I’ve always felt this way about tankies and the horseshoe theory in general. Conservatism spawned from the “Bourgeoise”; all the religious lords and landowners who profited from, and supported, monarchs and authoritarian rule. Tankie belief systems align with that “bourgeoise” perfectly.

The concept of authoritarian socialism is a contradiction. Without democracy, freedom of thought, and freedom of person — from fear of retribution for wrongthink — the workers never had a say; never “seized” control of anything. Tankies are nothing more than a continuation of the authoritarian rule that came before them. Both Hitler and Trump have said they represent the wprking class. Saying you represent the working class is meaningless. You need to prove it with your actions.

Ultimately tankies are closer to the Tsars, Kings, and colonialism they replaced, than they are to the concept of freedom and equality for the working class. They just want to be the oppressor, and probably believe that communism is the best chance they have to ever be in a position to fulfil that role.