Communists here?

[sandandfoam]

Anyone consider themselves a communist?

 

[Willamena]

I might be; but I haven't studied Marx's philosophy enough to understand it.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The problem with Communism
is the difference between theory and practise.
When you add human nature into the mix,
You still end up withe a rich elite.
and down trodden poor.
And very little in the middle.
And you still get a monopoly.

 

[sandandfoam]

The problem with Communism
is the difference between theory and practise.
When you add human nature into the mix,
You still end up withe a rich elite.
and down trodden poor.
And very little in the middle.
And you still get a monopoly.

With respect Terry, the question you are answering wasn't asked and while I dispute your analysis this thread isn't the place for that discussion.

 

[dust1n]

In a few ways, I suppose.

 

[Vinayaka]

My great uncle was a declared one, and father a socialist, I have leanings in that direction, by I dispute the means to the end.

 

[Kathryn]

The problem with Communism
is the difference between theory and practise.
When you add human nature into the mix,
You still end up withe a rich elite.
and down trodden poor.
And very little in the middle.
And you still get a monopoly.

I was going to say this, but you got to it first!

Actually, one of my favorite historical figures - Sir Thomas More - wrote an interesting book espousing a form of communism: Utopia.

"There is no private ownership on Utopia, with goods being stored in warehouses and people requesting what they need. There are also no locks on the doors of the houses, which are rotated between the citizens every ten years. Agriculture is the most important job on the island. Every person is taught it and must live in the countryside, farming, for two years at a time, with women doing the same work as men. Parallel to this, every citizen must learn at least one of the other essential trades: weaving (mainly done by the women), carpentry, metalsmithing and masonry. There is deliberate simplicity about these trades; for instance, all people wear the same types of simple clothes and there are no dressmakers making fine apparel. All able-bodied citizens must work; thus unemployment is eradicated, and the length of the working day can be minimised: the people only have to work six hours a day (although many willingly work for longer). More does allow scholars in his society to become the ruling officials or priests, people picked during their primary education for their ability to learn. All other citizens are however encouraged to apply themselves to learning in their leisure time."

There was some weird stuff in there too though. Personally, I think that communism will not actually work because people's values and priorities differ too much.

Pity really.

Oops, sorry - didn't realize this was a DIR. Please remove my post if necessary. Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Does being a democratic socialist count?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Does being a democratic socialist count?

Or a social democrat?

The Socialist camp Is much larger than most suppose.
Many British Liberals are way to the left of the British Socialist party.

Many people would agree that the teachings Jesus left on the table are very close to an ideal communism, and quite as difficult to work in practise.
Early Methodism was a breading ground of the new Socialism, which was seen by many as an idealised communism. And greatly feared by the establishment.

In my much younger days I believed Extreme capitalism was the surest route to Communism, because it put more and more control into fewer and fewer hands.
A change to Communism would then entail the least possible disenfranchisement.

Since then International corporations have complicated the issue ( the USA even regards them as people) Corporations are "Owned" by millions, but controlled by individuals, Who insulate themselves from challenge by the dilution of any opposition. ( the more the shareholders the less the effective opposition)

Communism needs a new face and a new structure to be workable.
If it could solve the worlds economy, distribution of goods and services, and human development In a fairer and more equitable way, I would be all for it.

However I now see this as unlikely, and see the liberal philosophy as the better bet in the foreseeable future.

 

[K.Venugopal]

I am not a communist by any stretch of imagination. But I come from a state in India (Kerala) which democratically elected a communist government to power and it was a world-first. Later on they came to power in Bengal and ruled continuously for 35 years! Communists were meant to work for the interests of the "toiling masses" but eventually they became merely a party interested in the political chair at any cost, often siding with religious fundamentalists. Of course, in neighbouring China, communism high-jacked itself into a capitalist party! Both communists and capitalists have one thing in common - they think man's problems can be solved if external material comfort is provided for. Ha ha. The Eastern mystics know better.

 

[Valjean]

Communism, in various forms, seems to work OK on fairly small, homogenous societies. As far as I know it's never been tried in any large, industrial society.

 

[K.Venugopal]

Communism, in various forms, seems to work OK on fairly small, homogenous societies. As far as I know it's never been tried in any large, industrial society.

Communism as propounded by Karl Marx will never work anywhere because it assumes human beings can be turned into automatons.

 

[Alceste]

No, not a communist. I'm a libertarian socialist, or a social democrat, or a sociable anarchist, depending on the situation being discussed. I think the state has a large role to play in the management and delivery of essential public services and infrastructure, but I don't believe it should monopolize the means of production in non-essential areas. Competition spurs innovation, and the kind of bureaucracy people have to deal with when ALL economic decisions are made by the state is inefficient and impractical.

In Cuba, while there was virtually no hunger, homelessness, illiteracy or any of the other problems that afflict countries without an adequate social safety net, people were also very frustrated by the amount of government interference in their day to day lives - you couldn't move to a different house, for example, without government approval. OTOH, there was a raging black market in just about everything. It seems there's no way to stop individuals from producing goods and services and desiring a personal, private economic benefit as a result of their work (and no good reason to want to do so).

When you make normal human behavior (such as working with the expectation of a personal benefit) criminal, you end up with a population of criminals. In practice (USSR, Cuba, China), that seems to lead to the brutal suppression of opinions not sanctioned by the state in the misguided effort to contain the rampant criminality.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Does considering yourself a communist when you do not live in a communist state have any meaningful value or purpose? In other words, can you be meaningfully called a communist if you aren't part of a communist system?

 

[Valjean]

Would you consider the Hutterites communist? I've never heard of any black market or general discontent with oppressive government in Hutterite colonies.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Anyone consider themselves a communist?

Somewhat. I agree with some parts of Communism. Id be more happy with just Socialism, though I disagree with a lot.

I admit though, most reading I have done is some of the writings by Rosa Luxembourg, who seemed to be very fair and intelligent.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

That seems to be the problem with socialism/communism, is that, they're good in theory, but hard to pull off in a real world situation. Nations that have tried have all failed. There doesn't seem to be any easy fix as to how to make it work practically.

 

[Alceste]

Does considering yourself a communist when you do not live in a communist state have any meaningful value or purpose? In other words, can you be meaningfully called a communist if you aren't part of a communist system?

All you need to be part of a communist system is a commune.

Commune Directory - List of Communes

 

[Alceste]

Would you consider the Hutterites communist? I've never heard of any black market or general discontent with oppressive government in Hutterite colonies.

I've never heard of anything much about anything to do with Hutterites.

Just looked it up.

Hutterian Brethren :: Communities Directory

Too much religion involved for my taste. Plus I don't like people, so this way of life is probably not for me.

I used to stop by a Hutterite restaurant in rural Alberta after fossil hunting. The food was amazing. The staff didn't look too disgruntled. Don't know much else about it.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

In a way I'm a Marxist, but not really Communist.

Basically, I can agree we should get rid of the economic classes, but not everyone should get payed equally.