To all Liberals out there please answer me this as honest as possible?

Question

if liberialism is similar to communism just in it's philosphy for
example, everyone is equal so we are all paid equally
free health care for all it's citizens
free education for all it citizens
government housing for anyone who needs it. since communism have collasped all over the world. Here is the question? Why do you belive a philosphy so close to marxism will still suceed. I would like some thoughful response if possible.

For those telling me to look up the difference in the dicitionary I know the difference, what I am saying is the way liberialism is practiced and viewed today.

Answer 1

Liberalism is not at all similar to communism. This is how the continum goes from LEFT to RIGHT:

FAR LEFT:
Communism, which emphasizes class conflict, revolution and a totalitarian government. Is also a class of ideology that emphasizes communitarianism instead of instead of individualism (good of the community always outweights the good of the individual).

LEFT:
Socialism, which emphasizes redistribution of funds, greater equality, and prefers a democratic government. Also a communitarian ideology.

MIDDLE LEFT:
Liberalism, which emphasizes personal freedoms in social aspects, government help economically, and government help in promoting equality, prefers frequent change in tradition to match up to changes in society. Prefers a democratic government and is more individualistic than communitarian.

MIDDLE RIGHT:
Conservatism, which emphasizes tradition, order, and security. Prefers the government to be out of economic issues, government involvement in social issues, and not so much focus on promoting equality. More individualistic than communitarian.

FAR RIGHT:
Fascism, which prefers a totalitarian government structure, doesn't believe in equality at all but rather all is hierarchical, very militant and a strong emphais on order. Everything is done for the dictator, not for yourself, so it's not an individualistic society at all.


Now, looking at all this, calling liberalism "similar" to communism is comparable to calling conservatism "similar" to fascism. They are different ideologies for a reason.

Communism has actually never collapsed in the world, because true communism has never been pulled off by anyone. Socialism actually works very well in many world communities, but they tend to be small because for these communitarian regimes to work, everyone pretty much has to agree.

Liberalism and Marxism are also completely different ideologies. Marxist communism has never actually been tried in any country in the world. That's why Political Scientists call these communist communities "Stalinist Communism" or "Maoist Communism", because they have more to do with the people who led these countries than they do with Marx.

Liberals are not communitarians. They just believe in equality and that those who are in dire need get help. And no western country, no matter the ideals, has been against the free education for all it's citizens.

I think liberalism can still succeed because it does very well. Look at Britain.. they have free health care, free education, and provide government housing. Australia, Canada, France, and Germany do the same.

We're the only industrialized nation that doesn't offer it's citizens some reasonable form of free health care.

So I don't really see your point as to believing that this ideology is a failure.

Answer 2

if liberialism is similar to communism (your assumed premise) just in it's philosphy for example, everyone is equal so we are all paid equally (No but economists say there is market failure in the growing ratio of CEO/bottom level worker compensation. The Great Depression was caused by the hollowing of the middle class. Ford, for all his OTHER flaws, at least knew that the mass market had to have the money to buy what it made as workers.)

free health care for all it's citizens (It would be CHEAPER to insure ALL the population rather than part of the population IF the Dumbya cronies didn't sand in the middle getting a rake off)

free education for all it citizens (Dumbya is an example of trying
the alternative...stupidity. Oh yeah his resume says Yale and Harvard.. but who really did the work? Well he DID go to some economics classes and THAT Prof remembers him as the WORST he had. Education for the MOST part, PAYS)
government housing for anyone who needs it. (I don't know what context you mean this, but homeless people are seldom productive, even when motivation is high. )

But I didn't see anything in your distain of "commies" about CORPORATE communism. No-bid contracts... just fine if you are connected to the Party bosses? What about shamlections run by companies attached to the Party apparachiks?

since communism have collasped all over the world. Here is the question? Why do you belive a philosphy so close to marxism will still suceed. I would like some thoughful response if possible.

Answer 3

Liberals simply need to realize what the communists learned, you cant make everyone equal some people are ambitous and other's are lazy, the lazy will eventually lower themeselves from wherever standing they started at, and the ambitous given luck will better themselves, giving handouts like welfare should only be temporary, which it is now, but five years is still far too much, speaking of education, there are so many barriers to middle class students to succeed because the liberals give so many advantages to the poor, they should focus on eliminating barriers for the ambitous instead of proping up the poor, who will enivetably always be poor.

In all fairness to the poor guy who asked the question, liberalism as it is defined is not practiced by liberals today. Liberalism and Conservativism are not forms of government they are just ideological bases for the democratic system.


And yes i realize their are vast differences to liberalism and communism.

Answer 4

That has never been my definition of Liberal. It sounds more like Rush Limbaugh's definition. It believes that all people are created equal. That certain functions can be most effectively handled by government, that education for the most citizens is the most effective way to ensure a prosperous society. I've never heard of all paid equally, except for people who do the same jobs. Not street sweepers paid the same as professors. In terms of health care, I have yet to hear anyone of any stripe come up with a workable solution. And of course, the problem is becoming more widespread now that businesses aren't picking up the slack.
I wonder, do we want sick people in the streets spreading diseases or babies dying, or women giving birth in the gutter because there is no way for them to get health insurance? And government housing isn't anything anyone wants to stay in for longer than necessary, would it be better to throw them out on the street? That's going to be a fairly crowded street the ordinary man will have to walk through on his way to the circus.
Its not enough to throw labels on problems, we need solutions and not political claptrap.

Answer 5

Because we all need to get along and not be mean. that means that no one should have more than anyone else, so if someone accidental makes more, it should go to the UN so that it can be spread around to others, that way there will be peace forever and no more hunger.
Once everything is equal then corporate criminals can be forced to make money for everyone and other better criminals can be freed so they can enjoy it since they don't have to steal or kill anymore.
Then the militaries of the world can disarm and the killers who were in the American military can be used to grow vegetables and since there's no such thing as illegal immigration then people from Mexico can eat without working so hard.
Then instead of families, all kids can just live together and play and adults can do whatever they want and won't have to be married anymore.
And we can get rid of cars because there's no reason to go anywhere.

Answer 6

Liberalism has no relationship to communism. Communism is, simply, to each according to need and from each according to ability. Liberalism is more the government is elected and paid for by the people, it should serve the people- ALL of the people.

Communism in practice fails because their has to be a ruling class to keep the system in power. Since the ruling class is therefore greater than the working class, the system is fraudulent from the outset.

Answer 7

The only people who equate liberalism with communism are brainwashed lemmings like yourself.

LOL...seriously. You have absolutely ZERO idea what you're talking about. "Thoughtful response" indeed. You want to learn something? Go look up "liberalism" and "communism" in an encyclopedia, rather than regurgitating ill-digested Rush Limbaugh.

Here's a primer. "Liberalism" basically means progressiveness, openness to new ideas, forward-thought. It's all about individual rights and the freedom to think as you choose. In fact, ironically enough, you owe your right to ask such stupid questions as this to "liberalism."

The only reason I don't call myself a "liberal" is because the term as politicized in America implies acceptance of a particular cluster of agendas - in other words, it's not real liberalism, it's just another brand of group-thinking.

"Communism" is based on the idea that society should be classless and stateless. Treat everybody the same and you'll have equality. History HAS exposed the flaws in this mentality, although it really began out of understandable discontent with the obvious injustices of life. My primary objection to communism, borne out by history, is that communist societies stagnate because there's no real reason for anybody to strive to excel.

Answer 8

being a liberal doesn't mean we are pushing for a purely liberal government.. we still want to leave it as a democracy (well, actually a democratic republic is what we have, but close enough) so in no way are we close to communism.. many "Western" nations have some of the issues you have pointed out and are not considered communism or liberalism

Answer 9

I'm conservative, actually listening to Rush right now, BUT...I can give you an answer.

It would succeed for one reason, because liberals care. Liberals really really care about others and are willing more so than ANYONE else to spend your money to help someone else. Remember all conservative people think that individuals make the country great. Liberals believe that government and groups make the country great. so the bigger the group the better things have to be.

Answer 10

Communism collapsed for other reasons.

There are loads of people out there who will tell you that government housing isn't for everyone who needs it and where is this free health care for all its citizens.

And closeness only counts in shaving and hand grenades.

One could equally posit that conservatism is skating pretty close to totalitarianism or even fascism. There are just enough difference to make it not be so.

Liberalism can succeed, but only if all parties work together