Now, the first thing I want to learn is, "What the hell did you just say?"

And, your 'avatar' looks vaguely pornographic. What exactly is it?

But I got so curious I checked Jackpine's profile. It looks like a state shape to me. What were you thinking?

Our group is Socialist Progressives. Welcome - here are our posting rules:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1024881

Welcome to the Socialist Progressives Group. Posts in this group should generally be supportive of socialism and socialists. We are largely anti-capitalist and will not tolerate red-baiting. We welcome leftists of all persuasion as allowed per the admin's TOS. Democratic (ballot box) socialism, revolutionary socialism, Syndicalists and autonomists are all ok. Pure black flag (as opposed to red/black) anarchists who would rather organize with any anarchist than socialists, including anarcho-capitalists and libertarians, will not be welcome. If you don't know what kind of anarchist you are, cool, so long as you don't hijack and red-bait. This includes no "you're a dictator-lover" if you support the Russian Revolution. CPUSA members, please chime in.

Social Democrats are welcome with the explanation that if someone believes in "regulated" capitalism and social programs, they're a Keynesian, not a socialist. We welcome your questions as long as you're pleasant and don't red bait or shift the discussion away from socialism. You'll find many of us support Obama and his re-election given our two-party system, but this is not the forum to talk about the intricacies of elections - see Politics 2012 for those conversations. We are more concerned with safe-guarding the working class gains we've made in this country thus far and encouraging the peaceful transition to socialism. Please no Trotsky or Stalin baiting, we've all seen it fracture groups and do not want to fight that battle again.

"Oh" on the avatar.

It is the "bath in cortisol and epinephrine" I don't understand?

What does that mean?

to read GD and I agree.

to fear, rage & general fight-or-flight situations.

Thank you.

thanks for saving me a google search on the names and definition of those terms.

I appreciate this place and our folks too.

Sometimes I like to mix it up, but I find the longer I've been here, the less verve I have for arguing with people who don't see the inherent inequality in capitalism.

I get that people don't want to see things like nationalized hot dog stands in a Socialist USA, but the hysterical defense of a system that has plunged so many people into precarious circumstances, so much so in just the last few years, baffles me.

Like the picture of the day on DU says today:

I saw a bookstore or club (don't really recall) asking folks to name the book that has influenced them the most in their life. My answer is the Communist Manifesto. As a teen you naturally question the authority figures around you and no one answered my questions as well as Marx.

But as soon as I had finished it, I felt like a huge window had opened in my brain. Things that had always bothered me were explained, and new things that I felt were problematic (like privatization of public education) made (horrible) sense. I had words to describe what was going on.

nor have I read das kapital, but you know.. I think i've absorbed essential points in the 4 /5 decades vis a vis people I've been drawn to most of my adult life. I think.. lol..

let's just put it this way, even though I have never read these books, I've past numerous tests , I think I've been awarded an honorary degree once or twice..

and it's free here: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/

Not necessarily an easy read, but easier than some. We discussed it in group last year as part of an ongoing "educational" series of the classic documents in Marxism and Trotskyism.

Now the volumes of "Capital"? Those are a totally different animal. It's best, IMO, to find some interpreters for Marxist economics who can break it down into easily digested bits. I like Michael Roberts myself.

I appreciate all of my peeps and comrades here, so very much.