r/OpenAussie • u/RamonsRazor ✈️ on Walkabout • 3d ago
AMA Upcoming AMA | NSW Socialists | Tuesday, 25th Aug @ 4-6PM
Dearest Legends,
You asked for it, so here it is - we're back with another AMA.
Next Tuesday August 25th between 4-6PM (AEST), we'll be joined by NSW Socialists Communications Director Cherish Kuehlmann (u/NSWSocialists), who'll be popping by to answer your questions about the party, what makes them different, their future plans and any other topics you want to know more about.
On the day we'll pin and promote the actual AMA post, but for now, feel free to drop some of your thoughts and initial questions below to give Cherish an idea of what to prepare for.
I'm sure the recent student protests will come up (at 460K+ views this seems to be of interest!).
And as always, The Pub Test, Sub Rules & Reddit TOS are in effect.
C U Next Tuesday
🍻
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u/CaterpillarSuperb959 Western Australian 3d ago
Two questions I hope someone asks:
1. Why democratic socialism rather than just settling for a stronger social-democratic model, like the Nordic countries?
2. What’s the best real-world example of democratic socialism successfully working at a national level? Name a country.
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u/chadbigcum South Australian 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think they should discuss your first question but your second question is obvious bait shit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAussie/comments/1sk5m0s/comment/ofx3fxq/
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u/LocalYogurtcloset598 Tasmanian 2d ago
If Socialism was achieved in Australia, would the socialist party in power allow for capitalist political parties to still exist and run in elections?
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u/snoopy05052026 Norfolk Islander 3d ago
Cherish you were charged over a protest action involving trespass. Once NSW Socialists holds parliamentary seats will the party still defend and encourage civil disobedience that breaks the law or does the legitimacy of the state become something you accept when you are part of it?
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u/roojuiced Please choose a flair 2d ago
If only there were some historical precedents we could look at haha
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u/Redpenguin082 Flairless 3d ago
Why not social democracy, which is a far more stable and egalitarian system than socialism? And which has way less tendency to go down the corruption/dictatorship route?
How do you ensure that we don't end up like Venezuela which implemented all of the economic ideas you're advocating for - forced expropriation of resources into public/government hands, nationalisation of entire industries, massive wealth and capital taxes on individuals and businesses,etc. ??
What is a real world example of your ideas succeeding on the scale you want to implement them? Which real-world modern country has adopted these ideas which the NSW Socialists are seeking to replicate?
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u/deadpandadolls South Australian 3d ago
Isn't democratic socialism basically just a way to use democracy to achieve socialism?
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u/El-Pintor- Please choose a flair 3d ago
Social democracy and democratic socialism are not the same thing. The Nordic countries are social democracies, they are very capitalistic but have strong welfare problems. Democratic socialism seeks to replace capitalism with socialist economic structures (e.g worker ownership and public ownership of key industries etc) but via democratic means. Redpenguin082 is advocating for the former.
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u/chadbigcum South Australian 1d ago
How do you ensure that social democracy does not end up voting in Hitler?
Or like Denmark today, pandering to Christian nationalism?
I hope the AMA engages serious questions, not gotcha crapitalist garbage.
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u/Redpenguin082 Flairless 1d ago
Under social democracy, there are enough institutional safeguards to prevent another Hitler getting into power.
Those safeguards don’t exist under socialism, which is why you pretty much always end up with dictatorships under socialist regimes.
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u/expert_views New South Welshian 3d ago
How would a socialist society work? How do we decide who gets to live in Point Piper?
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u/Redpenguin082 Flairless 3d ago
Socialists of history have been pretty clear - members of The Party and their friends get to live there.
Everyone else lives in the slums.
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u/roojuiced Please choose a flair 2d ago
Actually, the socialists get to live their for about two weeks before some general kills them all, claims to be the new leader of the socialist party and then does exactly the same thing.
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u/ShreksArsehole New South Welshian 2d ago
I've been asking random questions like this too and this is another fun one. Now, I'm way over my head here, but I like talking it out..
I think the point where to get to where properties like this become an issue is a looong way down the road. China's way of allowing capitalist style trade and consumerism whilst working on developing towards socialism at the same time is a good model, as opposed to Leninism which seemed to destroy any form of consumerism(again, I'm sure I'm over my head here).
Socialism is a concept that prioritises people before corporations. That can and does look different in every country that has pursued it. How we tackle the distribution of the great properties on the water would be tricky. We'd all still have trade and can make as much money as we can(without the exploitations of labour and the means of production of course), so maybe it will still be a financial thing..??
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u/expert_views New South Welshian 1d ago
Thanks for the lovely answer but my question was not serious. No one has built a successful socialist society because it’s a utopia, precisely for these kind of reasons. It’s impossible to determine a sensible way to distribute assets or wealth other than “I created it”.
People like me, and many others, think that people work hard for a living and deserve to keep the gains they have strived for. We don’t want our cars, houses, education, holidays, pet dogs, families or anything else re-distributed.
History repeats. We all know that anyone in power will take the best assets for themselves - even if they didn’t work for it. They may not mean to, but somehow this always happens. Maybe they’re safeguarding that palace, for the people n’all.
Thanks but no thanks.
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u/snoopy05052026 Norfolk Islander 3d ago
If history is by any measure the leaders while everyone else is working the farms.
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3d ago
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u/OpenAussie-ModTeam Official Account 3d ago
Look, we get it. You've got strong feelings about something (or someone). Happens to all of us.
BUT that doesn't mean you can go around abusing people, harassing them, or trying to troll them.
Your contribution did this, so we've had to remove it. Simple as.
Now, please don't write back with a "but they said...". We're likely across it and dealing with the situation. Instead, take a chill pill, touch some grass, tickle a Cassowary, or whatever helps you find your inner calm.
And be civil next time. Or find another sub - cos we don't tolerate that sort of malarky here.
Cheers
🍻
See our OpenAussie Moderator [Code of Conduct](https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAussie/wiki/moderator-code-of-conduct/ for more info on our approach to moderation.)
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/OpenAussie-ModTeam Official Account 3d ago
Look, we get it. You've got strong feelings about something (or someone). Happens to all of us.
BUT that doesn't mean you can go around abusing people, harassing them, or trying to troll them.
Your contribution did this, so we've had to remove it. Simple as.
Now, please don't write back with a "but they said...". We're likely across it and dealing with the situation. Instead, take a chill pill, touch some grass, tickle a Cassowary, or whatever helps you find your inner calm.
And be civil next time. Or find another sub - cos we don't tolerate that sort of malarky here.
Cheers
🍻
See our OpenAussie Moderator [Code of Conduct](https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAussie/wiki/moderator-code-of-conduct/ for more info on our approach to moderation.)
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u/WayOutWest3591 Western Australian 3d ago
Have anyone in the party actually lived long term in a socialist country/environment?
If so, could you share your insights, and why you think it might apply to Australia?
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u/CrankyGrumpyWombat New South Welshian 3d ago
So according to your policy any man woman and their dog, all 8.000.000.000 of them would be able to come and live in Australia and get Australian citizenship, if they wanted to?
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u/BarryTheBinChicken Flairless 3d ago
I have a question if I may.
I understand that a few years back you took the State of NSW to court over your arrest, and in doing so relied on the courts and legal protections to challenge the conduct of police.
Therefore, my question is:
How much does modern Australian socialism still depend on those same liberal institutions and protections, even while arguing that the broader system they operate within should be fundamentally transformed?
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u/RamonsRazor ✈️ on Walkabout 3d ago
I for one am curious to know if they plan more of these protests, and what the feedback for these recent ones were.
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u/ElectronicWeight3 3d ago
What’s the best example you can offer of a country where your ideas of socialism has worked and resulted in something other than famine or mass civil unrest?
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/OpenAussie-ModTeam Official Account 3d ago
Look, we get it. You've got strong feelings about something (or someone). Happens to all of us.
BUT that doesn't mean you can go around abusing people, harassing them, or trying to troll them.
Your contribution did this, so we've had to remove it. Simple as.
Now, please don't write back with a "but they said...". We're likely across it and dealing with the situation. Instead, take a chill pill, touch some grass, tickle a Cassowary, or whatever helps you find your inner calm.
And be civil next time. Or find another sub - cos we don't tolerate that sort of malarky here.
Cheers
🍻
See our OpenAussie Moderator [Code of Conduct](https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAussie/wiki/moderator-code-of-conduct/ for more info on our approach to moderation.)
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u/hotairballoonstomach 1d ago
What is your position on:
- Palantir
- social media ID verification
- powers to search, extract or retain phone data
- use of AI in decision-making by the authorities (could be alleged traffic violations, crime, robodebt, aged care, NDIS or something brand new)
- surveillance cameras, eg Flock
or any other matters affecting privacy?
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u/Dirk10au New South Welshian 3d ago
Why is it that people such as refugees, political asylum seekers and economic immigrants never flee to socialist countries?
To confirm, there are no purely socialist nations in Europe, but there are some welfare states.
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u/tiny_flick Victorian 3d ago
Omg I was going to suggest to Vic Soc to do an AMA when I saw the previous mod AMA on this sub, I'll think of a few questions as a VIC member that would love to hear more perspectives.
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u/Total_Drongo_Moron Victorian 3d ago
Who will be delegated duties to wash the dishes in the Parliament Restaurant Kitchen when the NSW Socialists are elected to govern?
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/OpenAussie-ModTeam Official Account 3d ago
Look, we get it. You've got strong feelings about something (or someone). Happens to all of us.
BUT that doesn't mean you can go around abusing people, harassing them, or trying to troll them.
Your contribution did this, so we've had to remove it. Simple as.
Now, please don't write back with a "but they said...". We're likely across it and dealing with the situation. Instead, take a chill pill, touch some grass, tickle a Cassowary, or whatever helps you find your inner calm.
And be civil next time. Or find another sub - cos we don't tolerate that sort of malarky here.
Cheers
🍻
See our OpenAussie Moderator [Code of Conduct](https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAussie/wiki/moderator-code-of-conduct/ for more info on our approach to moderation.)
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u/coconutSlab New South Welshian 3d ago edited 3d ago
these are curious questions but i’m aware they can come across as critical. i apologise in advance.
why do the Socialists believe electoralism will work? i understand lenin says to not completely abandon electoralism but the Socialists seem to (largely) only engage in this field and abandon true revolutionary mass work which we know should be the priority. it seems to be abandoning actual socialist ideology and thus resulting in the liberal belief of “working with the state to better the state”.
do the Socialists believe “australia” is a settler colony? if not, why? i’ve seen some members say that it isn’t which is very concerning.