Arguments for and against Communism?

Question

NO answers which obviously come from someone who bases their political opinions on public myths and/or red scare propaganda.

If you know what you're talking about everyone would love to hear what you think.

And I'm talking about communism as an idea, not what happened in X country because of X dictator.

Answer 1

Well, in a nutshell:

For - It's a great idea in theory. IN THEORY.

Against - "some people are more equal than others".

And that about sums up what I've learned about communism. I know it's not much but political idealogies is not a subject which I find particularly interesting.

Answer 2

Sheet man, I'm all for it!

Answer 3

Oh, so you don't want actual examples then, huh?

Sorry, dude, but those actual examples ARE the arguments against communism and why it is a bad idea. Your theory and 'ideas' do not take reality into account and without reality, all you have is fantasy.

So, that being said, I'd like to refer you to the Soviet Union.  

Answer 4

your not going to get a legitimate answer seein that there has been no country that i know of, that had communism an didnt have a ruthless dictator.

is japan communist? or a monarchy? the only country i can think of that turned out alright if they had communism.

Answer 5

If you are a party leader you get a nice summer house on the Black Sea.  Otherwise your life sucks.

Answer 6

Communism cannot work because of human nature.  Humans are not going to work harder for someone else than they will for themselves.  Not only that but who gets to decide who gets what and how much?

Answer 7

Never, not once has any nation taxed itself into prosperity. Communism is 100% taxation.

Answer 8

People often say "Communism is a good idea - just doesn't work due to..."

Well it's not. It's a ludicrous idea and leads to ludicrous outcomes.

The idea that a government and bureaucracy could hope to meet the needs of a modern developed society is plain silly.

For example, can you imagine any bureaucrat deciding people need PlayStation's or a 100 different types of breakfast cereal!

People want choice, variety and a lot of trivial things that no system of state control could deliver. It's competition to supply those wants that create progress and quality of life for the people.

Because people want those things and Communism can't deliver them, Communist states always resort to repression and violence.

Stupid idea that did not work, does not work and will never work.

    

Answer 9

Communism, like Christianity, or Utopianism, is an ideal so divine there simply is not enough divine people on this planet who can be trusted to develop the ideal along the pure path their doctrines propose.

I would love to give you a long list of X dictator in X country that shows the elusive nature of idealism but you only have to read the philosophical writings of hardened 18th century rationalists to see the typology of fascism.

We have come a long way to realise that we are chasing dreams. These dreams are perhaps beyond the ability of the human race to bring into some sort of social order that expunges excess. They have been doing the rounds for a long time now but the Dialogue must go on I suppose.

Communism is possible. Except in a world dominated by transnational powers, its proponents need to first negotiate with 'them', the corporate stakeholders i.e. industrialised nation states, some kind of internationally recognised opt out dispensation for protecting the co-existence of two diametrically opposed social systems each protected by international law from 'regime change' type of external interference. Those who embark on establishing a communistic social order would need to debrief their entire community as to how much of the historic and cultural influence of their respective individual members they want to be part of the new synthesised culture. How much of Islam, how much of Christianity, how much of Friedman, how much of Thatcher, how much of the parliamentary system of governance and how much of the caste system of governance; how much of past traditions and their gender orientated practices?

Like mindedness and a common belief system would be absolutely essential to the success of any communistic experiment. A certain degree of uniformity in the conceptual department concerning the origins of mankind would also be necessary where lines need to be drawn as to what is permissive and what isn't.

I think that today's international community should look very seriously at investing in the construction of a multi-faith multi-cultural communistic community on a piece of land handed over on a lease basis for agreed terms of tenure. A community with sovereignty equal to nation states, with own currency, law, ethos, etc., recognised as such by international law. As a forward looking exploration of alternative ways of living that perhaps offer some practical answers to today's pressing ethical and rational questions about the sustainability of the science of 'economic growth' and free wheeling consumerism, it would be something I'd sign up to.

It is not impossible to undo some of the damage done to human culture by the impact of the Industrial Revolution upon the already self serving nature of science. In fact, in this age of widening gulfs between rich and poor countries, uncontrolled militarism over economic resources and global pollution, a solution to stopping history in its tracks before it becomes fateful is not just about how we develop science but how we regulate those who use it. A communal approach to the purpose of scientific research for example would also be an essential aspect of a communistic experiment.

Some think tanks need to swing a bit further left and give the world something a little more original than 'economic growth' and 'industrial expansion'.

Communism is alive in people's hearts. It needs bold and imaginative organisations and groups willing to make a personal sacrifice to make history, to turn the world in a completely different direction. It needs people with buckets of money willing to make it happen in a non-violent, constructivist, culturally neutral, creative, non-partisan,  pioneering and adventurous manner. It needs national leaders to make it their baby for a 'brave new world'.

Answer 10

On paper, Communism is a good idea.... However it is not practical nor does it work.  

Answer 11

Communism like fascism & the 'free' market are ideals - so they will not work.

Look at the free market hypothesis it will never happen.

So the choice is between what actually helps the majority.

Answer 12

With US/Russian relations strained at this time I dont feel like it is appropriate to make this argument right now.  I think it would be as good a time as any for the United States to ally with communistic nations that are located geographically close to her mainland, so as to prevent a catastrophy like the Bay of Pigs.  BTW, if our President has any bright ideas he would do well to remember that that was an instance where the US narrowly avoided a nuclear war with the communists.  I doubt we can do it a second time.

Answer 13

For: don't have to worry about being homeless, destitute, unaffordable healthcare or education, unemployment

Against: restrictions on freedom of expression, political freedom, possibility of being sent to a gulag, not possible to become absurdly rich without being a corrupt party member

There are still many people in Russia and other post Soviet states that preferred life under communism

Answer 14

for: nice thought, seems kinda cuddly

against: administrative overhead defeats the plan

big against:

1) plan requires force to work, the able are forced to support those who are unable or unwilling to carry their own load, more unethical than not providing for the unable at all

2) the internal security methods required to defeat those who would try to find ways to provide for themselves at the expense of their contribution to the community; those methods tend to become are truly obnoxious, and very expensive,

pretty soon almost everyone is in an anministrative or internal security job and nobody is doing any work

Answer 15

There is no good argument for Communism . It is this statement in a nutshell . Worked hard at my skilled job that it took six years hard study to learn and get the same wages as Joe soap who hasn,t lifted a finger to advance himself . DREAM ON IT WOULD NEVER WORK IN A MILLION YEARS HUMANS ARE NOT CREATURES OF BENEVOLENCE