There has been a great debate in my family about if communism and socialsm are the same. I say that socialism is a more democratic form of communism. Do you think this is true? Tell us what you think.
Hark! I hear ignorance! Time for some re-education.
Communism: a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual owenership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. This is pure and basic communism. However, Communism (note the capitalizing) was Lenin's idea of a violent overthrow of capitalism and the insitution of a classless society. Marx had the right idea, Lenin and Stalin mucked it up. Essentially communism is where everyone is equal. No leaders, no people more important than others. Read "Animal Farm" and you'll see what I mean. However, humans don't like being leaderless. We naturally want someone "important" to look up to and to guide us. Therefore, communism is doomed to fail.
Socialism: a theory or system of social organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned and controlled collectively or by the government. With socialism, the government controls the factories and other forms of things like that. Point in case: Canada or England. Those are socialist states. Privatization is rare in socialistic nations. And Canada's government controls all its Medicare and related things, giving it equally to all the citizens. Socialism can also lead to better economic stability because everyone has a hand in the production process.
In Marxian thought, socialism is halfway between capitalism and communism.
he USSR is an awful example of communism. If you read communist texts you will know that communism is nothing like the USSR. First of all people are treated equally without oppression in real communism. communism is best described as the perfect government that cant happen because of inperfect people. Socialism is a lighter version of communism.
Socialism is NOT a "lighter" form of communism. Socialism is NOT "communism with more democracy." People get this mixed up all the time.
What socialism is: The transition from a capitalist system to a communist system under which the government redistributes wealth and attempts to instill the "everyone is equal, individualism is detrimental to society, give up personal ambitions, think collectively, etc." mindset in people.
In a pure communist system, there is no government, everyone sits on thier farms and communes and lives in peace and harmony.
That is untill an asteroid comes along and wipes everyone out. Freaking commies.
"Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?"
Too bad for idealism...So, Bushsupporter, when are you going to have your beloved president throw us in fetters and force us to work the fields?
I don't know what the hell this means.
quote:
Communism is misinterpreted. The USSR is an awful example of communism. If you read communist texts you will know that communism is nothing like the USSR. First of all people are treated equally without oppression in real communism. communism is best described as the perfect government that cant happen because of inperfect people. Socialism is a lighter version of communism. It has a sense of democracy in it.Basically communism hits harder on the idea of complete equality while socialism is more of a government regulated equality.
Right. According to Marx and Engel, communism is supposed to look differently than the USSR. The point I would argue is that it will never look differently than the USSR. Marx was completely unrealistic and too much of a dreamer to realize this. Humans cannot and should not follow communism and all of its tenets. The USSR was the perfect example of what happens when communism is in place. It will always happen that way.
"Freedom is not Free"-Korean War Memorial, Washington DC.
Communism is misinterpreted. The USSR is an awful example of communism. If you read communist texts you will know that communism is nothing like the USSR. First of all people are treated equally without oppression in real communism. communism is best described as the perfect government that cant happen because of inperfect people. Socialism is a lighter version of communism. It has a sense of democracy in it.Basically communism hits harder on the idea of complete equality while socialism is more of a government regulated equality.
They're different. Socialism is more like... Scandinavian governments (Sweden, Denmark, etc.). Communism is more like the USSR.
It really depends on the individual government whether they are the same or not, but, in terms of the ideology, they are different.
The aforementioned democratic-socialist governments in Scandinavia have worked very well. The people there are very free, the quality of life is very high (even higher than the US's), their public education systems are the best in the world, etc.
Oh, and
quote:Anyone who tells you different is probably a communist or a socialist.
Communism is open abouts its oppression of the people it controls; socialism pretends that what it is doing is best for the people, and humanity. The "Greater Good" crap. There is really not much of a difference. Anyone who tells you different is probably a communist or a socialist.
"Freedom is not Free"-Korean War Memorial, Washington DC.
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