant debt, land hunger, and social unrest, fueling revolutionary movements and preparing the ground for future upheavals such as the revolutions of 1917, which effectively re-established serfdom under the guise of mandatory membership in sovkhozes or kolkhozes in the countryside, or in factories and shipyards in urban centers.

I would recommend reading Orlando Figues's book "The History of Russia," which explains how collectivism, a salient feature of Russian serfdom, originated during the long Mongol domination. The Mongols, a nomadic, pastoral people, had no concept of private property, particularly of land private property. The land was considered the exclusive property of the Khan, who assigned it for temporary use to a tribe or, in Russia, to a feudal lord who in turn assigned it for use to a village.

This is the opposite of the concept of private land ownership, rooted in Western European jurisprudence, derived from Roman law and necessary to support agriculture, the predominant economic activity in the Mediterranean area in ancient times.

"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela"

The island is facing their worst economic crisis since independence.

Communist Party of Cuba is facing economic hardships, best to make a deal for the good of everyone concerned.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-ultimatum-cuba-make-deal-before-too-late-face-consequences

Sec Rubio has family ties to Cuba ,he's got a handle on the humanitarian angle.

"Days later, Rubio announced that the State Department had issued a formal Declaration of Humanitarian Assistance to aid in recovery efforts. The U.S. maintains an economic embargo that bars most commerce with Cuba but that does contain some exceptions, including for exports of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods, as well as disaster response".

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5689761-rubio-announces-cuba-aid/

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela"

The island is facing their worst economic crisis since independence.

Communist Party of Cuba is facing economic hardships, best to make a deal for the good of everyone concerned.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-ultimatum-cuba-make-deal-before-too-late-face-consequences

Sec Rubio has family ties to Cuba ,he's got a handle on the humanitarian angle.

"Days later, Rubio announced that the State Department had issued a formal Declaration of Humanitarian Assistance to aid in recovery efforts. The U.S. maintains an economic embargo that bars most commerce with Cuba but that does contain some exceptions, including for exports of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods, as well as disaster response".

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5689761-rubio-announces-cuba-aid/

Ask yourself how USA killed Cuba? Because they didn't want to play your games! Same as Venezuela, and other interventions to keep America great!

It ain't all black and white. Read your history and understand what happened before your time is essential to understand how the world is today.