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The mass murder and displacement of Native Americans were undeniably imperialist atrocities committed in the name of expansion and resource acquisition. While these acts were often intertwined with the economic interests of settlers and colonial powers, labeling them purely as capitalist atrocities overlooks the overtly imperial and state-sanctioned policies driving the violence. In contrast, if one wants an example of how capitalist motivations morphed into oppressive systems after formal slavery ended, the convict lease system post–Civil War in the United States is perhaps more directly relevant.

Ultimately, one of the fundamental differences between liberal democracy and communism is the emphasis on individual rights and freedoms. Liberal democracies, at least in principle, protect personal freedoms and encourage pluralism—though they may fall short in practice. Communism, as historically implemented, has often allowed totalitarian governments to intervene in virtually every aspect of life indefinitely, subordinating individual liberty to a perceived “collective” good. While each ideology can be corrupted, the core values of liberal democracy tend toward preserving the individual, whereas many forms of communism have subordinated the individual to the state, often with brutal consequences. Not sure you have rebuked this component in your piece.

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