Is it possible to make a GOOD Communism?

[Nat Turner]

I think Communism is terrible in theory and in practice, but I'd like to see what you guys have to say.

 

[Kamikazie]

why?...

 

[SimonomiS]

I think theres a grammatical error in the thread title, and shouldn't this be in politics?

communism

n 1: a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership 2: a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society

 

[xLostx]

I am communism.

 

[Dan]

I'll trade you 5 communism for a democracy

 

[Dan]

above was just to make light of the use of "a communism" in the title. But seriously, communism is just the idea of working together. Like a commune (minus the vegan, lesbian, nudist connotation that modern day communes seem to have). You see it everywhere in small clans and tribes and any kind of group decision making. Sure one person might yield some greater influence, but if everyone else is opposed to doing something, then the group can't do that.

The problem is trying to enact that same natural form of governance on a larger scale where not everyone is in contact with everyone else. Communist Russia was only really communist for a short while after it's conception. It quickly just became a totalitarian state. Although that wasn't necessarily a bad thing (for Russia) because it allowed the government to mobilize almost every aspect of the country, transforming it from basically a peasant economy to an industrial super power in a few short decades.

As for how communism might actually work. I dunno, because it would have to be extremely organized. Although I feel that if established it would have the potential to last a long time. Maybe for good ideas look to the socialist leanings of Scandinavia. Norway, fueled by a nationalized oil industry, is one of the top countries to live in in the World. The government basically takes care of everyone.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

One of my buddies is a commie dictator! Hell yeah!

 

[15357]

The theory of everyone being equal is great, but economy = bad.


So, the socialist part of communism should be taken out and used, while the economic part of it thrown away.

 

[OvA]

I'll work hard to make my own money, and decide myself how to spend it. Government's job is to ensure my natural rights, not tax me 80% and spoon feed me. Capitalism ftw

 

[Adabiviak]

Any socio/economic system will work if you can convince everyone that it's a good idea. If you can sell communism to everyone involved, it'll do great. The problem is that it's been a tough sell and apparently has been poorly attempted, well, every time. lol

 

[Septih]

People are selfish, which means that it could never work. The majority of people aren't going to be scientists or historians, etc just for the good of the country when they can get the same benefits for easier jobs.

 

[kirovman]

In Soviet Russia, GOOD Communism make you!



I think some of the principles of socialism can be used, such as National Health Service for example, but I think the economy in general should be free market.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

People who say communism works in theory don't understand the theory of communism.

 

[ComradeBadger]

People who say communism works in theory don't understand the theory of communism.

Yup.



Moved.

 

[J_Tweedy]

People who say communism can only work in theory, because its 'human nature to want to progress as an individual, make money .etc' are missing the point. It just shows how ingrained the liberal idea of the individual, consumersim and capitalism are in our society. Communism can work, its just a real 'step outside the box' look at how we work.

Also the rise of science and technology bringing more 'proof' to the fact that we only live once and must therefore cherish this one life doesn't help Communism. Any other movement other than capitalism and liberalism, says that there is a better life after this one worth looking foward to. Now its so hard to believe for us, we will never give up the chance to further ourselves and step out of the comfort zone.

 

[ComradeBadger]

If we still lived in a primarily industrialised society, it would work.

It's outmoded and outdated - that's not to say that we can't take something from it

 

[kirovman]

Communism fails to understand human psychology, and about how competitativeness is healthy.

Also, I think Communism would work fine if it were enforced by robotic overlord masters. But not by humans.

 

[Sulkdodds]

It's a bit nasty to its very core, isn't it? Force everyone to be equal. But you need someone to force everyone to be equal. Thus, the forcer is above everyone else.

 

[kirovman]

It's a bit nasty to its very core, isn't it? Force everyone to be equal. But you need someone to force everyone to be equal. Thus, the forcer is above everyone else.

Yep, I don't want to be equal. I want variety, and I want to have the ability to better myself, to achieve more.

And not pledging alliegiance to some phoney-baloney style of government.

 

[HunterSeeker]

True Communism can only work if everyone involved wants it to work.

 

[Feath]

Communists are annoying.

 

[Flyingdebris]

instead of allowing class differences, lets make everyone mediocre and give them no real incentive to do anything, oh and of course they have to be shepherded by a ruling communist elite

screw that.

I mean sure, communism is great for every joe hobo or welfare check cashing fat lady with 30+ kids, but everyone that actually works for their money or had a great idea, or finally after many years of hard work appropriated his/her life long dream, gets knocked down a peg or 5 all in the name of envy.

 

[The Monkey]

Communism expects everyone to cooperate, that's not the world we're living in. In communism the state doesn't exist. Everyone owns everything and everything is being made by the collective mass. A quick look at today's world you can clearly see that such system cannot work.

 

[ríomhaire]

No ecomomy will ever be perfect. At least not the way we think of an economy.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Communists are annoying.

Tell me about it. We had one give us a talk in Politics class:

CLASS: So you think all fascist and racist groups should be banned?

COMMIE: Yes, because they're enforcing their views on other people.

Later...

CLASS: So anybody that disagrees with you needs to be opressed?

COMMIE: Exactly.

:dozey:

 

[ríomhaire]

I had quite an interesting debate with a comunist once.

 

[kirovman]

Tell me about it. We had one give us a talk in Politics class:

CLASS: So you think all fascist and racist groups should be banned?

COMMIE: Yes, because they're enforcing their views on other people.

Later...

CLASS: So anybody that disagrees with you needs to be opressed?

COMMIE: Exactly.

:dozey:

I didn't take politics A-Level, because I knew exactly what kind of people would be taking it. All of the people who think "I'm so cool, I'm doing politics, init?" and all the people who thought communism was cool too.

I was right as well.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Yeah, you were. Of course there are a few sane people (including me) who are taking it because they find it interesting or whatever. It's not as bad as Psychology and Philosphy - those more attract the kind of people you're thinking of. :x

 

[Solaris]

Of course commusism works.

It just needs to be an international movement. Its not about forcing anyone to be equal, it about equal oppertunities.

 

[J_Tweedy]

Communism fails to understand human psychology, and about how competitativeness is healthy.

Also, I think Communism would work fine if it were enforced by robotic overlord masters. But not by humans.

Thats what i meant before. You're right, but competitiveness is a MODERN IDEA. Its and idea that is not necessarilly human nature, but is now ingrained. You're wrong that it fails to understand human psychology, it is just incompatible with what we have now.

 

[The Mullinator]

I would prefer a communist system minus the totaltarian government that has a very good economy over an equivalant capitalist system.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

True Communism can only work if everyone involved wants it to work.

Yeah, cannot work on a government level.

What's interesting is communism within capitalism, essentially becoming a strong part due to capitalist freedoms. For example, a group of 20 or so people who all agree with sharing/distributing all income and such from jobs, pitching in together. This shows how like you said- they all want to do it, it doesn't require any forcing.

Once ONE person within does not want to, the system fails and becomes opressive- they have to stifle, imprison, or lock down the one who will begin selling service or commodity as capitalism. One. In a government of millions, you'll always have at the very least one.

 

[Teta_Bonita]

Of course commusism works.

It just needs to be an international movement. Its not about forcing anyone to be equal, it about equal oppertunities.

No, communism gives you no oppertunity at all. Everyone is forced to be the same, there is no chance to work harder and rise above the rest.
Capitalism, however, is about equal oppertunities. Communism is about equal outcomes.

 

[The Monkey]

One of the main arguements against planned economy is that all media would be run by the government. Without a free media people only get their information from the state and democracy cease to exist. In other words, it's impossible to run a true democracy in a fully communist state.

 

[Solaris]

No, communism gives you no oppertunity at all. Everyone is forced to be the same, there is no chance to work harder and rise above the rest.
Capitalism, however, is about equal oppertunities. Communism is about equal outcomes.

I hate it when capitalists tell communists when communism is.

Its lies.

No-one is forced to be the same, just no-one is allowed a better life at the cost of others. It depends what you mean by rise above the rest, if you mean be more knowledgeable, then communism allows that, if you mean get richer, then communism doesnt support that.

You are greedy, your problem with communism is that it doesnt let you live a better life than other people. Tell me, why the hell should you? The only way to get rich under capitalism is at the cost of others. Its like a piramid, becuase all the wealth is earned from surplus value.

For every rich person you need two poor people(not exact here just the general theory.)

 

[Flyingdebris]

and yet the same thing happens under communism. Only instead of the rich people you hate so much, you have the government elites.

Another thing about communism, it makes people easier to control. When the government gives you everything, thay can do whatever the hell they want. At least under a free market democaratic society its a bit harder for a government to reach in and directly meddle with your life.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Capitalism, however, is about equal oppertunities.

Actually, no - capitalism is pretty much fundamentally structured around inequality.

Of course that's not to say that with capitalism there necessarily have to be millions of horribly underpaid workers who live in horrible conditions. Do it right and the lowest rung of the ladder could be pretty well off anyway, surely?

 

[kirovman]

Thats what i meant before. You're right, but competitiveness is a MODERN IDEA. Its and idea that is not necessarilly human nature, but is now ingrained. You're wrong that it fails to understand human psychology, it is just incompatible with what we have now.

Competativeness is in our very nature. It exists within animal groups, as stronger animals kill the prey, and the weakest do not get the reward.

Within the human world, this has evolved into competative wars and competative killing.

What capitalism has allowed us to do is be competative in non-violent ways. Which is better, don't you think?

In nature, if you're not competative, you'll die.

So communism goes against all of that. It requires people to be willing to do everything for the state.
Well most people say screw that. I'll do things for myself. If I can help the needy or less fortunate, fine I'll pay extra taxes, I'll even help them by feeding or clothing, because I'm not a bad person. I'll be willing to support certain socialist aspects, like a national health service or a welfare system. I don't want to be limited by the state though. Communism promotes (maybe not intentionally) mediocreness rather than advancement. IMO.

 

[Teta_Bonita]

You are greedy, your problem with communism is that it doesnt let you live a better life than other people. Tell me, why the hell should you?

If you worked harder for a better life, you deserve it.

Actually, no - capitalism is pretty much fundamentally structured around inequality.

Capitalism is based on free market, which allows equal (well, almost equal ) economic oppertunities for induviduals. If there were no fate/luck/karma/whatever you can be whatever you want to be if you work hard enough for it.

 

[ríomhaire]

If you worked harder for a better life, you deserve it.


Capitalism is based on free market, which allows equal (well, almost equal ) economic oppertunities for induviduals. If there were no fate/luck/karma/whatever you can be whatever you want to be if you work hard enough for it.

Communisim is e based around equality, capitalism is based off rich people expoiting poor people.