"The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."
by:
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
[Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov] (1870 - 1924), First Leader of the Soviet Union
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Pure Communist
 -- thomas, Ringwood     
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     -- manoj, mumbai      
    Lenin was too busy hanging peasants to be able to get around to hanging any capitalists.
     -- David L Rosenthal      
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    Mmmmm, that sounds very familiar David are you sure he hanged peasants I thought that was Stalin
     -- Robert, Sarasota     
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    From what I have been reading, Lenin got the ball rolling, with the inspired creation of the Article 58 conditions that allowed the Soviets to imprison, exile, or execute practically anyone for practically anything. Of course, Stalin made the snowball grow bigger as the Soviet Union rolled downhill. If Lenin had not died so soon, he would have done as well as Stalin did after him. It was not just peasants; they did screw many peasants, but they got around to all kinds of people, including socialists. They were equal opportunity psychopaths.
     -- David L Rosenthal      
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     -- Mike, Norwalk      
    And one of the problems with totalitarian regiemes is that they can't even make their own rope.
     -- EGL, LA     
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    Cars, TVs, food, clothing, etc. ... brought to you by ??? CAPITALISTS -- Everyone is out to make a buck. That's capitalism!
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    Heck... the capitalists have sold King George the rope with which he is hanging us all... give me a Commie any day over a traitor fool like King George... better the devil you know than the "friend" who stabs you in your back while kissing your baby.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    Well, if communist nations like China end up holding a significant share of US bonds and currency then America has truly sold the USA out. Explain to me why America should be the biggest debtor nation instead of the the most propserous free nation on Earth? This quote is too true.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    In answer to E Archer: Just because the country is going broke does not mean those controlling it are. Would they aid in the destruction of the U.S. for their own personal fortune? You betchya! This is one of the few quotes by a communist that rings true.
     -- JC, Queens, NY     
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    The present day Chinese, with their hybrid of a Quasi-Capitalist Economy and a Centralized Communist Regime are a perfect modern embodiment of Lenin's famous quote. "The Capitalist will sell us the Rope that we will hang them with." In essence, American corporations thirst for cheap labor and American consumers with their insatiable demand for Chinese imports, are in fact funding the growth of the Chinese Military. When their first Chinese Super Carrier sails into San Diego Bay, it will be the first War Ship funded by Wal-Mart. The Chinese have patience and very long views of their goals and destiny. Americans live in the moment. One of those philosophies is going to prevail.
     -- Pablo Navarro, Bellingham, Wa.     
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    I believe that totalitarian regime called Nazi Germany had ( with the exception of ABomb) the most advanced technology. Ballistic Missiles, First Jet Fighters, Best Tanks, etc. etc. The problem was the political philosophy that dictated how and when to use them. Oh yes, I seem to recall that the other totalitarian regime, The Soviet Union, was the first to Orbit satellites and a Man, but as above the flaw was in how to utilize those advances without always having to fit into a Doctrine.
     -- Matt, Des Moines     
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    The American consumer does not have insatiable demand for cheap chinese goods, US Corporations have insatiable demands for higher and higher profits. That is why shoes manufactureed for $14 in China sell for $135.00 US Retail. That is not cheap. US corporations want near zero labor costs and through Chinese slave labor, they get it.
     -- Bob, Columbus, OH     
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    Socialism sucks. Always.
     -- Bob, Seaford, DE     
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    We all know where Lenin and the Soviet Union ended up now don't we? Ron Reagan broke the back of communism and won the cold war with CAPITALISM! We out spent the Soviets in nukes and pushed them into bankruptcy. HOWEVER, rarely have democracies survived beyond 200 years. Why do democracies fail? Two of the major reasons are: 1) democracies generally progress through an initial period from bondage to spiritual faith escalating to the point where the citizens become totally dependent on the government to where they eventually revert back to bondage, and 2) once the democracy shows signs of prosperity, citizens vote themselves generous bounties from the public treasury. Does this not sound familiar?
     -- Shawn M, Columbus, OH     
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    Lenin was simply terrorist who get the power over Russian by killing people aroung those days parlement and temporarily government. What kind of statemens you can expect from brutal killer? Petr
     -- Anonymous, Prague     
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    Take from the rich distribute to the poor. Robin Hood economy. Sounds good to me. Screw Stalin for perverting communism into a poor, totalitarian dictatorship with horrible human rights. At least he took hitler down.
     -- anonymous, San Francisco     
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    It is important to examine global capitalism as a historic system instead of the pseudo science status it is given in the Western world. When, in the 600 year history has capitalism provided full employment? An end to homelessness? Poverty? An equitable relationship between the material and the manufactured good? It never has and it never will. That is the view point from which a true Leninst or Trotskyist critiques capitalism. No war between nations. No peace between classes.
     -- David, Las Vegas, NV     
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    Full employment and homelessness is a pipe dream thought up by liberals. A) In any given population there will always be losers and drug addicts B) Not everyone can be the chief, we need some indians too. There has to be someone willing to push a broom at the local High School and there always will be.
     -- Shawn M, Columbus, OH     
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    Fannie, Freddie, Sterns, Aig = Rope . Progressives, liberals, socialists, facists, commies and nazis all start with the same fundamental utopian view of how to make up the world and that road always leads to tyranny. They con the public into believing in their idiotic beliefs in how they can make government fix all problems only to make those problems worse and you give up a piece of your freedom for every solution they come up with.
     -- Scott F, mpls MN     
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    The U.S.Government has embarked on two pieces of social engineering in the last few years. One was to make oil expensive-- as expensive as possible-- to drive people to greater use of alternative energy sources, supposedly, to protect the environment. The other was to enshrine home ownership (i.e., easy-to-obtain mortgages) as a new American right -- because anything less would be unequal and racist. None of us voted on these decisions. Nevertheless, both became national policy. Both have sparked national, now international, crises, not to mention other related catastrophies for the "little" people, like higher food prices via ethanol (notably corn tortillas, a staple for the poor in Mexico, thus adding to the pressure on our border). Then, once they became crises, both were blamed on ‘greedy capitalism’, instead of what they really were: legislative interference into market forces. With government run health care coming up, we are about to buy full-table-in to a Soviet-style command economy. In the meantime, the Russians are aggressively doing the opposite. Pitiful irony. It didn't even take a generation for the Boomers to thus squander the sacrifices of their parents, The Greatest Generation, both Democrats and Republicans, in their heroic winning of the Cold War. Indeed, "The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." (Vladimir Ilyich Lenin 1870 - 1924, First Leader of the Soviet Union) I think we should halt that hangman by voting conservative across the ticket.
     -- Rick Stacy, Architect, El Dorado Hills     
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    This is actually a quote from the communist manifesto by Marx and Engles
     -- Comrade Freedom, Paterson, NJ 1st city of America     
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    Hey egl, la where did you learn to spell? Have the capatilists not sold the rope to the Chinese for the sake of short term profit. Lenin said the surest way to destroy a nation is to debach its currency. Have you looked at the value of our dollar lately? The US dollar was once the the standard the world invested with. Most large multinational investments are now done in EUROS. The USA is bankrupt and heading for its well deserved third world status. We cannot compete in the world market but maybe we can find use for our military by invading some other weak nation. The kids coming from our inner city schools can barely read but at least they can be tought to oppress others.
     -- joesef fitzgerald, manchester     
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    I'm a little confused. Because of our dependancy on China for the goods we are buying off them to keep our economy going, it is like we are buying the rope from the communists that we will use to hang ourselves. I love the quote I just need simpler terms please. Help
     -- David V., Normal,Il.     
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     -- Anonymous      
     -- Jeanne Ringeisen, Vero Beach, Fl.      
    Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Quote: "The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." This quote is very apt today. Free trade with Communist China? - SUICIDAL AND FOOLISH. We are already seeing high unemployment in our manufacturing industries that have been given to the Communist Chinese by our treacherous governments kow-towing to BIG BUSINESS, Multi-National Corporations seeking cheap labour world wide. These countries also have poor human rights records and poor environmental records. No wonder their products are cheap! They are not forced to operate under the same strict rules that our governments impose on us in the West.
     -- Unemployed Factory Worker, OSHAWA     
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    Never was fond of commies anyhow.
     -- Tim Berg, Landskrona, Sweden     
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    I'm sure old Vladdie is spinning in his grave given the recent rise of China as an industrial power and supplier of manufactured goods to the world. In his wildest dreams, Lenin could never imagine that we would first set up the rope factory in a communist country!
     -- MK, Santa Ana, CA     
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     -- DFAvJ, Fort Worth, TX      
    I completely agree.
     -- Ingeborg Hecker, Aalborg, Denmark.     
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    WAY too optimistic. If the capitalist knows you're planning to hang him, he not only won't sell you the rope, he'll attack you with everything he's got.
     -- Steve, Albuquerque     
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    errrr...... don't you have any brains at all ? This has nothing to do with ropes but the theory that states that as investment in constant capital increases productivity (i.e. the margin of surplus labor relative to regular labor, and thus of surplus value relative to variable capital), it reduces the rate of profit (i.e. the ratio of surplus value relative to total capital). The capitalist then responds by investing more in raising productivity or expanding the scale of production, which in turn reduces profits per unit further after a while, and so on and so forth, in a vicious cycle of diminishing returns.
     -- Jehanne, orlean     
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    I find it interesting that most people do not look beyond the results to the real causes. Marxism and Milton Freidman's Moneterist polices are the same in this regard. They are both Utopias and Utopias do not translate into the human community. They do not take into account the foibles of human nature especially the lust for power and control, and the lust to accrue bucket loads of money. The revolution in Russia was inevitable because of the huge suffering inflicted on the people by the "ruling classes" especially after the the repeal of serfdom in 1864, after which the landed classes made rent for land to former serfs for farming was so high the people could simply not afford to be self employed. This approach spread to all manufacturing enterprises and only exacerbated the unrest at such poor treatment , which had, in fact, started with the Decembrists revolt of December 5 (I believe) 1805. But the communists did not learn either, and while communism did provide gender equality, health care, pensions etc. paranoia, betrayal and greed also proliferated. Many politicians, Generals etc. had Swiss bank accounts, Dachas, big houses.apartments and so on. Milton Freidman's moneterism believes in privaterization, de-regulation and goverment so small you can't see it. He believed that the only thing government should be involved is is the military. This is what he sold to Ronnie Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. They embraced it with glee. Remember RR's statement "The problem is not the market, it's the government." or words to that effect. They both put these policies into effect with great vigour, no responsibility and no accountability. The corporate boys were given a free reign and off they went, ending up where we are now. And still these boys are not held accountable. That is the tragedy of Obama. He promised such hope and has not delivered at all. Nor will he. China owns America lock, stock and barrel. China too, is heading for disaster. In fact we all are. Sarah Palin and the Tea Perty offer nothing. They peddle hate of all institutions with no suggested remedies. And if we really wish to be brutally honest, 10% of the people want things to change, 10% do not want things to change and 80% do not care enough to get involved. That is the perplexing tragedy of being human. But, when everything collapses we all will go on a senseless, meaningless, brutal rampage. There is a really good analysis of all these things in Chris Hedges' book "Death of the Liberal Class." So many people uses the terms socialism, liberalism and the like without knowing the first thing about any of them. I think we the people need to take responsibilty and read alot more about history, economics, socialism, liberalism etc. To me, being a decent human being means we don't have people living on the street, everyone earns a reasonable living wage, we tolerate others just we want to be tolerated, we have real justice not a manipulation of the law to meet the requests of the priviledged, that we simply care about others because we are all human beings. We are all born naked and we all die.
     -- Janet C, Kingston     
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    "Lenin got the ball rolling, with the inspired creation of the Article 58 conditions that allowed the Soviets to imprison, exile, or execute practically anyone for practically anything. ." Sounds like the original incarnation of "The Patriot Act"
     -- Jim Kress, Northville     
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    "And in 200 years the Chinese will then sell ropes to someone else who is anxious to hang those at the top." What's my point? My point is: don't worry too much about China's rise and/or future dominance. If it ever happens they'll rest on their laurels at some point and become fat, lazy, internet-porn addicted slobs just like we are.
     -- Andrew, Atlanta     
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    @ Shawn M, Columbus, OH Employment comes and goes, but zero homelessness and the end of poverty are not pipe dreams. There were no homeless in the Soviet Union, infact it was against the law to NOT have a permanent place of residence. Less than 2% of the Cuban population lives below the poverty line. Compared to 14% of Americans who live in poverty and the 80+% of (capitalist/US influenced) Haiti or Dominican Republic. "There must always be someone to push a broom" Right, but how does pushing a broom make one homeless or unemployed?
     -- John, Tampa     
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    It is easy to make a"rope" what is impossible is a fair division of the profit which makes to few buyers(in CHINA), which force the manufacturer to export the unafordable needed goods to other country like USA Which is printing dollars and treasury notes and pay to China.Everyting is working fine till one day! They have work we have goods again till one day!
     -- Horia, Cleveland, OH     
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    The Wall Street financiers who give money to Obama should probably read this quote and think about it.
     -- Sam, New York     
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    Defeating America was an inside job. Our great economic engine is fouled and dying. We gifted the left imported Chinese rope. Thx Vladimir for reminding me.
     -- peter K., FWB, FL     
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    I'd originally heard this quotation as "When we come to hang the capitalists, they'll sell us the rope." Which to my mind is much better worded than this version. If only Lenin had had a few wordsmiths on staff to secure his literary legacy. Maybe he did and they were hanged, too.
     -- Richard, New York     
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    To follow up, according to the Lenin page on Wikiquote Lenin experts contend that Lenin never made this remark. They consider it spurious.
     -- Richard, New York     
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    Check out this link, it's very interesting. http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/comgoals.htm
     -- Jack, Los Angeles     
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    Human development is progressively moving towards a classless society. European economic crisis with Greece as the epicentre of the capitalist leads to no other direction, but one where the rope is hanging its own. If you do not believe on government socialising means of production, just check on the bailout program of many banks across US and Europe. You will realize that the rope is applying
     -- Kotane Andrew Sibongile, Elim-Shirley RSA     
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     -- Reader, Hampton Bays      
    LET THE WORLD CONFRONT CAPITALISM CRISIS AND TRULY AMERICANS (US) IS BUSYING FIGHTING FIRE TO AVOID CRISIS FROM ONE ANOTHER (FISCAS CLIFF) IS A CHAIN OF THEM. CAPITLAIMS IS A RECYCLED FINISHED SYSTEM AND SOCIALISM IS THE FUTURE
     -- Kotane Andrew, MALAMULELE     
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    Capitalism, like the term "assault weapon" has been bastardized to suit an agenda. What people are trying to say is "Cronyism" - government in bed with business. THAT is what has to stop! Government has NO place in business. And who are these capitalists that everyone has (hysterically) come to despise? The Butcher? The Baker? The Candlestick Maker?
    The average everyday person who set up a business and provided jobs by risking their own money and talent? Are these the people you would tear down? And of course there are the truly uninformed who think that somehow socialism will replace free enterprise as an economy builder...nope.
    Socialism is a parasite that can not support itself.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    The Official List of Companies Fighting For Our Rights

    LaRue Tactical
    Updated Policy for State and Local Agency Law Enforcement Sales:

    Due to the recent and numerous new Anti-gun/Anti-2nd Amendment laws passed and/or pending across our country, LaRue Tactical has been forced to reconsider how we provide products to state and local agencies.

    Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

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    We realize this effort will have an impact on this firm's sales - and have decided the lost sales are less danger to this firm than potential lawsuits from erroneous shipments generated by something as simple as human error.

    Thanks in advance for your understanding.
    Mark LaRue

    Midway USA
    Currently, there are several parts of the country that have restrictions on civilian ownership of certain magazines or types of ammunition. Sometimes it is entire states and sometimes local municipalities pass these regulations, which I consider unconstitutional. At any rate, when we encounter these situations it has always been our policy not to sell to anyone in these areas, regardless of what law enforcement or government credentials they offer up. If the laws change and all law abiding citizens can buy these products we would be happy to sell to Law Enforcement, but not before then. Thanks for taking the time to be involved. I wish all firearms would follow your lead.
    On Behalf of Larry, Thanks For Your Business,
    Eric Ellingson
    Contact Center Supervisor
    MidwayUSA
    NRA Endowment Member

    Olympic Arms
    Due the passing of this legislation, Olympic Arms would like to announce that the State of New York, any Law Enforcement Departments, Law Enforcement Officers, First Responders within the State of New York, or any New York State government entity or employee of such an entity will no longer be served as customers

    Old Grouch's Military Surplus
    I just cancelled all my pending orders from NY LE agencies
    Granted it was only two, but I just sent both emails telling them that from this point forward my company would not sell anything to any branch of NY State government or any LE agency or municipality in NY.

    I encourage all other business owners in this industry to do the same.

    It would be great if Bloomberg couldn't get ammo for NYPD to qualify with.
    Tier One Arms
    In light of the recent legislation in the state of New York to restrict the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms, Tier One Arms will no longer conduct any business with New York law enforcement. While we admit that our decision reflects merely a small drop in the ocean of dealers and manufacturers who deal with New York law enforcement, we have chosen it nonetheless based on principal which stems from our love for liberty and our determination to do anything possible to uphold and protect the Second Amendment.

    Sincerely,

    Kevin
    President,
    Tier One Arms

    York Arms
    Based on the recent legislation in New York, we are prohibited from selling rifles and receivers to residents of New York. We have chosen to extend that prohibition to all governmental agencies associated with or located within New York. As a result we have halted sales of rifles, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, machine guns, and silencers to New York governmental agencies. For "civilian" customers residing in New York:
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    For LE/Govt customers in New York: Your orders have been cancelled.


    Cheaper Than Dirt (also donated 100K to the Second Amendment Foundation)
    CHEAPER THAN DIRT SUPPORTS CITIZENS' 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

    Recently companies such as LaRue Tactical and Olympic Arms announced they will no longer sell prohibited items to government agencies and personnel in states denying civilians to own those same items. It has been and will continue to be Cheaper Than Dirt's policy not to sell prohibited items to government agencies and agents in states, counties, cities and municipalities that have enacted restrictive gun control laws against their citizens. We support and encourage other companies that share in this sentiment

    Extreme Firepower Inc
    The Federal Government and several states have enacted gun control laws that restrict the public from owning and possessing certain types of firearms. Law-enforcement agencies are typically exempt from these restrictions. EFI, LLC does not recognize law-enforcement exemptions to local, state, and federal gun control laws. If a product that we manufacture is not legal for a private citizen to own in a jurisdiction, we will not sell that product to a law-enforcement agency in that jurisdiction.

    Templar Custom, Inc.
    We will not sell arms to agents of the state of New York that hold themselves to be "more equal" than their citizens.

    As long as the legislators of New York think they have the power to limit the rights of their citizens, in defiance of the Constitution, we at Templar will not sell them firearms to enforce their edicts.

    Templar Custom is announcing that the State of New York, any Law Enforcement Departments, Law Enforcement Officers, First Responders within the State of New York, or any New York State government entity or employee will no longer be served as customers.
     -- Ron, Colorado     
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    That's awesome Ron, thanks for the post.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    In general I like the discussion taking place here. I think the incessant borrowing of money by America should also be addressed since the borrower is servant to the lender. I don't think the ideal of capitalism is to borrow yourself into oblivion. China cannot destroy us without destroying itself, (at least for now) but, someday that will change. I do think that China, given the chance, would not hesitate to take us over and control us both within as well as without. One more thing that history teaches us - any nation long engaged in war spends itself into total destruction. Are those responsible for the peace and well being of a nation seeking to destroy it to serve their own greedy goals? Absolutely. Globalism is the future of the world and whatever needs to happen to further that cause will eventually happen. Those who are in power now view people as expendable carbon containers.
     -- Andy, Clearwater, FL     
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    Lenin just got the timing wrong, change a couple of words: Capitalists to USA, us (communist) to China.
     -- Pete, Switzerland     
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    Not a real quote. The real quote is:

    They will furnish credits which will serve us for the support of the Communist Party in their countries and, by supplying us materials and technical equipment which we lack, will restore our military industry necessary for our future attacks against our suppliers. To put it in other words, they will work on the preparation of their own suicide.
     -- Marcus, Somerville, MA     
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     -- jj      
    Lenin never used this phrase, ever. Not in his writings, not in his speeches. It is British-American saying
    "Give him enough rope and hell hang himself" that somehow got attributed to Lenin. Shame on you for using unconfirmed quote.
     -- Anonymous, Florida     
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     -- Melanie, Antioch, CA      
    The only good capitalist is a good and dead capitalist.
     -- America Stewart, Philadelphia     
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    CLASSIC! One word: CHINA. Vlad was right??
     -- Jon Eblok, Boca Raton     
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    BRICS is borrowing to hang IMF, World Bank and Germany Financial Terrorism
     -- Kotane Andrew, Elim-Shirley     
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    1. This comment about capitalists and rope cannot be found in anything Lenin ever wrote, or any report of anything he ever said. It is ignorant or dishonest to pretend he said it.
    2. There is a lot of similarly untrue material in this thread. For example, one person claims the statement is in the Communist Manifesto. It is not. It takes less than 2 minutes to find the Communist Manifesto online and do a word search. Are people on this thread lazy, or just dishonest?
     -- BGD, San Diego     
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