Egalitarian ideals are very new compared to Christianity

Run that one by Jesus and I think he’d be surprised

No one is buying your bullshit. If you have a more informed opinion besides Communism Bad, let’s hear it.

If you have a more informed opinion besides Communism Bad, let’s hear it.

So you haven’t actually read about the topic. You just have a vague notion of “Communism Bad” that no one around you has ever seriously questioned. When a specific topic (career choice) comes up, you feel free to make up negative claims that reinforce Communism Bad instead of putting in the work to have an informed opinion (or simply acknowledging that you don’t know!). You couple this with thought-terminating cliches (whataboutism!) to avoid anything that might upset the conclusion you’ve already reached – Communism Bad.

I brought up the comparison of career choice under capitalism because the fundamental question is which political system is better.

…you actually believe the USSR was executing… someone… if a particular woman didn’t get a science degree?

I think you just made that up.

Besides, living standards and life expectancy in the former USSR are just now recovering back to levels they were at when the USSR broke up. It makes complete sense why people would look at the last 30 years and conclude things were better before.

How do you think unnecessary deaths and imprisonment in the Soviet Union were related to its egalitarian approach to education?

bolshevik states aren’t famous for freedom of career choice

What is your basis for this opinion? Have you read any books, articles, or interviews on this topic?

And how much career choice do I have, really, under capitalism? Tons of jobs don’t even pay a subsistence wage, to say nothing of a wage that would let someone do basic things like own a home and raise a family. A bunch of other career paths are blocked by various types of non-merit barriers. If you do find a job that pays decently, you have very little control over the actual work and can usually be re-assigned to a different task with no recourse.

1. Vaguely hates communism because that’s been the western cultural norm for the last century
2. Decides to talk to some people who have actually lived under communism; every single one confirms that your view of communism is wildly inaccurate and states their preference for communism
3. Goes back to hating communism anyway because both sides or something

forcing Japan into an unconditional surrender, instead of conditional

And this part didn’t even work – the big Japanese demand was keeping the Emperor, and they were allowed to keep him.

An organization that would not have existed without U.S. support.

they could just go awol or force their resignation and go to jail

“I’m going to invade another country instead of going to jail” is not a sympathetic choice.

If I grew up poor and joined a gang because I didn’t have a lot of good options, how much slack should I get for killing someone?

The answer isn’t zero, but it’s also not “these innocent troops were forced to do horrible things and none of it is on them.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Strategic_Bombing_Survey

The report also concluded that: “Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts, and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey’s opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated.”

Objectively

The US uses economic coercion to force poor kids into joining.

A pretty clear parallel is joining a gang because you don’t have a lot of other economic opportunity. While it’s a decent argument for lighter treatment, it’s not a defense to actually committing crimes.

If you want a nuanced discussion, start with explaining exactly how guilty different members of the U.S. military are when the military has a long history of committing atrocities, and since the 70s all members have signed up willingly.

If I were to willingly join the mob, how clean are my hands if I just drive guys around, or just patch them up after they’re shot?

When have U.S. troops fought against imperialism?

And if you’re hanging your hat on (reluctantly) being on the right side of one war 80 years ago, it’s time for a hard look in the mirror.