[pdpi]

Yeah, I wasn't quite clear there. That's what I meant, that Lenin is the one who took the "emergency powers until communism is established" interpretation of "dictatorship of the proletariat", and turned it into "all the powers until forever". But that interpretation is effectively what became synonymous with communism just about everywhere — the USSR, China, Cuba, North Korea... Curiously enough none of the Communist states ever really transitioned from that intermediate state to full communism.

[defrost]

Sure, but

  effectively what became synonymous with communism just about everywhere

is a cultural association, not an actual real "always happens" coupling

  Curiously enough none of the Communist states

sorry, what actual communist states?

  ever really transitioned from that intermediate state to full communism.

of course not, they were all highjacked by opportunistic epaulette wearing authoritarians dangling a dream.

Much as, say, the notions of freedom, fairness, and making central north america great again has been a beard for robber barons.