Did Lenin have the Democratic Party in mind when he coined the term "useful idiots" ?

Question

Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement, reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam.

Sheer ignorance is a tempting explanation for the persistent willingness of the free to attack the foundations of their own freedom. Totalitarian societies are masters of disinformation and propaganda. How many generations of starry-eyed Western leftists made pilgrimages to the old USSR to gawk at any number of Potemkin villages and other cardboard-and-tinsel stage-sets for the socialist paradise?

Anti-Americanism was a central tenet of that old-time Marxist religion. This doctrine knows the font of evil in the world — the West and especially America — whose deadly sins of "imperialism" and "colonialism" and "racism" have created a fallen world of suffering and exploitation, a world whose redemption depends on battling the power and influence of the wicked militarists and global capitalists. Or as one sign from last week's "anti-war" rally in New York succinctly put it, "Bush is a Devil." America is guilty and must atone for its sins by abandoning its power and pouring vast sums of money into its Third World victims, for only then will the golden age of peace, equality, and universal tolerance come about.

Answer 1

As a former Democrat, I would agree with the first post. No, Lenin did not have U.S. politics in mind, but his statement is appropriate for today. The U.S. Democratic Party has abandoned it's principles and become about nothing but personal autonomy. While we are at war in Iraq, there is a more important war raging within this country. That is the culture war. This country is fighting for its soul and we are about to go the way of post-modern, post-Christian Europe.

Answer 2

Didn't you answer your own question?

Yes that's what he was referring to...

I am assuming you are for the current president of the U.S? Though I don't know.

I hate to sound ignorant, it's just I had to read through your question 3x to fully understand it and walked away feeling like I still hadn't. I can't help but feel you did this on purpose. Quoting you "Sheer ignorance is a tempting explanation for the persistent willingness of the free to attack the foundations of there own freedom." Are you in more simple terms stating stupidity is to blame?

Just curious?

Answer 3

Lenin only had in mind his own Bolshevik Revolution and to overthrow the Russian Czarist government. Again, if it wasn't for American involvement in WWI, much of the Russian empire, including Lenin, would have been speaking German. In fact, he had respect for Woodrow Wilson (A Democratic Party President) who proposed the League of Nations to settle world problems. If you are trying to tie in today's Democrats with Lenin, I don't think the corrolation is there. Democrats are the same as Republicans, we share the same patriotic fervor, love for the flag, love of community, family, friends, and peace and justice. It is an injustice to compare Democrats to being communists or even "leftists". That like calling Republicans "nazis" or "facists". Sheer ignorance? Your rhetoric is baseless, at best.

Answer 4

Lenin was so much against the American Democrats who love freedom. Lenin wanted a society where everybody is equal and all the money goes to government. People will just work and their money used by the state to buy what they only need as necessaries. It was an ideal society that there is no capitalism.

Answer 5

The short answer is No. But that's only because Lenin wasn't interested in US politics. Today, it would be appropriate. There is a war on, and we can choose either to win, or to lose. The enemy has repeatedly stated that it believes, and relies on, the unwillingness of the US to fight for what it believes in. It appears that they are right.

Answer 6

fairly. those are precisely the kinds that fall for communism, it is extremely fascism wrapped in empty supplies of spreading the wealth. the subsequent component they recognize, they're compelled to artwork in some production facility for a loaf of bread an afternoon, and presented to a firing squad in the experience that they dare attempt to strike. All this has been achieved in the previous yet some all and sundry is only incapable of studying from heritage. useful idots in different words.

Answer 7

He had fundamentalist of all types in mind. People who replace common sense with dogma. The act without thinking, the are easily control. They require no evidence to act of their emotions. So they are useful to a power monger, but they are indeed idiots. This sounds like Bush and his " ask no questions of our government" followers. It is not Un-American to question a president. It is Un-American to sit back and do nothing when you see evil being done in the name of patriotism

Answer 8

If you could split-sceen your monitor and put the 45 goals of the communist party on one side and the liberal agenda on the other, it would read almost the same.

Answer 9

the terrorists never thought their crude efforts would work so well. no wonder there hasn't been an attack since 9/11. the left has been doing their job since the first american died in afghanistan.

Answer 10

Your name states stupid Marxist and I bet you are way religious knowing that he stated that religion is opiate of all people...You have a lot of ideas,yet your vulgarity and ignorance towards others astounds myself and most others...I hope your not this way in public...Have a good night...Tom Science 4