How exactly will focusing on those companies instead ensure that criticisms of capitalism are taken seriously?

Something something ‘done away with’, something something ‘nine-tenths’.

some people in these circles have a way too delusional view of China for my liking, and will defend basically every part of it.

Which defenses have you found to be problematic in these supposed circles, enough to warrant the title of ‘delusional’? Have you realized we’re in a new cold war, with an increasing possibility of a hot war by the day? What need is there for any western leftist’s unheard “nuance” in the current moment? You see people defending the PRC fiercely because they understand the stakes and rightly treat a dangerous moment with utmost seriousness.

Yeah, I wish it was better and I do think there are serious issues.

Why are you telling us this and not bringing your vague concerns to the CPC itself? What is the reason any western leftist even brings this up in the first place anyway?

I mean it’s not that complicated. It means quote: “while in communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic.”

It’s a dream scenario. It did not exist and hence never died.

Why do you say rip?

I mean we live under capitalism right now and so our imaginations are understandably limited by what exists in society today. How would you see it then? I think the OP kinda sees humans being encouraged to take up a more generalist lifestyle instead of today’s specialist lifestyle where people have careers and professions.

I get the sentiment, but did you just quote a fictional sith lord on this discussion?

You can’t rely on just books in this day and age.

Correct. Capitalism is highly adaptable and as such we require a diversity of tactics. I should know, because I wasn’t introduced to ML via reading books, but by long form ML arguments on relevant topics (usually on a country targeted by US imperialism) and relentless, fiery take-downs of evidence free narratives. Before that, I was introduced to Marxism proper via Abby Martin’s interview with Richard Wolff.

Then again, I consider myself somewhat lucky to have started on that particular video rather than the rest of breadtube. Once I got a taste of Marxism, my consciousness expanded tenfold. All the usual lib nonsense, like the contradiction of being told that you get paid more due to hard work, I no longer had to bother with.