What counts as defending? Like, if I say I think it’s cool that China has high speed rail, am I a tankie? That’s why I am asking.
As for 196, I try to avoid discussing anything political there except for the most benign and uncontroversial takes possible, because that’s what that community tends to want.
Where do you draw the line between authoritarian and Marxist? What good Marxist movements have existed that don’t count as authoritarian to you? This all seems vibes-based.