Thread: Communism

This word has been used a couple of times the last couple of days, but what most people fail to realize is that communism as a system is something we all (at least anyone with a family) use to organize in our own lives.

I got this from slashdot, and I found it interesting enough to post it here:

>>What?! Should we try Communism ONE MORE TIME because THIS TIME we'll "do it right"? Ha. Come on.

>You should be careful about such comments. One would think you were talking about "communism" the economic model since you are comparing it to capitalism, instead of "communism" the political ideology.

This is important because "communism" the political ideology generally tries to apply extreme "socialism" as economic policy and has basically nothing to do with "communism" the economic model aside from the political parties that misleadingly stole the name.

This is also important because "communism" the economic model is alive and well for those who apply it to small communist cell sizes. The most common example of this would be the family unit, which comprises a communist cell by buying and selling goods and services collectively (although these cell sizes are shrinking in the US). Other applications of communism that have stood the test of time are monasteries, co-op housing, co-op stores, credit unions, municipalities, etc.

I don't believe in communist government, but my family is run internally as a communist system, as I am sure are most of yours.
People bring in resources based on their capabilites, and those resources are divided based on needs.

It is the extremes that cause problems. Extreme communism is just as bad as extreme capitalism, but just for different people.

I couldn't agree more. Communism has it's place. (like in the household). Just like everything does.

Also totally agree. It works wonderfully for certain things. My boyscout troop was a great example. We all paid dues, and helped to raise extra with fund raisers and such, but some of us needed a lot more than others. Not everyone had a tent, or sleeping bag, and those were provided. The same goes for the more expensive trips, and other pieces of essential gear. My family also worked on the same system most of the time. Any good group of friends will often end up being somewhat communistic in nature, helping each other out when in need, if not by money then by other support mechanisms. Friend's moving? Go give him a hand! Got stabbed in the leg? I'll help put in a few stitches if you don't want to register at the doc's for the wound. Getting married? Help him calm down and see why he agreed to it in the first place. It really forms the basis of our society, to some extent. I imagine early tribes were much like this, except with a more calculating look on deciding when a tribal investment in time and resources wasn't worth making, and someone had to be left unhelped.

*puts on fireproof suit*

Originally Posted by jockeys

*puts on fireproof suit*

Affraid of getting flamed are you?

I am reading 'The Human Zoo' by Desmond Morris right now. As it says on the cover 'he scrutinises the society the naked ape has created for himself.' Very interesting read on the ways human society has developed. He notes about tribes and super tribes-

'As soon as the tribe had become an impersonal super-tribe, with strangers in its midst, the rigorous protection of property became necessary and began to play a much larger role in social life. Any political attempt to ignore this fact would meet with considerable difficulties. Modern communism is beginning to find this out and has already started to adjust its system accordingly.'

'Running a super tribe is like trying to balance an elephant on a tight rope. It seems that the best that any modern political system can hope for is to use right wing methods to implement left wing policies.'

Worth a read on the bigger picture of us as social animals. Don't have to agree with it all but he hits a lot of reality for me.

Stephen

I don't think the family is a communist unit. I would have called mine a resource based dictatorship. The ruling pair had control over all the necessary resources, food, clothing shelter, money, and even transportation. My sibling and I were required by our rulers to meet certain specific conditions and perform certain tasks to be allowed to experience the largess of our rulers.

To get food I had to sit up straight, keep my elbows off the table and tell the rulers about my day.

To get clothing I was required to go with one of our rulers to the store at her convenience and negotiate for the clothing I desired, otherwise I would be dressed in livery of her choice that would mark me to any outsiders as her property.

The Money was doled out grudgingly for chores performed in the proper manner by the deadline required of me.

To remain sheltered it was often quoted to me that it was "their way or the highway" and if I "stayed in their house it was under their rules."

I just don't see this as communal living.

Well, offcourse it depends on the individual family.

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Affraid of getting flamed are you?

well, there is DEFINITELY going to be a flamewar in here. and for once, i'm not really the one who started it/ made it worse

I think human greed and communism are incompatible.

All animals are equal but two legs is better than 4 legs: can't remember the author.

In all countries that have experimented with communism there has been a happy few who ruled the country, quashed all opposition and reaped the profits of the work of the unhappy majority. The more strictly you want to practice communism the more totalitarian the regime will have to be. The non-totalitarian variant of communism is socialism.

Communism did do a few good things in multi-ethnic countries though. Just look at the civil wars that broke out in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya &c. after abolition of communism.

My 2 cts.