Socialist/Communist question...?

Question

I understand the difference between socialism and communism, but many people act as if they don't. This is just a quick poll to see if you do or do not know the difference, AND what you believe the difference to be.

Just a sidenote to those who brought up they are listed as synonyms in the thesaurus, all Communists are Socialists, but not all Socialists are Communists. There is still a significant difference between the two terms, however.

Answer 1

Socialism, as I see and have experienced it, is a nationalization of certain services...designed to give equal access to all. (ie. Education, Medical, etc.) In measured doses, it could provide ALL in a country with the basics. Major utilities and services are generally publically owned and run. The country employs a much higher tax rate in order to provide those services.

Communism takes this ideology - the notion that all have access to the basics - to an extreme. All men are to be equal on every level, not just the basics. And the system is governed by one, rather than a publicly elected official acting in the best interests of the people.

I'm afraid that most of the answers I've read about a variety of subjects on this forum sees socialism as 'evil', and have visions of Communist Russia. No system is perfect, but the 'every man for himself' approach is leaving far too many behind in the US. Hardly appropriate for the 'Greatest Nation in the World'.

Answer 2

Communism is enforced governmental control that demands high taxes and public assistance. All people are required by government to have the same things no matter how they work or save.

Socialism is a philosophy that all people should contribute for the good of the whole. Socialism has a lot less governmental controls attached to it. Socialism makes sure everyone has all they need to survive but still allows people to become wealthy if they are good money managers.

Christians in the New Testament were Socialists...giving everything they had to the church to be given to those in need. Christians were not communists.

Answer 3

Communism is an absolute form of socialism. Communism treats the entire state as an actual commune.

Socialism advocates various regulatory schemes to "correct" wealth "disparity", and only endorses a communal approach in particular situations when it seems practical.

Communists do usually call themselves socialist, (the USSR was the United Soviet Socialist Republic) even if they admit to being communist, but many socialists do not consider themselves communist. And it is the latter socialists to whom the distinction is most important.

Answer 4

Communism is simply a more extreme version of socialism. Communists base themselves on rigid ideologies, such as those of Marx or Lenin and believe property is simply morally wrong. Socialists take a more practical approach. While socialists will nationalize large scale enterprises as they see fit (Transportation, communication, health care, etc...) They leave a lot of room open for private enterprise. These businesses also tend to be more regulated than in a capitalist system, but they still have plenty of room to act.

Answer 5

Nationalization

Answer 6

Let me elaborate, Free Market, anglo-style means low taxes little red tape to open shop, and lower trade barriers in theory. Then the Scandivian idea of Free Market economy, high taxes, but little red tape to open shop, and low trade barriers theory. Both do reasonable job at making the economy efficent.

Then, Chavezism major companies nationalizaed for Chavez own use to play favor factory to who is loyal.
Socailism is impratical, and inefficent mode of producing wealth, and so is corporatism praticed by present day Mexico, and Portagual in the past.
Nationalization=favor factory with no consideration on part of the investors that put money into the company, and the state never meets comsumer wants, needs, perfernces.

Want state owned top down economics remember the USSR, the bread lines where people waited 8 hours to get a loaf of bread. In USSR on the news they showed food shortage of basic essentials to get by day to day. It was easier to get cigs, vokda, and vices than basic essentails because the blackmarket grew exponientally during the 1970s in the USSR, and when glospan imploded the majority were scrapping with blackmarket help.

The question should not between communism or captialism?

The question should between Anglo or Scandivian free markets that are lot more efficent in creating wealth than communism or socalism can ever do. Anglo-Scandivian system gives your optimal prefernce for how much wage disparity you want without preverting incentives to innovate, create, meet comsumer demand, wants, perfernces.

Answer 7

Many countries that the average American would call "socialist" or even "communist" aren't either. They're social democracies.

Cuba would be a socialist state. Sweden is a social Democracy.

A social democracy combines socialism and capitalism, seeking a balance between the two. Capitalism is restrained when it threatens the viability of society.

Answer 8

Big difference. In short, Socialism is a more controlled, more flexible form of Communism. Actually they are not really comparable, except on the economic level.

Answer 9

There is only one difference between socialists and communists: communists believe in COMPLETE redistribution of wealth (50-50 across the board), while socialists believe in MAJOR redistribution of wealth (say, 60-40, or 65-35). Both contradict what America stands for (you get what you work for. No hand outs for the lazy and shiftless-what liberals call "the poor.")

Answer 10

Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one of your cows and gives it to your neighbor. You're both forced to join a cooperative where you have to teach your neighbor how to take care of his cow.

Communism: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for you share of the milk, but it's so long that the milk is sour by the time you get it.