One has to wonder how you've formed your worldview when you'll take one point from one CIA cable and think it proves your point. Stalin was still a dictator, whether or not the scope of his power was exaggerated by other governments, and there are thousands upon thousands of source documents to draw from on this

Read further down in this document and it literally discusses the dire food situation in the USSR and the "poor material condition" of its people, contradicting your original point

[–] commiewithoutorgans@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh wow, a poor country was still poor 4 years after fighting the most tragic and destructive war in history?? I'm hearing this for the first time..

Stalin was as much of a dictator as any other leader with powers over the military (all in the western world, as far as I know) but otherwise was always working with the politburo and party. That's what the CIA is admitting. I think determination of "dictator" or not is vibes based. What was he able to do that makes Stalin a dictator but let's say Obama not?

Stalin was a leader for the proletariat, maybe a leader of the dictatorship of the proletariat, but he was absurdly popular and beloved because he really represented the interests of the poor in that position.

[–] XEAL@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah, the people sent to Nazino Island loved him so much too, right?

[–] commiewithoutorgans@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago

But also you changed the subject, I know that capitalists hated Stalin but I love him for that. Has nothing to do with the facts I stated, because Obama literally did worse than Nazino island in Libya lol, but he's not a dictator because the way libs use the word is meaningless

[–] commiewithoutorgans@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago

Absurdly popular does not insinuate perfect, nor do I believe he was perfect nor all actions done in the government under his leadership. I do highly doubt these claims, seeing as they come from the guy who wrote the black book of communism (source for most of the wiki article) and Anne Applebaum included lol. If I had to guess, those people hated Stalin and the Soviet Union because an unplanned tragedy occurred which probably could've been forseen. During a drought and famine, the idea of sending people you can't feed (or won't give priority to because they are not working actively and improving the situation for all) to an island which is capable of being developed for agriculture to quickly do that isn't the worst idea.

biggest point out of this: don't trust people who write nazi propaganda (black book of communism and Anne Applebaum) and then relook at the story