Has communism been replaced by ambitious environmentalism?

Question

Interesting article on and letter by Czech President Vaclav Klaus warning the US Congress that environmental extremism is the modern equivalent of communism. Considering his background as an economist and world leader, plus the fact he has lived most of his life under communist rule, you would think he knows a bit about communism.

http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/108/letters/3.19.07_Vaclav_Klaus_response.pdf
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54784

Answer 1

Though the idea isn't new with me, I have been saying this very thing for a long time.

The existance of socialism/communism didn't go away with the fall of the Berlin wall, as many incorrectly feel.

The focus of attack and time tables merely changed from one of atomic threat to ecologically based over regulation of free enterprise to the point where the government controls commerce through said regulation.

Government control of the resources of commerce, labor, raw materials, manufacturing is socialistic and is a trait of communism.

Regardless of what you call it, you can't change its stripes.

Answer 2

The radicalization of the environmental movement was due in large part to ideologicially homeless marxists and communists taking over that movement after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. Some environmental groups have managed not to be subverted by these leftists but the bulk of the 'mainstream' groups is now run by a cadre of anti-capitalist, anti-freedom marxists. One of the best indicators of the marxist/communist element is to track the continual alarmism of the environmentalists. Communism thrives on creating panic. It has merely replaced Class Warfare with Environmental Alarmism. Also notice that EVERY remedy for the continual crises that the environmentalists find is to regulate human activity through government intervention. That is blatant totalitarianism at work right there. There is never a free market or 'democratic' solution to the crises because that would defeat these people's real purpose which is to control people and break down the free market system. Finally, notice that any dissent from the 'correct' orthodoxy about human caused global warming is confronted with accusations of being a corporate (burgeois) stooge and vitriol about the person's credentials. It smacks of the intolerance of those who stepped out of party lines in the old USSR. It is bad enough to be an unbeliever in the 'party' line but to change your mind and become an apostate means your former allies will descend on you like a plague to silence your criticism. Don't be fooled. The venue may have changed but the 'old guard' has the same goal - control.

Answer 3

No.

But it may seem so because left wing parties are getting on the green bandwagon and defending green issues. Both political ideologies suggest that the community's good (society for communism, the environment and the earth for environmentalism) is more important than individuals.

I think that by ambitious environmentalism you are referring to Deep Ecologists and Animal rights groups.

Deep Ecology is one of the many subdivision in the environmentalism mentality . In general, it can be summed up by saying that humans have no more right over nature than nature has over man. Hence, humans cannot destroy nature unless it threatens life (and even so some deep ecologists are debating the issue). The main author behind the movement is Arne Naess. See Wikipedia for some information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology

Some Animal rights group (but not all of them) are known for the fierceness and aggressive strategy for their statements. The stereotype is probably PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and their public campaigns. The most controversial was probably when they compared industrial farming of animals for meet production to the Jew genocide by Nazis.

One controversy here in Canada right now is around seal hunting. Countries like Denmark and Holland are passing laws against seal hunting based on allegations promoted by animal rights group concerning the violence and unethical methods of hunting seal cubs. In a few weeks, the french CBC Newsworld; RDI, will broadcast Phoque : le film, a behind the scene movie of the seal hunting industry. Animal rights group have threaten to sew the public broadcasting channel as the movie compromise the honesty of an award winning clip made by animal groups.
In other words, the strength and intensity of some animal rights group are comparable to the idea we have of communism regime.

Thirdly, environmentalism, in almost every case, puts a limit on an individual's freedom. Freedom to choose and act is a very important factor for economist as it enables the production and innovation of new fields, production methods and. In other words, freedom = economic progress.
But some environmentalist but a cap on freedom on a simple observation: the earth has limited results. Individuals and groups cannot do anything they wish because it will have consequences to others.

I hope this 'short' answer helped. The topic is very interesting and could be the subject of a master's thesis in political science.

Answer 4

how can you study protecting the fatherland from environmental problems with communism? Do you imagine that any practice of patriotism is communistic or socialist? i guess in some experience you're correct, protecting the fatherland is a fashion for human beings to make contributions to the straightforward wealthfare and as a outcome all patriotism is communist in nature. i guess no count number what your political perspective is, there's a touch of communism in anybody. until eventually for sure, there is not any patriotism in you in any respect, then you definately are 0 % communist and one hundred % conservative.

Answer 5

They've played this card before. If it's not "for the children" then it's "the world is too complex now for people to be left to their own devices" and if that doesn't work it's "we need a more sustainable model" which necessarily infers that the present model is "unsustainable" and somehow the fact that they've been saying that since the economy was 1/1000th its present size yet it continues to sustain itself doesn't cause them any shame.

But it's always the same goal - it's always a pretext to get us to hand our balls over to them.

I'm just not willing to do that.

Answer 6

Communism/Socialism/Enviromentalism all equal one ultimate goal,complete governmental control of everything.
Only the FAT CATS at the top of the system benefit and stagnation starts to set in.
Forget new products,literature or anything else,everything belongs to the government and the individual gets squat.

Answer 7

He's an idiot Politician, and all of them, even Czech politicians speak with forked tongues. He's lived his whole life the environment too, in fact we all have, does that make all of us environmentalists too?

Communism has been replaced by Corporate Fascism in the person of the Bush administration and the United States Federal government. Fascism is defined as "corporate run government", and that is what is running the White House, Congress and most of the American bureaucracy.

Answer 8

When you look at who is proposing radical changes to our economy and way of life in order to address global warming it is the only conclusion you could draw

Answer 9

Since when does a "conservative" reactionery pay attention to an elected official of a smallish post USSR president?

Answer 10

He is absolutely correct.