Don't Idealize Leon Trotsky

Slate ^ | April 2, 2007 | Cliva James

[ConservativeDude]

Leon Trotsky He was a mass murderer, not the true champion of the working class. By Clive James Posted Monday, April 2, 2007, at 7:06 AM ET

Under a totalitarian regime it is the apparatus that implements the dictatorship. But if my hirelings are occupying all the key posts in the apparatus, how is it that Stalin is in the Kremlin and I am in exile?

—Leon Trotsky, quoted by Dmitri Volkogonov in Stalin

After being murdered at Stalin's orders, Lev Davidovich Bronstein, alias Leon Trotsky (1879–1940), lived on for decades as the unassailable hero of aesthetically minded progressives who wished to persuade themselves that there could be a vegetarian version of communism.

[MuttTheHoople]

Trotsky's idea of permanent revolution will always be attractive to the kind of romantic who believes that he is being oppressed by global capitalism when he maxes out his credit card. Why is the idea of a "Permanent Revolution" eerily similar to the Clinton idea of governing via neverending political campaign?

[Sans-Culotte]

I like it. Can I use it as my tagline?

[ConservativeDude]

i’d be honored!

[3AngelaD]

Allow me to upgrade your disgust and outrage. Several years ago the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor! I couldn’t believe it. They had no clue who she was other than a “Mexican icon.” Why we need Mexican icons on our stamps I don’t know either.

[chesley]

YAARRRGH! Who the hell is running this country anyway? Thanks for the info.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Clue Jeopardy rules: I give you the name of the murderer, the location of the murder and the weapon. You respond (in the form of a question) with the name of the victim.

Clue Jeopardy clue: Raoul in the Library with the ice ax.

Clue Jeopardy response: Who is Trosky, Alex?

[Revenge of Sith]

Yes, Trotsky opposed Lenin’s NEP. Trotsky and the Left Opposition wanted more collectivization while Bukharin and the Right Opposition wanted no collectivization.