Foxy we share the optimism, put retirement back to 65 start infrastructure to build dams roads pipe lines a host of nation building is a possibility

Dear Belly,

No arguments from me on that.

Dear Foxy,

I am aware that accusing Marx of antisemitism would have been an anachronism. The word, antisemitism, was coined by Wilhelm Marr in 1879 long after the date of Marx’s essay which was written in 1843. I accused him of Jew hatred not antisemitism. His consistent Jew hatred is well documented by Sander Gilman in “Jewish Self-Hatred”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sander_Gilman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-hating_Jew

It is true that Jew hatred was the commonplace thinking of Marx’s era. However, people of goodwill are capable of rising above the commonplace thinking of their era. The Lutheran German philosopher and playwright, Gotthold Lessing (1729 –1781) was an example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthold_Ephraim_Lessing

“Lessing was also famous for his friendship with Jewish-German philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. A recent biography of Mendelssohn's grandson, Felix, describes their friendship as one of the most "illuminating metaphors [for] the clarion call of the Enlightenment for religious tolerance".[6] It was this relationship that sparked his interest in popular religious debates of the time. He began publishing heated pamphlets on his beliefs which were eventually banned. It was this banishment that inspired him to return to theatre to portray his views and to write Nathan the Wise, a plea for tolerance.”

Although most of the early socialist leaders were Jew haters, Saint-Simon (1760-1825) was an exception.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Saint-Simon

Hegel and Marx had the idea of freedom as the individual’s devotion to the demands of the state.

https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ot/pelczyns.htm

“In the city-states of ancient Greece and in republican Rome, Hegel believes, citizens enjoyed freedom only in so far as they participated in the political life of their community and through their actions - in peace or war - sustained its existence and furthered its welfare.”

It is the essence of democracy that citizens may question the state.

“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” – Thomas Jefferson

Marx was a bigot who favored a totalitarian state.

Dear David F.,

Thank You for all the information you have
provided. I can see that my knowledge of
Marx is limited (Sociology 101). We did not
go into any deep study. I was not aware that
he was a Jew hater. I appreciate the information.

I would like to take this opportunity to Thank
everyone for their contributions to this discussion.
I feel that it has run its course.

I look forward to the next one.

David F-

I think perhaps Cultural Relativism is a reasonable position. Others seem to think so too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_relativism

I'm sure it creates an issue of conflict within Liberal Democracy but we'd need to look at the history of Liberal Democracy as to the reasonableness of either position.