You show them the rich political structures of Cuba, Vietnam, China, etc. that have multiple legislative and executive organs with elected representatives (e.g., in Cuba, members of the municipal, provincial, and national assemblies, are all elected directly by the people last I checked) with large groups of citizens such as workers councils and trade unions helping craft policy and nominate delegates. Just because they don’t always directly elect the president or head of state doesn’t negate their robust democratic processes…
“but they’re only allowed to vote for one party”
You show them the other parties in AES countries that have representatives in the aforementioned assemblies, but which must align with the principles of the socialist state based on their constitutions, as well as the counter example of the US and other western liberal states where any party with power only serves capital and not the people…
“but they can’t criticize their government”
You show them plenty of examples of citizens criticizing their government without reprisal, as well as statistics on their overall satisfaction with the job their government is doing, and how they only crack down on people trying to commit fraud, foment violence against the government, or otherwise exploit others…
“ahah, see, they ARE authoritarian because they didn’t let them do that and executed/imprisoned them, they’re political prisoners!!!”
No, dipshit, they’re just protecting everyone else from the asshole bourgeoisie in their country. Isn’t that supposed to be what you’re all about?
(just an example of some of the conversations I’ve had with my ‘leftist’ friends here in the good old USA, one of whom was actually Cuban American, lol)
“but they (AES states) don’t have elections”
You show them the rich political structures of Cuba, Vietnam, China, etc. that have multiple legislative and executive organs with elected representatives (e.g., in Cuba, members of the municipal, provincial, and national assemblies, are all elected directly by the people last I checked) with large groups of citizens such as workers councils and trade unions helping craft policy and nominate delegates. Just because they don’t always directly elect the president or head of state doesn’t negate their robust democratic processes…
“but they’re only allowed to vote for one party”
You show them the other parties in AES countries that have representatives in the aforementioned assemblies, but which must align with the principles of the socialist state based on their constitutions, as well as the counter example of the US and other western liberal states where any party with power only serves capital and not the people…
“but they can’t criticize their government”
You show them plenty of examples of citizens criticizing their government without reprisal, as well as statistics on their overall satisfaction with the job their government is doing, and how they only crack down on people trying to commit fraud, foment violence against the government, or otherwise exploit others…
“ahah, see, they ARE authoritarian because they didn’t let them do that and executed/imprisoned them, they’re political prisoners!!!”
No, dipshit, they’re just protecting everyone else from the asshole bourgeoisie in their country. Isn’t that supposed to be what you’re all about?
(just an example of some of the conversations I’ve had with my ‘leftist’ friends here in the good old USA, one of whom was actually Cuban American, lol)
Of course it was a Cuban American lmao