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Thomas Gehrmann Chiropractor
By: Thomas Gehrmann Colorado Springs Chiropractor
Tags: Cramps, Leg Cramp, Pregnancy

According to Chiropractor — Thomas Gehrmann from Colorado Springs, leg cramps are uncontrolled spasms in the muscles of the leg that may be painful. They typically occur in the calf muscles, though they may also appear in the thighs or feet.

Much of the time, simple stretches may help ease the cramped muscles. There are also other treatments and prevention methods to try. Anyone dealing with leg cramps regularly should see a doctor for a full diagnosis.

What are Leg Cramps?

Leg cramps are involuntary muscle spasms anywhere in the leg, though they are most common in the calf says chiropractor — Thomas Gehrmann. The muscle tenses up, causing discomfort or moderate to severe pain and tightness in the area.

Nocturnal leg cramps may also lead to other issues. They can disrupt sleep and break up a person’s sleep cycle, which can make them feel tired or lethargic the next day. Leg cramps may make it very difficult to fall asleep, and this could lead to issues such as insomnia over time.

Causes of Leg Cramps

1. Tired muscles

The research available suggests that muscle fatigue is a primary cause. Athletes are more likely to get leg cramps after doing higher than normal levels of activity.

2. Inactivity during the Day

Another leading theory is that sitting for an extended period, such as while working at a desk, may cause the muscles to shorten over time.

3. Body position

Sitting or lying in a certain way that restricts movement or blood flow to the legs, such as resting one leg on the other or with the legs crossed, may lead to cramps.

4. Pregnancy

There may also be a link between pregnancy and leg cramps at night. This might be due to the increased nutritional demands or hormone changes in the body during pregnancy.

Prevention Leg Cramps at Night

Preventing leg cramps in the long term may be the best option for some people, though this is not always possible says Thomas Gehrmann.

1. Mild Exercise

Some people feel they do not experience as many cramps if they do some mild exercises at the end of the day. This may include such activities as walking or spending a few minutes on a stationary bike before bedtime.

2. Drinking Plenty of Water

Fluids help transport nutrients and waste to and from the muscles. Drinking fluids, especially water, throughout the day can help prevent cramps by keeping the muscles functioning well.
Where to begin…..
By: Lianza B
Tags: Pain, Spirituality, Near Death Experiences, Neglect, Pregnancy

Where to begin…..

Okay in 2011,

I was pregnant with my son, I gave birth and 18 days following the birth of my son, I found myself fighting for my life, I had a unexpected traumatic experience which lead me to the first of many near death experiences, my partner had betrayed me with someone I thought to be a friend, I developed a disability, I found myself in chronic pain and fatigue, my mother and myself were always there for one another, all off a sudden when my father returned I found I had been a victim of narrcasistic abuse, they wanted to control me and take over where my son was concerned, lonely isolated and by then sleep walking, crying exhausted collapsing, still fighting, I had been in and out of hospital, I have had 9 critical near death experiences, n here I am. My story continues and I am in a place where I hope the pain i have suffered, i can use it to help and inspire others…..

I think my story and how I found faith in myself, I how I found away when there was no way….

I believe through devine love and light something I never knew off or was aware. Yet after I lost my best friend in 2016 a few months following her death, she had visited me in spirit. Shortly after I had a spiritual awakening, little did I no what I was going through, I hit rock bottom many times and in 2017 I found myself completely hopeless, alone and that I didnt feel I had the will to continue fighting, no one believed in me, all the rejection just broke my heart, the fights and the neglect, the list is endless but through one kind word of someone who lives close by, that I could and would still be able to find my way to reach my dreams. From that day I turned a new corner. My story continues.

still there’s been many many battles and plenty of room for improvement yet im doing great all things considered, I hope to reach others facing some of the struggles and challenges I have over come. I found away when there was no way and I have over come against all the odds many experiences I have been told I was not expected to make it. I dont no what the future holds but i believe I am meant to use my pain to show others that there’s still light in those darkest hours.

I found it all along the brightest light as been within me, I have been working on healing, learning to forgive hoping to find my true place in this world. Where ever that may be I still feel there’s much more and I believe I have so much I can give to those who may be facing, challenging moments, trauma, ptsd, grief, betrayal, loneliness, spirituality, unknown. Healing, loss , disability, the list is endless but what I have is life experience, compassion, empathy, understanding, faith, perservence, strength, wisdom and hope. I hope to inspire others also and I would love a chance to truly open up and tell my story from my heart.

To be continued……
Pregnancy diet : Healthy diet for healthy baby
Tags: Garbh Sanskar, Diet, Pregnancy

For your baby to grow and develop, good nutrition during pregnancy is very necessary. You can eat about 300 more calories a day when you are pregnant, try to eat a well-balanced diet, and take prenatal vitamins. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a pregnant woman needs more calcium, folic acid, iron, and proteins than a non-pregnant woman. During pregnancy, the goal is to eat healthy foods most of the time. Doctors recommend five important food groups in order to improve prenatal nutrition: fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and dairy products. To keep you and your baby healthy and safe, here are some suggestions.

Enjoy a variety of foods so you can get all the antioxidants and nutrients you need. Daily recommended meals include 6–11 servings of bread and grain, two to four servings of fruit, four or more servings of vegetables, four servings of dairy products, and three servings of protein (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or nuts).

Read More at — https://uptodd.com/blog/healthy-diet-for-healthy-baby
http://ihavetosay.blog/2020/10/31/the-mindset-behind-having-children/
By: Aly J
Tags: Parenthood, Nuclear Family, Society, Lifestyle, Pregnancy

The Mindset Behind Having Children

A friend texted me the other day regarding my last blog post, which talked about my pregnancy and my decision to keep…
漏尿之不能說的秘密（下）. 凱格爾到底有沒有效？
By: 杜婉瑜 Diane
Tags: Womens Health, Exercise, Physical Therapy, Physiotherapy, Pregnancy

We often hear “kegel exercise” help those who have problems with urine leakage or bowel control.

But what is “kegel exercise” anyway?

How is it done?

This article will give you the information you want to know.

What is kegel exercise?

Before learning about kegel exercise, we must know how the pelvic floor muscles function.

Pelvic floor muscles are at the very bottom of the pelvic outlet, which function as “protective sling” to make sure the organs are in the right place. Organs such as the uterus, cervix, intestines and bladder, etc would be out of place once the pelvic floor muscles do not provide enough support. Incontinence is one of the most evident symptoms.

The purpose of Kegel exercise is to enhance the support of pelvic floor muscles, increasing smooth contract-relax function.

Benefits of kegel exercise

Improve muscle strength of the pelvic floor, decrease the chance of incontinence. Improve core muscle function . Prevent backache and low back pain. The exercise can be done in all positions and movement, without any equipment. The exercise can integrate with daily activities, such as sitting, standing, walking. It is safe to be done during pregnancy, which helps the delivery process.

How is Kegel exercise done?

You only need 2 steps!

“Lift up” your perineum toward the head when breathing out. Relax when inhaling.

Integrate the exercise in your daily activities, such as driving, half squats, lunges and high knees.

Movement precautions

Movement compensations such as “clench your butt” or “press your inner thighs” should be prevented. Holding your breath should be prevented. It is recommended that normal breathing patterns should be learned before kegel exercise. The purpose of Kegel exercise is to smoothly “contract” and “relax” your pelvic floor muscles instead of only contracting hard on the muscle.

Kegel exercise is different from other exercises because the movement is not visible on the outside. Some may find it hard to do it without instructors.

If there is someone you know who have problems with incontinence, advise them to seek their physiotherapist for more consultation.
Garbhsanskar:- Nurturing baby with care and love
Tags: Garbh Sanskar, Cognitive Psychology, Pregnancy Care, Pregnancy

GARBHSANSKAR — Garbhsanskar is as divine as it sounds. Garbh means “womb” and Sanskar means “ethics” or “values.” Parenting your child and teaching ethics inside the mother’s womb can be the most blissful experience that any parent can imagine. The greatest evidence of Garbh Sanskar’s spiritual journey is our historical background. During pregnancy, the mother maintains a healthy balanced diet that helps to develop a strong, healthy placenta that determines the birth weight and future health of the child in adult life. Likewise, positive emotions like affection, excitement, gratitude, and healthy thought parents bring the unborn child to the womb of the mother, while negative feelings, depression, and stress affect the unborn child.

The purpose of garbh sanskar is to educate the child in the womb. It is believed that the education of moral, traditional, and spiritual values begins right from the moment the fetus is conceived in the womb in Indian culture and, especially in Hinduism. Science has shown that babies in the womb will benefit from Garbhsanskar in the early stages. The mother’s relationship with the baby starts right from the moment of conception. And as it develops in the womb, the baby listens to the mother and knows her emotions.

Read More — https://uptodd.com/blog/garbhsanskar
Nutrients to Keep an Eye on During Pregnancy
Tags: Diet, Nutrition, Pregnancy, What To Eat When Pregnant, Nutrients

The most common nutrient of concern in pregnancy tends to be folate and for good reason. Folate deficiency causes neural tube defects and can harm cognitive function throughout life. But there is another nutrient that is being linked to cognitive performance. This nutrient is choline. Studies are showing women that had higher blood choline have infants that have higher cognitive scores and children that have better visual memory at age 7. Higher choline supplementation (930 mg) of the mother was correlated with infants having faster reaction times and this enhanced reaction time continuing to age 7. Not only is choline intake beneficial to children in their first few years from conception, but choline also appears important for the elderly. Choline intake is now being linked to lower risk of dementia and could be a key piece to slowing mental decline. For more information on these studies you can look up the Framingham Offspring and Kupio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Although there are confounding variables in these studies, choline taken within reasonable amounts shows little risk (consult your doctor before supplementing). The best food sources include chicken liver, salmon and eggs.

Similarly run studies have also shown lutein and zeaxanthin to be keys in higher cognitive function in young and old populations and have even been associated with better academic achievement. These two compounds can be found in spinach and other leafy vegetables. Eating them with fat will increase absorption. Egg yolk is also a source of both and can be combined with vegetables to improve intake and absorption.

These nutrients are in line with most recommended eating patterns. Including quality eggs, fatty fish and leafy greens is hard to argue against. The benefits of finding a healthy eating pattern that works for you (and your mom doing the same before that) can set you on the path for a long healthy life from the start.
Pregnancy brain: fact or fiction?
Tags: Health Coach, Health, Questions And Answers, Brain, Pregnancy

When Titi was pregnant with her first child, she was driving with her husband in the passenger seat. They got to a roundabout and her husband told her to stop but she stepped on the accelerator instead, exclaiming that she could not tell which pedal was the brake. An accident was miraculously averted but she was pretty shaken up by the whole incident. Her friends blamed it on pregnancy brain. But is pregnancy brain real or one of the many excuses that women give for behaving badly?

Many people have described the brain-fog that comes during pregnancy which is characterized by forgetfulness, absentmindedness and ‘easy-distractibility’ but the fact is that pregnancy brain is not an actual medical condition.

There appears to be some scientific evidence that the brain does undergo changes in pregnancy, with brain cells decreasing in the third trimester but there is no actual proof of reduction in cognitive abilities. Apart from this, the constant sleep deprivation and sleepiness that is common is pregnancy can result in those symptoms, particularly when coupled with hormonal surges and increase in stress and anxiety levels.

So if you are forgetting dates, events, phone numbers, where you kept your phone or keys, what someone said, what you promised to do or even where you parked your car, then you may actually be suffering from pregnancy brain syndrome!

What can you do:

Know that it’s not the end of the world. You will get back to your smart self in the months after delivery!

Laugh about it. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Humour always helps.

Get enough rest. Try to take as many naps as you need. You’re not lazy; you’re just recharging.

Eat well. keeping your glucose level stable can help your brain stay sharp. Fruits are also a great idea and drinking adequate water.

Take your supplements: the B vitamins and omega 3 oils are brain boosters as are many other minerals and vitamins

Exercise: performing the appropriate exercises for your stage of pregnancy improves circulation of blood specially to your brain, removing excess carbon dioxide and supplying adequate oxygen.

Write things down; Make notes. Write a to-do list. Set alarms. Mark your calendar. Don’t rely on your memory alone, however superb it has always been.

Ask for help: don’t do everything. Yes, you are a supermom but it’s OK to ask for help sometimes.

Final word

If you are having persistent and worrisome lack of concentration, forgetfulness, fatigue and sleep trouble, then it may be a sign of depression. You may need urgent counselling. For this or any other pregnancy and health related issue, you can speak with or chat with a doctor online on DoctorDial.
EPISODE 2- Pregnant women who fought the corona virus
By: Medreach Healthcovo Podcast
Tags: Coronavirus, Covid 19, Women Health, Covid 19 Treatment, Pregnancy

About episode

This episode is about a patient who has recovered from Covid -19. She shared her encounter with Covid -19 and her experience of isolation at home being pregnant.

She gives a happy statement to all pregnant women that “Corona virus will not affect or harm the fetus in the womb”. For pregnant ladies, who were infected with corona virus, drinking warm water with lemon is the best medicine. She advices all to have steam inhalation with rocksalt and with pinch of turmeric. She is advising not to drink kabasura kudineer (Immnunity boostinh herbal drinks) during pregnancy because it triggers the sensation of vomiting. She gives advice to all the pregnant women about the methods to improve their health and fight against Covid -19 at this pandemic situation.

Listen to this talk. We hope this talk will give you an insight on the Covid infection.

Don’t keep your patient story to yourself. Find a way to share it to help others.

To share your stories Register here

Join with us on the MedReach Healthtalk Forum to share your thoughts and be updated. Get your health related queries answered and discussed with healthcare professionals and patient community. https://healthtalk.medreach.in/

Please stay tuned for more inspirational stories. Stay healthy, stay safe.

Thank you.
A Thanksgiving Moment in the Labor Room
By: Linda Burke Md
Tags: Thanksgiving, Inspiration, Wisdom, Black Women, Pregnancy

A Thanksgiving Moment in the Labor Room

The full moon brought a downpour of babies that we could not catch fast enough in labor and delivery that hot summer night. I was sweaty, hungry, and tired. The air conditioner appeared not to be working yet again, which only added to my mounting frustration and foul mood.

Almost three decades ago, there were no computers where a resident physician could casually monitor patients remotely as they do now. Back in the day, you had to get up off your butt and physically examine a patient. Insert an IV. Write orders and be able to make a diagnosis correctly.

I groaned and rolled my eyes as another patient entered our crowded triage unit. She was young, perhaps no older than 17 or 18 years old, and was probably from Senegal as Harlem had become the new epicenter for Senegalese immigrants and merchants. We admitted her, and she labored quietly in one of our few remaining beds. When the time came for her delivery, she pushed stoically for a brief period, and then her baby emerged, wailing and in apparent good health. As I cut the baby’s umbilical cord, my young patient sat up from the delivery table, looked deeply into my eyes, and said in halted English, “Thank . . . you.” I fought back tears as I said, “You’re welcome.”

I quickly removed my mask and gown once I knew there were no complications and rushed into the on-call room, where I wailed uncontrollably. It was the first time anyone ever thanked me for delivering their baby. Those two words, “thank you,” brought my life and purpose back into focus: a sweet and humble reminder of why I was training to become an obstetrician-gynecologist.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I challenge each of you to remember the most meaningful moments in your life. Sometimes our greatest gift is a simple yet laudable expression of gratitude.

“In everything, give thanks.”
New Bernie Sanders Slogan: “All Millionaires are Bad, Except Me, I’m Good”
By: Planet X Media
Tags: Socialism, Bernie Sanders, News, Millionaire, Politics

US — Bernie Sanders, in another attempt to kickstart his 2024 presidential campaign early and gain more support so as not to get cheated out of an election again, has a new slogan for his campaign: “All Millionaires are Bad, Except Me, I’m Good.”

“It really captures the heart and spirit of the whole operation. It really shows you what I’m like and what I stand for, all at a glance. It will hopefully promote more transparency among candidates as well. Oh wait, never mind, nobody cares about that anymore, right?” explained Sanders outside of his 34th 16,000-acre mansion, where he supposedly got the idea while sitting at home doing absolutely nothing but mumble incoherent things about the top 1%.

His supporters are eating it up, though they admit they don’t really understand it. “I don’t know what that last part means, about him being good, but I know that millionaires are all bad, and that’s all that really matters, I think,” said some supporter.

Sanders had other ideas for slogans, namely: “AMAB (All Millionaires Are Bad),” “War is Peace,” “Freedom is Tyranny,” and “Ignorance is Strength.” His final choice, however, was of course “All Millionaires are Bad, Except Me, I’m Good,” because it’s clearly the best and Bernie’s outstanding intellect told him so.
The Machine Haiku
By: Detroit Democratic Socialists Of America
Tags: Comics, Socialism, Haiku

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Be careful of lapsing into binary thinking!
Tags: Socialism, America, Government, Money, Politics

I just don’t believe in America anymore.

Be careful of lapsing into binary thinking! Trump and the republicans are doing everything they can to poison the well, but the demographics of the country are changing quickly and there’s a new administration coming in. For our children’s sake, we have to stay positive.
Rise of the Dimechian Socialists
Tags: Malta, Socialism, Dimechian Socialists, Manuel Dimech, Revolution

Holder of the VOICE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH (MALTA) mt
The Virus, Day 283, Dimondale, Michigan
By: Sexy Hermit
Tags: Covid 19, Socialism, Life, Trump, Michigan

With regard to all the places still closed due to Covid restrictions. I know I’m going to catch it for this but the worst offenders, the squeakiest wheels, should probably be “greased” ASAP so they just shut up and comply.

Laws won’t stop them but maybe bribes/help will.

This has gone one long enough.

I’m past punitive actions.

They do nothing it seems.

Time to find the cash and GIVE IT UP!!

My god, even TRUMP wants us to get more “free money” now!!

It’s going to be increasingly harder and harder for Trumpers to keep bashing a system if it actually starts helping them. This needs to happen across the board in America.

These “very fine people” could actually be as such if this country learned how to deal with its desperation problem.

Our lack of a safety net of any kind has been exposed.

We need UBI ASAP. Doing so will give this country the resources, resolve, and UNITY to battle common enemies TOGETHER. We need to know that “Uncle Sam” has ALL our backs, not just rich white men.

That being said, their behavior has been deplorable but it has not happened in a vacuum. I’m now starting to see that more and more.

We gotta find the middle way in all this again!

Be well!!!
Socialists Reconsider a Pony-Based Economy
By: Planet X Media
Tags: Socialism, News, Vermin Supreme, Pony, Economy

US — Last week at a monthly socialist get-together, some began seriously reconsidering the prospect of a pony-based economy.

“It would be great. We could guarantee everybody a pony and be equal in the eyes of our pony-based economy,” said one at the group. “And then once everybody had a pony, we could give them the illusion that they all had enough money to prosper. You know, while we pocket the change! Mwahahahahahahahaha! Sorry, what?”

The group is also reconsidering Vermin Supreme as a potential candidate for president. “I mean, after Bernie got cheated again, Vermin doesn’t look so bad. I wouldn’t be caught dead voting Libertarian, but a pony-based economy, zombie apocalypse readiness training, and mandatory teeth brushing? I mean, it’s too good to be true!” said another.

“I mean, his fantastic policies really combine the works of Marx, Bloomberg, and Black Adder. Supreme’s gonna be the next big thing,” he added.
Who said we don’t want socialism?
By: Laura Hunt Manville
Tags: What Is Freedom, Socialism, Freedom, Healthcare, Progressivism

Who said we don’t want socialism?

Progressives DO want socialism — at least the young ones and the ones who aren’t afraid of the bogeyman of it. Lol. Damn the government turned it into such a HUGE Spector of fear.

Now Boomers think they don’t want socialism, but then you talk to them about their Medicare and Social Security and suddenly they do. Those aren’t actually socialism, since the government is only paying for them, they don’t own and run the facilities. I think the only actual totally socialistic system we have is the VA medical system. Vets can use privates docs, but the VA system is owned and run by the government, and the employees are government employees.

Of course Conservatives have been conditioned to think that socialism is like communism. It’s taking away your freedom. Lol. That makes no sense. Having your healthcare paid for and not stressing about it gives you MORE freedom. Freedom to leave a job that doesn’t work for you. Move to another state — and start a different job. Change careers. Leave a marriage and start working. Kick your deadbeat spouse — who refuses to work — out — so YOU can quit paying for their benefits.

Sounds like a lot more freedom to me.
The Dream: Health (S)care
By: Detroit Democratic Socialists Of America
Tags: Comics, Detroit, Socialism, Medicare For All

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

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Creating a Thriving Middle Class
By: Michael Rousell
Tags: Awareness, Socialism, Life Lessons, Culture, Politics

Creating a Thriving Middle Class

(Photo by shen liu on Unsplash)

It’s socialized, not socialism.

I get it. When you look at some failed socialist states, it stirs fear. Caution though, socialized concepts are not socialism any more than playing catch means you’re playing baseball.

Let’s play catch.

If you watch sports, game shows, American Idol, Survivor, you want the players to match up evenly. Level competition makes watching entertaining. Competitors must try their best. Any lax effort by one creates an opportunity for another. Competitors must always stay “on their game.”

Indy racers use identical cars, engines, and even tires. Everything is uniform except the drivers, mechanics, the pit crew, and fine-tuning the engine. That keeps the races close and exciting for the fans. The best driver with the best team — not the best car — is the winner. The even playing field fosters innovations and subtle nuances to succeed. Once someone innovates for an advantage, now everyone is better.

Juxtapose that with competitions where the winner is a foregone conclusion. If you know you will win, why try hard, and where’s the incentive for innovation or refinement? An even playing field makes everyone better. The only ones who want to watch or participate in a lopsided match are those with the advantage. Here, only the elite thrive.

What about you, the player?

If you play games or competitive sports, you probably appreciate an even playing field, too. Remember when you taught your children to play a game. You didn’t try your hardest because it would discourage them from learning. Once they achieved your level, you needed to up your game to match theirs.

Professional sports teams already know this. They share television revenue. They develop an entry-draft whereby weaker teams get the better picks. The concept of rules and referees enforce equity by penalizing cheaters.

If you put that perspective into a social system, you also derive an even playing field that promotes competition. That’s socialization, not socialism. Democratic countries that use socialized concepts create a thriving middle-class.

Universal health care, unemployment insurance, financial aid, progressive taxes, support for the disenfranchised, make us all better.

Socialized ideas do not a socialist make.

Social democracy: As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal-democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented mixed economy.
De-housed for me
By: Romi Mahajan
Tags: Homeless, Socialism, Inequality, Politics, Human Rights

You did not know did you?

That my house gives me rights.

You did not know did you?

That my house gives me virtue.

Food, Clothing, Shelter

I demand that you are not naked

But not full or warm

I won’t offer you sleep

Not on my lawn

Or even in a park

Not here, I say

Brooms and authorities both sweep

The dust, the garbage.

My TV blares

I sing with Alexa

I have a house

You stay quiet

What you know

That I will not see

With my infinite grace

You were de-housed for me
The doomed socially awkward adult .
By: Ankita Das
Tags: Socialism, Mental Health, Introvert, Anxiety, Pschology

All my life I have felt the importance of being a good listener. Because nothing feels better than being heard , of being paid attention to and being understood . To put someone else’s wish to be heard first before your own wish to convey your thoughts is a rare trait . It makes a difference in your relationships too , when you give chance to let the other have a say . Such a habit reflects compassion and not competition. You are compassionate enough to let go of the desire to put yourself in the forefront.

Aware of the fact that not listening to the other person can undermine that person’s confidence is what we should consider so that we provide a safe and comfortable space for both to enjoy a conversation.

Years and years of doing this and i have come across this realisation that a lot many times your attempt at being a good listener can be self-sabotaging to your life especially when you always wait for someone to initiate , to over-pour you with so much that you simply don’t have the energy to speak up your part. And this has always left me socially paralysed. Awkward silences and a lack of urge to follow up with a conversation leads to further anxiety which oftentimes result from the idea that may be my thoughts or opinions would not be understood now that i have completely been left overwhelmed by the other person’s words. Sometimes you are just bombarded with thoughts and things that the speaker has to say and who most of the times turns out to be discourteous enough to keep on ranting until you give silent and subtle hints at feeling left out . And by the time the tables turn you want to flee at the very next moment .

Such has been the plight of a socially-anxious introvert who’s forever awkward at handling social interactions .
You would be poor asf if your parents had survived Ho Chi Minh and hadn’t been able to escape to…
By: David Sf
Tags: Communism, Socialism, America, War

… it’s a label I’ve come to identify with and adopt. Many factors contributed to my shift in politics , but I wouldn’t have been able to arrive there without first interrogating the war for myself. My radicalization has been an ongoing process, one that involves trying to understand what it means to now occupy the country that tore apart my parents’ homeland and how the American government continues to displace, and disparage, so many families like mine.
The Great Fall: A personal perspective, before and after
Tags: Socialism, Germany, Change, History, Berlin

Like many millions I watched the breaching of the Berlin Wall on TV in 1989. I’ve had two direct and brief encounters with East Germany before and after this historic event. I’m descended from a C19th German Jewish émigré family of musicians but I first visited East Germany in 1982 when we went on a camping holiday, a group of ten of us, including children.

We arrived at a campsite in Werder, near Potsdam at 3am and blundered about noisily setting up our tents on the playground, but no-one seemed too bothered. This was the first of a comedy of errors throughout the trip (we got as far as the Hartz mountains) and we have to say that to us East German officialdom was relaxed and friendly.

As tourists, we found the country old fashioned but in good working order — it wasn’t so much grey uniformity as a refreshing lack of consumer capitalism. Our young daughters were entranced by the double-decker train we boarded to the centre of Berlin.

We wandered around and waved to those waving from the Western side. On the way back to the campsite we veered off in the wrong direction from the station and ended up in the middle of a Russian army camp where we watched military manoeuvres before getting directions back to the bus stop from a group of Russian army wives.

Section of the Berlin Wall’s East Side Gallery

My second trip to East Berlin was in October 1990 shortly after the official reunification of Germany. I was invited to deliver two lectures at Humboldt University (on ancient literature and on teaching classics in the UK). I stayed with a retired professor of philosophy and aesthetics who lived in the leafy suburb of Grünewald. Walter, a veteran of the German resistance, talked in anxious terms about the boost the reunification was going to give to global capitalism. He’d also written a critique of what had gone wrong in East Germany and the challenges the socialist block faced from a hostile imperialist world.

But he recognised that there were internal stresses and strains as working class hegemony was derailed by the Stalinist model of socialism. Even though the systemic flaws and distortions had been serious, Walter grimly predicted huge losses in East Germany’s progressive social programmes now the Wall was down.

As we walked around what was East Berlin Walter, then in his 83rd year, talked about the need for a radical rethink of socialist strategies, so our children and grandchildren would grow up in a better world. Those of us on the Left could learn from his mixture of realism and revolutionary optimism!

Dr Paula James is a Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies at The Open University.

This article was previously published on OpenLearn in November 2020 and can be viewed here.

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Apakah Sistem Kapitalis Lebih Baik dari Sistem Sosialis?
By: Cus Andara
Tags: Economic System, Socialism, Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia, Capitalism

“Through hard work and education, we can deliver a strong economy and opportunity for all.” — Julia Gillard
Capitalism Haiku
By: Detroit Democratic Socialists Of America
Tags: Comics, Socialism, Haiku

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

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It’s Our Fault Christmas Is Unaffordable Again
Tags: Socialism, Inequality, Christmas, Poetry, Capitalism

A poem about how we are to blame for yet another money-tight Christmas.

“Marley’s Ghost” — original illustration from A Christmas Carol.

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the rental

not a bill was paid early, not even dental.

Although the stock market was booming, so how could that be?

I guess I spent too much time watching TV.

What I should have been doing is making speculative investments

in businesses with specifically low-grade assessments.

For that is the labour that our society needs,

the kind of innovation that only Capitalism breeds.

Who cares about the teachers, artists or physicians?

We need more ways to price gouge patients with pre-existing conditions!

We live in a meritocracy, where only the most talented prevail —

a warehouse worker is replaceable, so they deserve to fail.

Sure, increasing corporate profits and worker productivity are related,

but that doesn’t mean the workers should be the ones compensated.

Wages have been stagnant since the 70’s for a very good reason,

and it doesn’t matter if the affordability crisis intensifies with every season.

In the end of the day, our job creators deserve a break

for all the opportunities they provide and the risks that they take.

So stop the complaining and just celebrate your Christmas in debt,

you haven’t even been replaced by AI… well, yet.
Why I’m a Radical.
By: Raymond Lemay
Tags: Future Of America, Socialism, Inequality, American Dream, Us Education System

America may have failed me, but I won’t fail America.

We send children to schools so that they can become better workers. We ask them to salute a flag, no matter the sacrifice. They are to be loyal to this flag, to this land, because so many people died for it.

What did they die for? Did they die because they were fleeing persecution? Did they die because they couldn’t conform? Did they die because of their selfishness?

Instead of us learning to support one another out of kindness, we force each other into a never-ending game of monopoly.

My education failed me and my peers. That’s why many in my generation are considered “radical” by our parents. So many of us are waking up to see the American Dream being just that, a dream. Instead of adjusting to the times, instead of modernizing, we CHOOSE to keep playing a 400 year old game of monopoly.

I am angry with the constant apathy towards the condition of our country. “That’s the way it is,” is an unacceptable answer when there are people freezing to death on the streets of America, when children are going hungry because there is no financial benefit to feeding them. This obsession with the economy as a way to measure our well being is a cruel way to govern.

We can do better.

Our forefathers didn’t have the technology we have today. Why do we all have to work 40 plus hours a week and still be afraid of a hospital visit bankrupting us? Something is wrong. Until I see more change I will remain “radical.” We must do something about the vast inequalities in our society. If you don’t want socialism then you need to prove that capitalism will work for all inhabitants of this land.

We need to stop saying we don’t like politics. Politics is just another name for cooperation. As Aristotle said, we are a political animal. If you don’t participate, the country fails. This means discussing topics that make us uncomfortable. This means standing up for what we believe and facing the challenge.

We have to do better for our neighbors, our children, and ourselves. The future of our country depends on it.
In 2018, an idea called Socialism became a popular topic in American Society.
By: Lance Browning
Tags: GOP, Socialism, Political

In 2018, an idea called Socialism became a popular topic in American Society. It began to interest the American People, who elected self-proclaimed Socialists to the United States House of Representatives. The Message “Free Healthcare, Free College, and No Coal” appealed to the Millennials.

Socialism is a failed experiment. Venezuela was a thriving country until 1998 when Hugo Chavez was elected President. Chavez oversaw the rewriting of the Country’s Constitution and higher oil prices. Chavez passed laws redistributing land and wealth, which he followed in 2005 with a land reform decree that would eliminate larger estates to the poor’s benefit in rural areas. In 2007, the government took total control of oil projects in the Orinoco Delta, furthering Chavez’s nationalization plans. The original messaging of Socialism in Venezuela is very similar to the messaging here in the United States.

Now, in 2020, we are faced with the reality of Socialism. The Democrats rigged the 2020 Election and have forced the two Georgia Senate Races into runoffs. Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue now face Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock on January 5. Ossoff and Warnock will undoubtedly vote for The Green New Deal, Medicare For All, and many more Socialist Proposals. If they win the 2 Senate Seats, and Kamala Harris is Vice President, the Democrats have a 51 – 50 Majority.

The reality is, if we do not save the Senate, Socialism is a guarantee. Granted, if President Trump pulls off a win, Mike Pence will be Vice President, giving Republicans a majority. Nevertheless, we have 3 Senators (Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, and Lisa Murkowski) who side with Democrats more than they do the GOP. That is why we must win the 2 Senate Seats.

Socialism will destroy this Country. We cannot let the Democrats pull off a win in Georgia and force our Nation into a period of radical change it will not come out of for years. We have to stand up and reject this attempt to destroy our Country, RIGHT NOW. We cannot wait. We must act now or run the risk of losing our Nation.
Giving context for the history of the Soviet Union.
By: Marxist Debate Forum
Tags: Communist, Socialism, Soviet Union, Communism, Socialist

Giving context for the history of the Soviet Union.

A lot of the bad stuff people try to blame on the Soviets, like the famine, were things that the Soviets were fighting to end, and thats literally what made them popular...

You have to place history in context, and then you have to be nuanced about it...

The Russian empire (the country that the Soviet Union beat in its civil war) had near constant famine, no human rights, very low literacy, it had very low life expectancy, it was very undeveloped, wealth inequality was extremely unbalanced, most of the country didnt have power, public water, sewage, etc, etc.... The Russian aristocracy had kept Russia deliberately undeveloped for hundreds of years.. compared to the rest of europe

The Soviets were telling the people of the Russian Empire that they had solutions to these problems and that under their system, the common person would be the center of their attention... (kind of like what modern communists are doing 🤔🤔 its almost like we are consistent or something)

And then guess what happened? The soviets came into power and MODERNIZED the country within 20 years... improving life greatly for its citizens in almost every measurable statistic..

You cant just win a war, take over and then POOF suddenly all of the bad stuff just ends immediately, thats not how it works.

The Soviets had a famine in the early 1930s because agriculture was still under developed from the era of the russian empire... not because "socialism bad"....

Notice how, after Stalins 5 year plans, the Soviets MODERNIZED agriculture (they built tractors, train systems, canneries, motor vehicles, etc.) and that region never suffered another famine ever again. (The food shortage in 1945-46 does NOT count... they had literally just been invaded and most of their crops had been stolen 😑)

And as far as suppression of political dissent goes... the Soviets won..... not the capitalists..... that means that they had the right to make laws that everyone had to follow inside of the borders of the soviet union. If you broke those laws, there would be consequences (as there are in EVERY OTHER NATION). But these consequences were greatly over exaggerated by the west.... no, you didnt just go to the gulags and die.... over 95% of the people who entered the soviet prison system (excluding the war years) served their time and were released..
This here tells me you know naught about what you talk.
By: David Sf
Tags: Capitalism, Socialism

This here tells me you know naught about what you talk. Google “income mobility” and conpare the US with other countries in the OECD
The Dream: Lessons from Kenosha
By: Detroit Democratic Socialists Of America
Tags: Comics, Socialism, Kenosha

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“Just Yell At Existing Revisionists Harder”
By: Angel Steele
Tags: Politics, Socialism, Marxism Leninism, Leninism

Introduction

Within communist movements, & particularly Leninist ones, a consistent problem keeps rearing its head: revisionists. Those who are said to misdirect the direction of the party & subvert socialist rhetoric for aims other than communism & socialism. For Leninists the solution is always simple: yell at them, exile them from your movements, disassociate with them, re-educate them, etc. This solution has been used time & time again; Stalinists on Trotskyists, Trotskyists on Stalinists & each other, Maoists on Dengists, & Hoxhaists on everyone would be the notable examples, & one would not struggle to find similar examples in other leftist organizations & spheres.

Obviously this is the right thing to do, no? Why would you not do that to people trying to subvert your movement. & yes but look at it this way: has anyone stopped to consider where they keep coming from? Why are there so many sects & individuals willing to subvert your movements?

You can call them opportunists all you want but at some point you have to address why are they being given those opportunities?

the Root of the Problem

It’s the centralist authoritarian nature of Leninist vanguards that gives these people opportunities. The more power is concentrated the worse things one can do with it.

For a more detailed explanation, the way the singular party rules the country often causes them to form a class, a ruling class, at which point they have pretty similar interests to past & future ruling monarchist & capitalist classes. My father likes to say especially about the USSR that they call it a revolution cos the whole thing revolves around & the people on the bottom end up on the top & vice versa.

Near the end of the Soviet Union, many powerful men owned large tracts of land which they kept partially or entirely in the “oddly” peaceful transition to a proper capitalist society. This is to say nothing of the power kept by much of the ruling elite party (for example being Russia’s current president being an ex-KGB spy). In China they have outlawed unions, except of course for the state run unions with the bosses being appointed party members, which, to socialism at least, is a recipe for disaster if not already revisionist.

How to Stop This Revisionism

Don’t do Leninism.

It was created as a way to attempt socialism outside of capitalist environments by retaining the structure of the feudalism they were working off of. It had a good few shots, it did develop the societies it affected. But ultimately it failed at creating & maintaining socialism in those environments & certainly will not succeed in any others.

Luckily, the world, even in many rural areas, is coming to resemble capitalism far stronger than feudalism & Leninism will not even need be considered.