Gustavo Petro's Opinion on Socialism

In this section, the speaker discusses Gustavo Petro's opinion on socialism and his interaction with Javier Miley.

Gustavo Petro's Disdain for Javier Miley

• Gustavo Petro looks down on Javier Miley for not understanding socialism.

• However, it is likely that Javier Miley has a better understanding of socialism than Gustavo Petro.

President Javier Miley's Statement

• During an interview, President Javier Miley expressed his opinion about various international leaders.

• When asked about President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, he referred to him as a communist murderer who is sinking Colombia.

Colombian Government's Response

• The Colombian government strongly rejects President Miley's statement, which attacks the honor of their democratically elected president.

• They emphasize the deep friendship and cooperation between Colombia and Argentina throughout history.

Accusations and Diplomatic Relations

• President Miley's accusation of communism and murder against President Petro strained diplomatic relations between Colombia and Argentina.

• The Colombian government called back its ambassador in protest.

Mutual Disqualifications

• It is important to note that even before this incident, Gustavo Petro had directed similar disqualifications towards Javier Miley.

• For example, he compared him to Hitler and made derogatory remarks about him being extreme right-wing.

Understanding Socialism and Communism

This section focuses on Gustavo Petro attempting to belittle Javier Miley's understanding of socialism. It delves into the definitions of socialism and communism according to Lenin, Marx, Engels, and Petro himself.

Intellectual Dismissal by Gustavo Petro

• Gustavo Petro tries to portray himself as intellectually superior to Javier Miley by claiming that he doesn't understand what socialism or communism truly mean.

• Petro argues that socialism is about state ownership of the means of production, while communism is the complete communal control without a state.

Lenin's Definition of Communism and Socialism

• According to Lenin, communism has two phases: a first stage where the state controls all means of production for economic planning, and a second stage where the state disappears and production becomes fully communal.

• Lenin refers to the first stage as socialism and the second stage as communism.

Different Definitions by Marx and Engels

• Marx and Engels used socialist and communist interchangeably, unlike Lenin and Petro.

• They defined socialism/communism as the transitional phase where the state gradually abolishes itself, leading to communal control of production.

Dictatorship of the Proletariat

• The transitional phase towards socialism/communism is often referred to as the dictatorship of the proletariat.

• During this phase, class distinctions still exist, and the proletariat uses the state as a tool for class domination until full transition to communism.

Conclusion

In summary, this transcript discusses Gustavo Petro's opinion on socialism, his interaction with Javier Miley, and their mutual disqualifications. It also explores different definitions of socialism and communism according to Lenin, Marx, Engels, and Petro himself.

Understanding Marx's Definition of Socialism

In this section, the speaker discusses Marx's definition of socialism and how it differs from other interpretations.

Marx's Definition of Socialism

• Marx's definition of socialism is a term that is quite elastic and can be interpreted differently.

• Previous declarations by Petro compare his laws to Hitler, Videla, and other murderers, which shows a lack of understanding of Marx's concept.

Misunderstanding Gustavo Petro's Ideology

This section focuses on the misunderstanding of Gustavo Petro's ideology by the president and others.

Misinterpretation of Petro's Ideology

• The president not only protested against Milei but also intellectually disrespected him by calling him ignorant.

• The president fails to understand that Petro is neither a socialist nor has historical knowledge about Gustavo Petro's ideological background.

Lack of Ideological Rigor in Criticisms

This section highlights the lack of ideological rigor in criticisms directed towards Milei and his supporters.

Lack of Understanding Communism

• Critics attack Milei and his supporters as communists without having any idea about what communism truly means.

• Lenin explains that communism involves the disappearance of the state and communal ownership of the means of production.

• However, even Marx did not fully accept this definition, making it clear that Petro misrepresents Marxism.

Differentiating Socialism from Communism

This section explores the distinction between socialism and communism according to Lenin and Petro.

Transition from Socialism to Communism

• Both Lenin and Petro consider socialism as a transitional stage where there is still a working class and the state is used as a tool to complete the transition to communism.

• Petro's definition aligns with Marx's acceptance of socialism as a stage where the means of production gradually become communal.

Understanding Socialism According to Petro

This section delves into Gustavo Petro's understanding of socialism and his intellectual development.

Petro's Definition of Socialism

• Petro defines socialism as a mode of production that transitions towards communal ownership of the means of production, using the dictatorship of the proletariat.

• He believes that socialism utilizes the state as a tool for completing the transition to communism.

Differentiating Marx from Other Socialists

This section focuses on Marx's differentiation between himself and other socialists during his time.

Distinguishing Marx from Other Socialists

• Marx distinguishes himself from other socialists, whom he refers to as utopian thinkers like Owen, Fourier, and Saint-Simon.

• These thinkers proposed social reforms within the capitalist system but failed to address the fundamental issue of property relations in production.

The Failure of Reformist Proposals

This section discusses how reformist proposals within capitalism are bound to fail according to Marx.

Inevitable Failure of Reforms

• Reformist proposals within capitalism are doomed to fail because they only patch up capitalism instead of addressing its structural purpose.

• According to Marx, capitalism relies on exploiting labor for capital accumulation, which is why he advocated for awakening class consciousness among the proletariat.

Root Problem in Production Relations

This section highlights how Marx identifies the root problem in production relations and exploitation under capitalism.

Identifying Exploitation Under Capitalism

• Marx identifies the root problem in society as the relations of property and production, where the proletariat is exploited by the capitalist class.

• Before Marx, socialists did not define themselves as Marxists but rather followed their own interpretations.

Petro's Unique Definition of Socialism

This section explores Gustavo Petro's unique definition of socialism.

Petro's Unconventional Definition of Socialism

• Petro's definition of socialism differs from the common understanding.

• He argues that socialism does not necessarily involve state ownership of the means of production but can also include collective ownership.

• According to him, socialism aims to replace private capitalist property with collective or communal ownership.

The Complexity of Defining Socialism

This section discusses the complexity and various interpretations when defining socialism.

Multiple Interpretations of Socialism

• Defining socialism solely as state ownership of the means of production is incorrect.

• Socialism can also be a model based on collective non-state ownership, such as cooperatives.

• Many academics refer to this model as "market socialism" since it combines collective ownership with market exchange.

The Possibility of Non-State Property in Socialism

This section explores how non-state property can exist within a socialist framework.

Non-State Property in Socialism

• In a socialist society, property can be owned collectively without being controlled by the state.

• For example, if cooperatives own and produce goods without private capital involvement, it represents a form of cooperative collectivist property.

• Market exchange can still exist within this model, leading to its classification as "market socialism."

Understanding Different Definitions of Socialism

This section clarifies the different definitions and interpretations of socialism.

Multiple Definitions of Socialism

• The first definition of socialism involves collective or state ownership of the means of production and distribution.

• However, socialism can also refer to a model based on collective non-state ownership, such as cooperatives.

• It is important to understand these distinctions when discussing socialism.

Socialism Based on Cooperative Ownership

This section explores the concept of socialism based on cooperative ownership.

Socialism with Cooperative Ownership

• In this model, the means of production are owned by worker cooperatives rather than private capitalists.

• Capitalist property does not exist within this system, and all members of a cooperative are also workers.

• Market exchange can still occur between different cooperatives, leading to the term "market socialism."

Market Exchange in Socialist Models

This section discusses how market exchange can exist within socialist models.

Market Exchange in Socialist Models

• In socialist models with cooperative ownership, market exchange allows for the trading of goods produced by different cooperatives.

• Private capitalist property is absent, but market mechanisms facilitate economic transactions between cooperatives.

Understanding Petro's Definition of Socialism

This section explains Gustavo Petro's understanding of socialism and his preference for collective ownership over state control.

Petro's Definition of Socialism

• Petro's definition aligns with a gradual transition from private capitalist property to collective or communal ownership.

• He advocates for the means of production being in the hands of the people rather than under state control.

• Petro supports a form of socialism that embraces market mechanisms while gradually replacing private capitalist property.

Petro's Vision of Socialism

This section explores Gustavo Petro's vision of socialism and his support for a market-oriented approach.

Petro's Vision of Social

Gobierno y Petro

This section discusses the government's stance on Petro.

Government's Disapproval of Petro

• The government does not admit or accept Petro.

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