Ask a Communist

[Slax]

Why has true communism never been implemented. We refer to communist states, but the reality is they are just a form of imperial government with a ruling class that removes itself from the working class.

 

[Todman]

Exactly.

I wonder if you read any of Henry George.

 

[little graham]

In Australia studies show that the mentally ill are more likely to die 15-35 years younger than the general population as a result of not receiving health treatment that could of reversed their cause of death. If its true that you only judge a society by the way it treats its most vulnerable. In Cuba would studies show the same disgusting circumstances and indictment on our non communist society?

 

[The Coup]

I just thought I'd provide an analysis of the structure of the thread title, and of communists themselves, instead. Seeing you are the expert on this, and you have chosen not to disagree with my analysis, I'll assume it is accurate.

This is meant as no reflection upon you as a person, I'm just surprised that you would so blithely categorise yourself in such a way. It is so radically at odds with the way I have previously perceived (and enjoyed) your thinking.

Well, being a Communist is just an economic opinion. It's not an identity. I just quite literally disagree with the concept of authority from afar (whether in distance or power or money) dictating how regular people live and work (and regularly victimising them for an even bigger share of the pie).

I was an avowed capitalist for many years, I was reading the herald sun and watching ACA. I worked in banking for a long time and was disgusted by the events leading up to the GFC (which I personally benefited from). Started reading more, looking more critically at the things I believed and my opinion is that people should receive the bulk of the fruits of their labour (but more importantly, that local people get to define what they want from their life, and no cultural or economic authority can force them). Communism seems to me the best way to achieve this, but really its about smashing colonialism and racial superiority. Red flag black flag eureka flag it doesn't matter. I know who the bad guys are and I know the thing they fear the most is the red flag, so that's the one I'm going with. I also can't get past how beneficial the Bolsheviks were for such a huge portion of the planet, just by showing an alternative economic system and large scale egalitarianism.

I'm capable of understanding complex arguments but I don't really care for my reputation and have little to no shame. I change my opinion on stuff all the time because I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am, and how stupid it is to cling to ideas just because "this is how its done" or worrying about contradicting something I've said previously. I mean who really gives a shit what a person has to say anyway, or who he is? What they're saying in the context of the time they say it is the most important thing to me.

I like big ideas. Less memorials, more monuments.

 

[The Coup]

I wonder if you read any of Henry George.

I haven't. Any recommendations?

 

[The Coup]

Would this be enshrined in law?

I hope not. But it wouldn't be economically viable to have one guy at the top with a bunch of workers making **** all. They'd probably eat him.

 

[kickazz]

Do you want a fridge or a TV?


-real question asked of a Romanian colleague by the party back in the day.

 

[The Coup]

Do you want a fridge or a TV?


-real question asked of a Romanian colleague by the party back in the day.

haha I love those stories.

 

[SpuriousPea]

Why should people believe in a theory of the redistribution of wealth devised by a man who never held a job, repaid his debts or even paid his servants?

 

[The Coup]

Why should people believe in a theory of the redistribution of wealth devised by a man who never held a job, repaid his debts or even paid his servants?

Cause only right wingers care about playing the man rather than evaluating the words?

If communism is so ineffectual and benign, why has it been by far the biggest target of the most poweful oligarchs on earth the past 100 odd years?

More commies have been killed by the state than anyone else during that time. If it didn't work, why do capitalists spend so many trillions of dollars and millions of lives fighting it?

 

[Todman]

More commies have been killed by the state than anyone else during that time. If it didn't work, why do capitalists spend so many trillions of dollars and millions of lives fighting it?

because capitalists can afford to spend the trillions

 

[Fletched]

Because people who construct sentences like yours think their opinions are clever?

Because people have opinions communism is unsuccessful? Well that sounds like one fairly major flaw

 

[The Coup]

because capitalists can afford to spend the trillions

Because they exploit the workers.

This is the crux of the problem

 

[Jiska]

Because people who construct sentences like yours think their opinions are clever?

Seems like a pretty relevant question if you ask me. It would be better for the purpose of this discussion if you put your grammatical bias aside and addressed the intent of the question.

Or, alternatively, I'll rephrase it for you: "Why hasn't Communism been overly successful in areas of the world such as the USSR?"

 

[Malifice]

There are a lot of people here who are critical of Communism based on myth and brainwashing.

As a Communist, I'd like to invite anyone who wishes to criticise Communism or evaluate it to ask some questions about the most important political ideology of our time and I'll do my best to answer from a modern left wing Communist position.

Could be fun. And if you're smart enough you might convince me I'm wrong.

Have at it.

1) What right does the State have in telling me how much money I can earn for my services?

2) Why has every single Communist State fallen into tyranny?

3) How is Communism and Liberalism (freedom from State interference in my life) compatible?

 

[SpuriousPea]

Cause only right wingers care about playing the man rather than evaluating the words?

toppest lol.... This from a guy who accuses me of being a victim blamer, racist and coward instead of tackling the arguments raised.

If communism is so ineffectual and benign, why has it been by far the biggest target of the most poweful oligarchs on earth the past 100 odd years?

Communism is ineffectual by design. Those same oligarchs you accuse of targeting communists are the exact same oligarchs who literally funded communism into being (Ses: Quigley, Sutton, Tarpley).

More commies have been killed by the state than anyone else during that time. If it didn't work, why do capitalists spend so many trillions of dollars and millions of lives fighting it?

Blames the state for killing communists.
Supports an ideology that could only realistically be enforced through a massive bureaucratic state.

lol

 

[little graham]

Or, alternatively, I'll rephrase it for you: "Why hasn't Communism been overly successful in areas of the world such as the USSR?"

Capitalists founded, funded, armed, trained and advised organizations such as Al Queda to drag the USSR into wars. USSR were forced for decades to build and maintain a very large military as a result of the threats to them from capitalist nations.

Its a matter of public record.

 

[AM]

Seems like a pretty relevant question if you ask me. It would be better for the purpose of this discussion if you put your grammatical bias aside and addressed the intent of the question.

Or, alternatively, I'll rephrase it for you: "Why hasn't Communism been overly successful in areas of the world such as the USSR?"

A modified version seems to be reasonably successful in China. Vietnam too.

Would you suggest the USA is in a sounder economic position than China, or the USSR even?

 

[little graham]

A modified version seems to be reasonably successful in China. Vietnam too.

Currently the federal gov (installed by media mining and energy magnates) is stripping as much economic benefits to SA as it can as result of the labor (socialist leaning) gov here and their policies to combat climate change

China is SA's largest trading Partner. It says alot when your biggest enemy is your own people and your biggest friend communists from Asia.

 

[Fletched]

A modified version seems to be reasonably successful in China. Vietnam too.

Would you suggest the USA is in a sounder economic position than China, or the USSR even?

I think it's obvious that the US and allies are a far greater military power than China and economically I think the US is still ahead. Have a look at the GDP the US alone is higher than China's in total GDP despite having around a billion less people which shows how big the difference is in per capita

 

[haden1999]

Cause only right wingers care about playing the man rather than evaluating the words?

If communism is so ineffectual and benign, why has it been by far the biggest target of the most poweful oligarchs on earth the past 100 odd years?

More commies have been killed by the state than anyone else during that time. If it didn't work, why do capitalists spend so many trillions of dollars and millions of lives fighting it?

...... and using the most powerful armies against the poorest 3rd world countries to do it?

Since WW2 the US has waged a war on (many times covert) a staggering number of countries just after a left wing government was democratically elected. They (The US / Big Corps) are petrified of socialist ideals spreading. Actually, they even organised a coup detat to over throw Gough Whitlam in 75. However, that is nothing compared to what they did in the Congo and many countries in Sth and central america - rather heart breaking really.

 

[The Coup]

Seems like a pretty relevant question if you ask me. It would be better for the purpose of this discussion if you put your grammatical bias aside and addressed the intent of the question.

Or, alternatively, I'll rephrase it for you: "Why hasn't Communism been overly successful in areas of the world such as the USSR?"

The USSR wasn't Communist once Stalin had Trotsky killed in Mexico.

But prior to that the USSR was wildly successful. So much so the Anglo world pointed a thousand nukes at them.

 

[The Coup]

toppest lol.... This from a guy who accuses me of being a victim blamer, racist and coward instead of tackling the arguments raised.

But that is tackling your arguments.

 

[The Coup]

1) What right does the State have in telling me how much money I can earn for my services?

2) Why has every single Communist State fallen into tyranny?

3) How is Communism and Liberalism (freedom from State interference in my life) compatible?

1. The state would not restrict how much you can earn in communism, I don't know why you think that (other than propaganda)

2. Which ones? There are no Communist states in the world at present, Cuba is closest. There are communist societies though living within capitalist states, and they go well but are held back by the fact they exist within Capitalist states (and Capitalism is a system you can't completely escape from no matter how free you think you are)

3. The state has no interest in interfering in your life in communism. But how do you feel about ASIO, NSA, FBI, COINTELPRO, IRAN CONTRA etc. under capitalism?

 

[haden1999]

...... and using the most powerful armies against the poorest 3rd world countries to do it?

Since WW2 the US has waged a war on (many times covert) a staggering number of countries just after a left wing government was democratically elected. They (The US / Big Corps) are petrified of socialist ideals spreading. Actually, they even organised a coup detat to over throw Gough Whitlam in 75. However, that is nothing compared to what they did in the Congo and many countries in Sth and central america - rather heart breaking really.

This is sad and has happened many times all over the world. Don't fk with Big corp / colonial business interests.



The power principle