Define communism

[Norseman]

The poll is misleading. I agree with 7reeT above, but classical Marxism is not the only form of communism.

Yes it is. Communism comes from Marx, he gets the final say on what it is.

Simply defined, communism is an economic system where the means of production are owned by the state.

No state. That might be socialism, but it's definitely not communism.

The form of government is irrelevant. Though we haven't seen a historical example, there is nothing in theory that prevents communism from operating under a democratic republic form of government.

Stateless dictatorship by the proletariat. In other words, direct democracy. Representative democracy is close, but it still has some people in a position to control, manipulate and exploit others.

 

[nvxplorer]

No state. That might be socialism, but it's definitely not communism.

My definition was given from memory of my economics studies. It appears many other definitions agree:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ommunism&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

An economic system in which capital is owned by private government. Contrasts with capitalism

Communism is an economic system in which all the means of production are government controlled

a political and economic system where the state maintains ownership and control of production facilities

 

[Norseman]

My definition was given from memory of my economics studies. It appears many other definitions agree:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ommunism&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

An economic system in which capital is owned by private government. Contrasts with capitalism

Communism is an economic system in which all the means of production are government controlled

a political and economic system where the state maintains ownership and control of production facilities

I recommend you read through that list of defintions. Note that they contradict each other. For example:

Political creed that holds that power should be in the hands of workers; advocates violent overthrow of government to accomplish this aim.

A governmental system that encourages the elimination of private property and the equitable distribution of goods to the public. A Communist government maintains central control over banking, business, housing, education, industry, medical care, the military, and regional security forces.

Many of them contain outright lies. For example:

a political theory attributed to the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Communism is characterized by the common ownership of the means of production. The foundations for full communism were supposed to be laid during a transitional period, known as socialism. The Soviet Union was the first state to be ruled by a communist government, from 1917 to 1991.

The Soviet Union? As in the USSR? i.e. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

Let's try something slightly more authoritative on the subject: the Communist Manifesto.

It's not a very long read, but it should give you a much more accurate idea of what communism is.

 

[CCGirl]

Good question. This should help you find out:

An overview of the emigration spectacle we've created.
Operation Peter Pan.
The Cuban Adjustment Act.

Excellent links. It is important to point out that the USA has not fulfilled its Visa requirements of 20,000 per year.

 

[CCGirl]

Eww...communism. Many great theories, but somewhat distastefull. I myself, am a socialsit...which socialism has borrowed many ideas from communism.

-adam

Socialism is one of the stages of communism. Read the communist manifesto, link supplied by Norseman.

 

[The_Horses_Boy]

I beg to differ. Cuba has created a society based on service. How can you argue their successes? We are not greedy by nature!

Link

This was a 2 part series.

Deeper Understanding

If that is so then no one should want to leave Cuba.

http://www.solcomhouse.com/poverty.htm

Scroll down on that and you'll see that Cuba has the 157th highest GDP per capita at $3,300. They're really successful, aren't they? In fact, they are among the most (un)successful in the world.

If Cuba is so successful, how come there are so many of them that are willing to risk death in order to come and live with us decadent capitalists?

Dido. They aren't successful.

Yes it is. Communism comes from Marx, he gets the final say on what it is.

Oh... I am a little bit rustic, haven't reviewed that stuff for a while, but although Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto I thought that we attribute Marxism to Marx, rather than Communism? Because there have been states that have called themselves Communist systems for years, and never under what Marx laid out.

 

[nvxplorer]

I recommend you read through that list of defintions. Note that they contradict each other.

I didn't provide the list itself as support.

Many of them contain outright lies.

Again, that some may be incorrect does not indicate that all are incorrect.

The Soviet Union? As in the USSR? i.e. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

Economic systems (or forms of government, for that matter) are not defined by names of countries. The German Democratic Republic was not democratic. You may be correct, but pointing out the meaning of USSR is not a convincing argument.

Let's try something slightly more authoritative on the subject: the Communist Manifesto.

It's not a very long read, but it should give you a much more accurate idea of what communism is.

Yes, I've read bits and pieces.

Since there have been no truly Marxist societies, describing historical economies becomes problematic if we strictly refer to Marx in defining those economies. Though Western economies are invariably mixed economies, I don't feel it is incorrect to state that these economies are capitalistic. Capitalism does not require strict adherence to the teachings of Adam Smith (for example).

What economic system is practiced in Cuba?

 

[PacificPandeist]

Communism has never worked outside of the very small scale of the Israeli kibbutz for the simple reason that in order for it to exist, humans must surrender greed and selfishness in favor of unbridled love and generosity to their fellow man....

//// Pacific PanDeist

 

[CCGirl]

Greed and selfishness have never been proven to be part of human nature. Many societies have lived communally. Why do you only see success in the Kibbutz?

 

[PacificPandeist]

Greed and selfishness have never been proven to be part of human nature. Many societies have lived communally. Why do you only see success in the Kibbutz?

Well, and the Amish, and groups like that -- but only on a small scale, and only where there is homogeneity/familiarity....

//// Pacific PanDeist

 

[CCGirl]

Why limit it? Cuba has managed to form a society based on service to others.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Why limit it? Cuba has managed to form a society based on service to others.

Now if only they could fix the detention without trial, the violent attacks on opposition figures, restrictions on travel, intimidation of the families of those who leave.....

 

[peepnklown]

I wonder how many people looked into who funded the communist revolution in Russia.

 

[Maxwell511]

I wonder how many people looked into who funded the communist revolution in Russia.

I know the Irish government gave loans to the Soviet Union just after the revolution but that is it. Who did fund it?

 

[The_Horses_Boy]

Why limit it? Cuba has managed to form a society based on service to others.

Yes, a community based on service to others... Fidel and his family are doing pretty well, others are living in poverty and desperate to come here. To whom do you mean service to?

Quite simply, we have a system here based on common sense. I do service, and yet I'm not even an adult (close to it, though). But you see, here's the thing: I don't want people to take from me to help others, I want to be able to give to help others. Otherwise my service, my gift, my charity is meaningless, and people simply have a right to reap the rewards of my hard work, which I have next to no right to. But of course, if you don't have any hard work to reap rewards from and no intent to perform any, then Communism is pretty attractive, isn't it?