Unity
VSVR on the Brink
Comrades, we stand at a crossroads. This is a very important vote, do not be fooled into thinking that you are merely deciding on social and political policy. At stake is no less than democracy itself!
When I first saw that infamous cartoon (the one that likened Lenin to an Egyptian Pharaoh), I chuckled. I disagreed, but I chuckled. Then Lenin censored the Zeal. My disagreement faded then and there.
Some believe that a free press will destroy our republic. On the contrary, it has led to greater freedom for all within. By encouraging a diversity of views to be shared across the country we have found the mean in all parties' ideological positions and found the best, the wisest and the most justifiable policies for all parties. This has led to better governance, with all parties advancing platforms that can appeal to everyone on some level.
I tell you, I have never been more tempted to vote Anarchist than I have during this election...and that includes the election in which I voted for them! I find more to agree with in the Anarchists' arguments in this debate every day. Truly it vindicates the idea that debate encourages moderation on all sides, drawing the best ideas out of each party. I heartily encourage the Anarchists to form a coalition with the Independents. May we both preserve our republic!
Though I love the social reforms the Marxists and the Marxist-Leninists have brought forward, I cannot in good conscience vote for them. For socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality. We will all suffer equally without freedom. I will continue to advance socialism whenever possible, but I will not do so without freedom. Those who call to advance the cause of the worker may want to examine what a VSVR without freedom will look like.
Without freedom, massacres the likes of which we have not seen since the days of Blanqui will become commonplace until there is no one left to kill, while those who survive will abandon their viewpoints in exchange for anonymity and safety! Even moderate Marxists have been censored by Lenin's government. And for what? Disagreeing with him!
That is not grounds for using unkind words, much less censorship!
I cannot respect a man who cannot accept criticism of his work, constructive or otherwise! Let the people say what they will. Once the party in power makes it its business to regulate what people say in public, new ideas will become hard to come by.
The established churches of the past once demanded orthodoxy and adherence to authority. The result was scientific stagnation and a laxity of governance. Ladies and Gentlemen, our fate will be similar if we do not allow the free exchange of ideas to challenge the established paradigms. It will result in nothing less than political stagnation and corruption!
When an established government becomes lax and corrupt, the only cure is a change in regime. If we do not act now we will become a despotism in short time and our republic will ossify. I cannot believe what has happened in a mere 5 years as it is! Even our last crisis was a decade in the making! We may not get another chance to preserve our republic...
I too wish to see the worker's lot advance, but we cannot advance the worker's interests if he does not have a stake in the governance of our country. If he or she does not have the ability to make his wishes known to those in power, if he is not given the authority to overturn his government, we shall be a nation of intellectuals ruling over the proletariat. And that is not a nation I wish to live in.
Consider that when you vote, Ladies and Gentlemen of the VSVR.
- Comrade T. S. Sha