Communism May be Here

[David Brider]

No, the first thing anyone should do is be aware that all that talk is not what a Communist regime intends to do!

In Marxist theory, the state will someday just wither away after all the people have become satisfied, cooperative robots and then, presumably, all these nice things will be the rule. The governments, of course, have not the slightest inclination of allowing themselves to wither away and until they do, they will call themselves "Socialist," but it has nothing to do with what everyone else considers to be a Socialistic form of government.

It's kind of amusing that you think you're better informed about what communists stand for than communists themselves...

 

[Aldebaran]

You're worried about communism in the USA? You're a bit late for that. Heck, they've even got a website. So much for living in the darkness...

Communist Party USA

From that site: (bolding mine)
"Socialism is a common-sense path to a fairer, more prosperous and more democratic USA. Socialism is also a desperate necessity as capitalism and its unrelenting drive for profits threaten to make our planet uninhabitable. Working families in America – the 99% - between us create all the products and services that make our country the richest nation in the history of humankind. It doesn’t make sense that these collectively produced resources are owned and controlled by a tiny handful of billionaires. The fight for socialism is a dynamic process to fulfill the vision of a future of peace, justice and fairness for our nation and our world."

 

[David Brider]

Was the Soviet Union communist? What did the second letter "S" stand for in USSR?

Actually, it stood for Socialist. Socialism =/= communism.

 

[David Brider]

From that site: (bolding mine)
"Socialism is a common-sense path to a fairer, more prosperous and more democratic USA. Socialism is also a desperate necessity as capitalism and its unrelenting drive for profits threaten to make our planet uninhabitable. Working families in America – the 99% - between us create all the products and services that make our country the richest nation in the history of humankind. It doesn’t make sense that these collectively produced resources are owned and controlled by a tiny handful of billionaires. The fight for socialism is a dynamic process to fulfill the vision of a future of peace, justice and fairness for our nation and our world."

Aye. Heck, if I were in the USA, I'd probably sign up.

 

[dgiharris]

First thing I think you should do is Google the Ten Planks of the Communist Manifesto and see what the definition of Communist is. Many people are surprised to discover that free public education is one of the planks, along with the abolition of child labor "in its present form." (published in 1848). Should we abandon public education because Marx was in favor of it? On the other hand, the abolition of all private property is on nobody's radar in this country, and neither is government ownership of all means of production.
By the standard of the Ten Planks, no important politician in America is anywhere close to being a real communist. Even Bernie Sanders, who calls himself a Socialist, is condemned as not a real "socialist" at all by the World Socialist organization, and I don't think even Trump and Putin working together could accomplish the conversion of this country to Communism.

The interesting thing about Communism is that in an ideal world, Communism would be incredibly effective. Problem is that we human beings have a measure of self interest, greed, stubbornness, and laziness. In short, Communism is awesome for ants, not so much for human beings.

As with anything, there are some good things about Communism... For instance, free public education. I'm also a big fan of regulating businesses because businesses are heartless and soulless and would boil babies to make lubricants if it were profitable and legal.

As with anything there are pros and cons...

Incidentally, I hate Trump... and even I wouldn't accuse Trump of trying to turn America into a Communist State. I don't think the OP understands what Communism is...

Hint> Russia is NOT Communist anymore...

 

[Albion]

You're worried about communism in the USA? You're a bit late for that. Heck, they've even got a website. So much for living in the darkness...

Communist Party USA

We're not THAT naïve over here, David.

 

[David Brider]

We're not THAT naïve over here, David.

...meaning?

 

[Albion]

It's kind of amusing that you think you're better informed about what communists stand for than communists themselves...

I am willing to believe that you know what the Communists stand for, based upon your statement that you would join the CPUSA, but until you admit to what that is exactly, there's nothing to discuss.

 

[super animator]

Socialism is not communism.

 

[Aldebaran]

Socialism is not communism.

Read post #22 again. You can also just click on the link it makes reference to and scroll down to just barely past halfway down the webpage: Communist Party USA

 

[super animator]

Read post #22 again.

They are wrong. Here is the link describing the difference.

 

[Albion]

They are wrong. Here is the link describing the difference.

You've missed the whole point. There is a difference between Democratic Socialism (often called just Socialism), BUT when Communists and their allies use the word Socialism in their utterances and literature, they are talking about something else. They are, by their use of that word, describing their own totalitarian governments such as the USSR used to be.

 

[wing2000]

It's 2017, not 1957.

 

[PeachyKeane]

Was the Soviet Union communist? What did the second letter "S" stand for in USSR?

You might be shocked to hear this, but the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is neither a Democracy or a Republic.

 

[Allandavid]

It's 2017, not 1957.

Nor 1984.....

 

[DaisyDay]

Do you know of a single Communist who didn't believe that communism and democracy were compatible?

Kim Jong-un

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

Kim Jong-un

Do you have a quote from him to that effect?

 

[DaisyDay]

Do you have a quote from him to that effect?

Has he ever held an election?

 

[super animator]

You've missed the whole point. There is a difference between Democratic Socialism (often called just Socialism), BUT when Communists and their allies use the word Socialism in their utterances and literature, they are talking about something else. They are, by their use of that word, describing their own totalitarian governments such as the USSR used to be.

Yea, yea, whatever makes you sleep at night. You are still wrong though.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I think terms like "Communism" and "Socialism" still have people very confused...

The terms get thrown around a lot, but in terms of actual communist states left on the planet, there are very few.

Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam (Marxist)... and North Korea (Juche).

In terms of pure socialist states, none exist outside of South America, Asia, and Africa.

Every other westernized country that often gets the accusations of being "Communist/Socialist" is actually on what's known as the "Nordic Model".


So, in terms of Communism and Socialism, there are 4 communist countries left, 14 socialist states left...or in other words, 18 out of the 196 countries on the planet...yet some people are still convinced that every nation outside of the USA is somehow in one of those two categories simply because they offer taxpayer-funded healthcare and education and dare to make billionaires pay more than a 10% effective tax rate.