Can Communism Ever Work?

Communism can work in small groups so long as it is completely voluntary and members of the group can leave at any time they see fit. If any coercion is involved then, no, it can't work.

 

So are you saying capitalism is voluntary? Are you saying that if you don't have a job, you won't starve and you'll have access to good education and medical care?

'Freedom' can also be defined as not having to worry about paying for these things-- things that you really do need in order to prosper. I'm not saying communism is perfect, just that it makes zero sense to argue that it's flawed because it isn't capitalism, which is what a lot of people here seem to be saying.

You say you're entitled to 'wealth' because you 'earned' it-- so you really think that Michael Jordan is entitled to his millions because he can throw a fucking orange ball into a hole??? Or fucking Paris Hilton is entitled to her millions because she's convinced millions of teenage girls that being a spoiled stupid whore is a worthwhile ambition? 'Earn' has nothing to do with it-- these people are rich because they exploit the basest most pathetic dimensions of the human condition-- the need to be entertained, dazzled, and to have your brain sink into a comfortable, bewildered stupor.

If you believe in people, they will achieve-- if you expect more of them, they will deliver. If you give them a reason to feel important, they will feel important. All that capitalism really offers is selfishness, envy and hierarchy.

I'm not saying it's all bad, just that it's not as good as true communism.

 

Jordan earned his money. I'm sure he spent many hours practicing basketball before he was great. Paris earns her's too, but she's had a boost from her family money. It sounds like you're saying entertainers don't earn their money. What about doctors and lawyers?

 

capitalism works. just ask the 1 million vietnamese, and 1 million koreans murdered by capitalist u.s. troops.

more reason to believe capitalism works- communist china gdp growth +8%. capitalist germany gdp growth -5%

 

Communism puts everyone on the same level.. blue collar, white collar. There is no motivation to work when economic freedom is taken away. Small groups possibly, a country with different ethnic and economic groups, no.

 

We people and government can learn to save, grow and spark new ideas then society can protect itself for the future abroad. In China 1.3 Billion human ants work to have a better life, a better future. Is western influence simply to have a dream life of luxery a key part of Chinese success? Communism is the future of roughly a quarter of the world population, it may influence developing nations that have failed to structure economy. If we think of the past communists like the soviets, they influenced other countries upon a bases of the failing soviets. China sees the future upon being a large influence in world affairs and innovation. Theres a risk of the Chinese of having a large military buildup, but haven't we been there all before? It seems like the only thing to worry about in the world is people choosing to kill others for spiritual or psychotic reasons. The world may be finished with the world wars for now, people learn from there actions. China lived through war and famine, imperalism is probably not a keen interest in the country that just surpassed the economy of Japan. GDP in China is second to the U.S. but there is an average income in China of merely $4000. Although people are poor there are dozens of Chinese billionares, and millionaires, motivation leads to success and Communist China has opportunity, maybe it doesnt fail? for now

 

Everyone needs to understand that Communism is a form of anarchy. While Marx's progression does call for revolution and the establishment of a totalitarian government, the next step is to dissolve this government once it has fufilled its task. Communism has worked in the past. Many communities thrive in a communal structure, such as the Amish. As long as the participants are willing, communism works almost perfectly.

Another thing to address is whether humans need monetary reward to be motivated. While it has been observed that monetary reward boosts motivation and competence in tasks of a mechanical nature, there is an interesting study I read that I want to address. When people were offered a monetary reward, it actually impaired their ability to complete tasks that required intuition and user-input. Communism then seems to support more independent thinking rather than the machine-like mundane that is supported by capitalism.

 

The amish among others are the exception though, not the norm. You have a small group of people all with similar life philosophy and goals in mind. Communism can always work on a small scale like a town, but even then it requires everyone to be of similar mindset, not to mention a generally more simplistic life where communal work can be shared by almost everyone.

 

It can work but not very well.

 

Yeah, I agree with everything you said. What's wrong with that? Although I do disagree that it can only work on a small scale. Cuba is a good example of a fairly well-to-do communist nation.

 

Uh, Cuba is not well to do at all, there's a reason people brave the ocean for 90 miles to get to the US. This is why the economy near imploded when subsidies from the Soviet Union dried up. Raul Castro announced the layoff of 1 million state employees in an effort to jump start the morbid economy by the end of next year. A pretty large number for a nation of only 11 million.

 

You're right. Well to do is definitely extrem e. Cuban citizens do have access to a good education though, something most Americans lack. Cuba has some serious issues, but the government has maintained itself for over half a decade now. While I would hate to live there, because there is virtually no political freedom, it's not the stinking hell-pit it is portrayed as.

 

The African Bushmen and perhaps some indigenous tribes in the Amazon can make it work, but a modern society cannot. If you define Communism as a two class society, ruling and ruled, only then can you make a case for it being "made" to appear to work. The Socialism stage along the way to Communism appears to be the stumbling block as moving from a classed society toward a classless society requires relentless oppression by an authority with limitless power, which allows the creation of a class that ultimately will not cede their power.

Communism, Socialism, Marxism, Liberalism, and Progressivism are all forms of regressive philosophies from which we have evolved. A classless society would have to be one without government, where no one held power above another. Those days are long gone.

Capitalism is the progressive direction, which allows individualism and growth to occur. While many may have difficulty keeping up, devolution is not the answer.

 

The real question is can capitalism work? And I believe it can not! It is based upon so many assumptions that have been disproven, such as rational market and consumers. If consumers were rational they would overthrow the capitalist class. It would be for their own self interest.

 

Communism is an unachievable philosophy that has never been achieved on a large scale. To begin with ALL possessions and wealth would have to be given up. No one could be allowed to accumulate anything at all as if that were allowed it would create the source of inequality. Essentially, life would be lived one day at a time, nothing set aside for a rainy day. Existence, and bare essentials would be the norm for all, including any government workers if it were to be true communism.
Most who promote communism are in reality promoting a form of Marxist socialism, where the ruled class are made more or less equal. The ruling class is another story as they would have little power to exercise authority over the ruled if they were equals, not to mention the fact that there will always be those among the ruled who wish to ascend to the ruling class.
Don't believe me, try finding some small populated, but isolated area of the U.S. that possesses the resources to be self sustaining and allow them to attempt to exercise Communism as the form of local government, and see how long they last before they give it up.
Theoretically it sounds good, but put into practice it quickly displays its inadequacies to maintain acceptability.

 

I fervently believe that now that we are in the era of automation and computers we can efficiently run a centrally planned socialist economy resulting in abundance of goods with high qualities. The defense sector of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Russia came up with technology that exceeded even the expectations of US military. So much more with consumer goods if they were aware of it...Long live Lenin! Long llive Castro!! and the only socialist paradise in the world, Cuba!!

 

Why are people not flocking to the Socialist paradises instead of trying to get into the U.S.?

 

What?

 

Or does it??????????????? I live in california and it sure does not look like it works

 

Yes, capitalism is voluntary, and you can always plant your own or scavenge for food, read books at the library, and use the hospital emergency room.

Your definition is not of "freedom" but only of "free".

Everyone is entitled to what they can convince others to give them or pay them.

Go out and achieve, then people will believe in you, and the more you deliver the more you might earn. Feeling important is not the same as demonstrating that you are important. Capitalism offers opportunities to those who look for them, but does not guarantee success. Success is viewed as greed by those who allow their failures to result in envy.

You should create your own commune and practice "true communism" it's been tried before, but ultimately fails.