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I guess you remember Hillary Clinton calling us, "The Deplorables"? The movement here in the states, that may be comparable to the Black Hundreds that Mr. Lenin described, is the Populist Movement. Not all are "Trumpists" but most have jobs that require physical skills as well as mental sharpness. The "Left" is skilled in Tweets, Podcasts and other keyboard sports. We farm, fix cars, breed farm animals, run heavy equipment and police the small towns. We read and think independently. I appreciate your candor and knowledge of contemporary history, and look forward to more contributions from you!

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You realize who he’s comparing the “Trumpist proletariat” to, right? Those peasants around the time of the Russian Civil War who chose to go with the communists rather than the monarchists, because seeing all Russians subjected equally to an authoritarian bolshevik government satisfied their vision of “democracy” better than the former tsarist Russian bourgeoisie’s muddled dreams of a parliamentary democracy where some class privilege would still persist and former elites retain some status. Everyone brought equally low in terms of economic status and lack of political freedom, in other words. “Own the libs” implemented to the very max.

I’m not sure I’d view this as a flattering comparison, although I think he makes a pretty good point.

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When things get bad enough, you need your tribe -- those who belong to you, to whom you belong -- even if you don't like them very much. Violence, oppression, and pain show which side you're on. I don't know if there's a way out. Meanwhile, we have much to learn from our Russian mirror.

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I seems to me this is in part why we love the Godfather.

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