why do people always say that in a communist country you get payed whether you work or not?

Question

what evidence is there that this is true

Answer 1

Most Communist and Socialist governments have social safeguards. even if you dont work, you wont go hungry or live on the street. The food an living situation may not be as good as if you worked. The real problem I have withthis question is that they find a job for everyone, even those who "dont work" may have to work washing dishes, folding clothes or other menial tasks!

Answer 2

It's not more true than in capitalist countries.

In a communist economy, anyone that can work is sent to work. The good side of this is that communist countries have almost full employment, no homelessness and no situations of starvation, with everybody having an access to education and proper healthcare.
The downside is that there is a lot of inneficiency (there might be more workers than what's needed), you can't always choose your career, and there could be some political control of things and serious repression of dissenting ideas.

On the other side, capitalist societies have high unemployment, a much higher level of social inequality, big corporations that have a huge influence and political clout, and usually lower levels of education, but they also have more freedom, like the possibility of choosing your own path in life.
Yet, social mobility, once the main advantage of capitalism, is dissapearing - don't forget that in capitalist societies some people get to be rich and famous without moving a single muscle, just by inheriting money or a corporation from their parents (Like Paris Hilton), while some poor people never get the chance to go to university and be somebody.

That's why I think the ideal government would be one that combines the values of liberal democracy and freedom of choice, with the social organization and equality of opportunities of a socialist economy.

Answer 3

Well you do get paid but not very much. Also you can get punished economically if you dont work.
very much like welfaRE SYSTEMS! One major problem of the communist system is of course that people get paid too little. Now if every one got a decent amount every month no matter what
then you will see a system that works much better.
Money is the solution to most problems but only few have them and they make most of the problems! :) Why do most people get surprised or angry when they hear of poor criminals robbing somebody when the system creates these criminals in the first place. If they had money and
education and vitamins like the rich they wouldnt have to rob other people. And how come people believe a CEO has more responsiblity than a mother of four?my 2 cents :)

Answer 4

I can only go by what my old man told me, who worked in Moscow in the late 70's. He'd be having a meal in a resturant most nights where there were more waiters/waitresses than there were tables. They'd be standing around doing nothing.

He said the same would go for almost all other occupations, it wasn't simply a case of getting paid for nothing, more over allocation of resource.

However, you get paid whether you work or not in Britain do you not?

Answer 5

I meet a lot of people who come from Eastern Europe. Under the Soviet Union everyone was given a job and all got paid. Those who did not work had to have a good reason as it could have been a crime. I do voluntary charity work and treat me with a bit of suspicion as such people were possibly police and government informers.

Answer 6

i have never heard that , i thought in a Communist country every one works for a common wage thus ensuring the countries leaders take all the profit , if you don't work you starve unless family feed you ?

Answer 7

Sounds like the UK where in fact you get paid more and are far better off, financially, if you sit at home claiming to be ill or unable to find a job then if you do actually work.

Answer 8

The statement is not strictly true,persons refusing work can quite often find themselves jailed.

Answer 9

Theoretically, you get resources according to your need, not your work. There are no true communist states. They are all what Trotsky would refer to as failed-states.

Answer 10

well I know in Cuba there are no homeless

(thats what I heard in geography class anyway)

its was aright versus left wing class and
in r wing country people are really rich and educated but theres a loada crime poor people and pollution etc.

while in L wing countries there are no homeless nobodies really rich and most people can read and write...

I think its true anyway....