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[[File:Green New Deal Presser.jpg|right|275px|thumb|[[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] is a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Democrat]].]]

[[File:Green New Deal Presser.jpg|right|275px|thumb|[[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] is a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Democrat]].]]

'''Leftist''' refers to someone on the Left side of the [[political spectrum]], such as a [[socialist]] or [[communist]]. A Leftist supports personal freedom, dismantling of oppressive hierarchies and institutions like capitalism and the state, ending discrimination, re-distribution of wealth and resources, support for the disabled and homeless and other marginalized groups, freedom of religion, international peace, the ability to harshly critique every aspect of society, a more unisex society, [[globalism]], [[transnationalism]], [[feminism]], support for Indigenous peoples against colonizers, [[anti-fascism]], easy access to healthcare and other human needs, [[abortion]], and much more, although leftism is a broad word and there are many leftist ideologies. See [[Marxism]], [[anarchism]], [[Maoism]], [[anarcho-communism]]. Despite claims by far rightists liberals are solidly right wingers, and soc dems like [[Bernie Sanders]] are not leftists but more centrists with progressive beliefs but no real anti-capitalist or anti-state motivation.

'''Leftist''' refers to someone on the Left side of the [[political spectrum]], such as a particularly [[liberal]] member of the [[American]] [[Democrat Party]], a member of the [[British]] [[Labour Party]], a [[progressive]], [[socialist]], [[Democratic Socialist]], or (to the far Left) a [[Communist]]. A Leftist supports collectivism, more government control of the economy, direct government control over social policy (although there were some leftists, such as [[Jean-Paul Sartre]], [[Michel Foucault]], and [[Noam Chomsky]] who adhered to a purely [[anarchism|anarchistic]] view of the world), including federal control over education at all levels, lower [[military]] spending, censorship of religion, a [[Living Constitution|living constitution]], [[Same-sex marriage|same-sex "marriages"]], a more unisex society, [[globalism]], [[transnationalism]], [[feminism]], the [[homosexual agenda]], [[anti-Semitism]], [[racism]], support for [[Islam]], taxpayer-funded [[abortion]], and sometimes even taxpayer-funded [[terrorism]]<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/your-taxes-are-funding-terrorists-demand-that-this-stops</ref> and [[censorship]] of [[Christianity]] and [[social media]] in the public arena.

== Origins of leftist ideology ==

== Origins of leftist ideology ==

The dream of a cooperative commonwealth in which all would share equally in the prosperity created by an economic system owned by the people was the vision of [[Socialist]]s.  This in theory would end [[poverty]], [[ignorance]] and [[crises]].  The idea was to [[Nationalization|nationalize]] banks, railroads, all means of transport, mines, and a few basic industries, but leave some factories, stores, farms, entertainment industries, etc., in the hands of private owners. The government would assume responsibility for making the economy work, for the well-being of all the citizens, their protection from the hazards of life, poverty, sickness, and old age. To make the whole economy work continuously without occasional [[Great Depression#Boom or Bust Cycles|boom-bust]] cycles, the government would create [[economic planning]] boards staffed by a bureaucratic class which would continuously study and observe the functioning of the economic system and make plans covering production, prices, distribution, financing, profits, [[wages]], hours, etc. Thus there would be Planned Capitalism, with the State responsible for the planning and for ensuring the carrying out of its plans through great government bureaus armed with the necessary powers to enforce compliance.

The dream of a cooperative commonwealth in which all would share equally in the prosperity created by an economic system owned by the people was the vision of [[Socialist]]s.  This in theory would end [[poverty]], [[ignorance]] and [[crises]].  The idea was to [[Nationalization|nationalize]] banks, railroads, all means of transport, mines, and a few basic industries, but leave some factories, stores, farms, entertainment industries, etc., in the hands of private owners. The government would assume responsibility for making the economy work, for the well-being of all the citizens, their protection from the hazards of life, poverty, sickness, and old age. To make the whole economy work continuously without occasional [[Great Depression#Boom or Bust Cycles|boom-bust]] cycles, the government would create [[economic planning]] boards staffed by a bureaucratic class which would continuously study and observe the functioning of the economic system and make plans covering production, prices, distribution, financing, profits, [[wages]], hours, etc. Thus there would be Planned Capitalism, with the State responsible for the planning and for ensuring the carrying out of its plans through great government bureaus armed with the necessary powers to enforce compliance.

==Modern leftists==

==Modern leftists==

Gramsci's theory of "cultural hegemony" states that the ruling capitalist "oppressor" class uses cultural institutions, such as "traditional marriage," to maintain power. The "oppressors" develop a "hegemonic culture" using [[ideology]] unlike Socialists who use [[violence]], economic force, and coercion. "Hegemonic culture" propagates its own values and norms so that they become "[[common sense]]" values and thus maintain the [[status quo]]. According to [[Wikipedia]], this "Hegemonic power is therefore used to maintain consent to the capitalist order, rather than coercive power using force" as Marxism does "to maintain order. This cultural hegemony is produced and reproduced" by the dominant Christian oppressor class "through the institutions that form the superstructure."

Gramsci's theory of "cultural hegemony" states that the ruling capitalist "oppressor" class uses cultural institutions, such as "traditional marriage," to maintain power. The "oppressors" develop a "hegemonic culture" using [[ideology]] unlike Socialists who use [[violence]], economic force, and coercion. "Hegemonic culture" propagates its own values and norms so that they become "[[common sense]]" values and thus maintain the [[status quo]]. According to [[Wikipedia]], this "Hegemonic power is therefore used to maintain consent to the capitalist order, rather than coercive power using force" as Marxism does "to maintain order. This cultural hegemony is produced and reproduced" by the dominant Christian oppressor class "through the institutions that form the superstructure."

Joseph A. Buttigieg, [[Pete Buttigieg]]'s father, was a founding member of the International Gramsci Society and served as the executive secretary." <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20100616163619/http://english.nd.edu/faculty/profiles/joseph-a-buttigieg/</ref> (Note: Buttigieg and his dad have almost no views in common. Vice president as of Jan 2021 Kamala Harris also has a leftist father who translated Gramsci who also has extremely different views from her.) <ref>https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a33598837/kamala-harris-father-donald-j-harris-facts/</ref>

Joseph A. Buttigieg, [[Pete Buttigieg]]'s father, was a founding member of the International Gramsci Society and served as the executive secretary."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20100616163619/http://english.nd.edu/faculty/profiles/joseph-a-buttigieg/</ref>

== Leftism: Use of condemnation/mockery rather than reasonable argumentation ==

== Leftism: Use of condemnation/mockery rather than reasonable argumentation ==

Although the [[secular left]] is known for ridiculing [[religion]] since at least the time of [[French Revolution]] (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]), the secular Left is known for its humorlessness when it comes to others mocking of its ideology (See also: [[Atheism and humor]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]).

Although the [[secular left]] is known for ridiculing [[religion]] since at least the time of [[French Revolution]] (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]), the secular Left is known for its humorlessness when it comes to others mocking of its ideology (See also: [[Atheism and humor]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]).

== The future of Leftism ==

== The future of Leftism ==