Why do communists think communism works?

Answer 1

It would work in a perfect world where people could be trusted not to abuse their power, but communists fail to understand that whoever is in charge will take advantage of the workers because the government has total control. It would be nice if we could all share what we had and everyone who worked could have a nice life, but communism seems to have failed repeatedly when used in the real world.

Answer 2

Why does anybody believe ANY ideology?

Main motivation of communism is the unequal distribution of wealth in the world and the feeling that the "have's" won't give it up willingly. It was based on the lifelong story of Karl Marx of economics and evolved based on many other thinkers. (Marx actually believed that such a system was inevitable but he wanted to see the process speeded up considerably. He believed for example that capitalism was inherently unstable and that the system would eventually calapse on itself. Truth is, that serious unstabilities DID happen!!! Great Depression and all. What he did not take into account, one argues, is that the systems we have modified. For example, we have ANTI TRUST laws that prevent one big company from owning everything. We have limited social measures, etc.)

The key critisms of it are based on:
1) lack of incentive leading to lack of productivity
2) some issues about control
3) in addition, original communists consider religion to be bad.

In actual fact, the thinking of the communists has significantly influenced our culture and has been assumulated with many ideas. The word capitalism, in fact came from Marx.

In any case, as long as there are significant have nots, there will be those who find it VERY appealing. Go to somebody without food to eat everyday, no house and try and discuss efficiency to him? You'll find he may be quite receptive to some of the ideas of communism, presented in the right way.

Ironically, most of the initial communist leaders came from wealthy families and were theoretical idealists.

Side note:
What sort of things might a modern communist point at, to show our system will eventually colapse. (I think we will adjust as we always do but I don't know how yet)
1) Offshoring off differentiating factors in developing economy. Not just the manufactoring but also the intellectual property creation. What will for example the North Americans of the future do to keep their edge and or to earn their living? Will we have a depression and this be followed by evening of wages? Will the large middle class remain there?
2) If all the experts are in asia, won't china become the next super power and the US become the "france" of the future?
3) Impact of anticipated shortages and of some untreated environmental problems?

Answer 3

Because they have never worked in the capitalist real world. Communism is nothing but theory. The biggest flaw with communism, among many, is they do not understand human motivation. People go out and start businesses and risk the capital because there is a potential profit in it. Without the payoff, there is no reason to risk.

Answer 4

CURRENT communisits this communism works because they've been brainwashed with propaganda to believe that the communist country is better in all ways.
"Classic" communist theorists believed communism would work because of the horrible inequities in the quasi-democratic, aristocratic systems in Europe and people's desire for equality over wealth. (Query: If reforms like labor unions weren't permitted in the West, would democracy have survived?)

Answer 5

do most "communists" even believe that it does?

survey the people in countries like Cuba, Vietnam and N. Korea and they might agree that it doesn't.

of course if you are Castro of Chavez (in charge and living the good life while others live in poverty) you might think it works just fine.

people aren't floating 90 miles through shark infested waters to escape Cuba and get to the US just because they like the water.

communism doesn't work

Answer 6

They Don't.
Even the leaders of the Soviet Union were glad to escape socialism.
The only people in the US that support socialism are little Democrats who have no idea what it is.
Socialists killed over 20 million of it's own people in the Soviet Union. (That doesn't count the Jews, Gypsies, Gays, and others.)
Compared to Socialist China, 20 million dead was just a tad.
These little commie pinko democrats should go to North Korea and see how they like it.

Answer 7

They don't!! All during the cold war people risked - and often lost - their lives getting to the west. Pres. Reagan called on Gorby to tear down the wall, but it was the people who did it. (To his credit, Gorby let them.) I have met many people who lived under Communism, and every one of them said it sucked!

Answer 8

Well, the theory of communism would work if it were ran to perfection without any corruption

Answer 9

It does, on paper. I reality it works for about 5 years before it falls apart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a nice day.

Thank you very much, while you're up!!!!

Answer 10

Because it worked for them.