Would communism ?

Question

Would communism be so bad if it was run right ?
Like Karl Marx proposed it should be... The government serving the people ... not the people serving the government ...

Answer 1

I believe that the communism is the ideal form of government for a family. That is how our family operates, and it works very well for us. Each family member is expected to contribute according to his abilities (earning a living, cooking, cleaning, mowing, etc., etc.). And each family member receives goods and services from the family (and family members) according to what he or she needs.

Communism works very well for us (in our family "commune," if you want to call it that).

Keep in mind, however, that the reason it works is that each member of the family cares about the others and about the success of our enterprise. We all know that doing favors for others strengthens the group, and allows us to anticipate that the others will do favors for us. And what we do for the family is good for all of us.

This idea can work in an extended family, but probably not as effectively, since the family members are not quite as close as in our immediate family. And it could even work fairly well in a "commune" of a few dozen people, provided that there are no over-expanded egos, and no one is trying to gain influence and control over the others. But the larger the group gets, the less likely it is that everyone will act for the good of the group.

By the time you talk about a town or a city or a state or a nation, there are far too many people to have any hope that everyone will act altruistically. Suddenly, "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" breaks down, as everyone is demonstrating a lack of ability and a great deal of need, in order to get as much as possible for the least possible effort. It's human nature. Bees and ants can run very large communist colonies in an effective way, but each individual in the colony does everything possible for the good of the group. Fortunately for them, they are not subject to the problems of human nature.

Bottom line:
Yes, Marxist communism would be bad in any case where it is applied to a large number of people (such as a nation).

Answer 2

What you described is not Communism. Communism is not something to run. Communism is when government, class, money,greed, racial conscience, religions, nations and certain aspects of family no longer exist.

Marx believed that Communism could only be reached by first having a socialist state that controls all aspects of peoples lives to end aspects of human behavior they deem to be learned and incorrect. Once all that is removed, then the state gradually will cease to function and be no more.

What happens after this Communist can't tell you because they do not know.

The "communist" nations from the Soviet Union to Cuba are not communist but socialist which is what Marx expected, as it is the first step. So far all Communist parties that gained power ended up corrupt.

Answer 3

Actually, I happen to have lived in a former communist country (Poland). I talked to a lot of people. Communism was not half as bad as portrayed by the American propaganda machine. Some people remembered communism as "the good old days". Others were happier in the capitalist system. It depends who you talk to. Like any political issue, there are people of every shade of the spectrum. Communism had some advantages: There didn't use to be any beggars in the streets, because everyone was at least provided for, if only minimally. It was great for scholars and artists, because they could pursue their trade without worrying about where their next meal was coming from, etc...
Also, there has never been such a thing on earth as a 100 percent communist system. China is more capitalist than many "capitalist" countries in many ways. The communist party allowed for private farms in Poland, because they conceded they could not plan for all the food needs of the nation. And, of course, authorities were well aware of the existence of a black market and there was some tolerance of those activities.
The system crumbled because of the world recession that eventually made it unable to compete. It might have adapted, but the crisis happened too fast. In fact originally, Lech Walesa never meant to topple communist system. All he wanted was for the system to become a bit more flexible, more rational.

Answer 4

Would it be so bad ?!

I do not serve the government. Repeat...do not. Governments job is to provide an atmosphere in which I can be successful on my own. Where opportunities are open and available for you and me to apply ourselves, not be assigned into. From this type of ideology is success cultivated. Here you have people doing jobs they want to do. Jobs they work toward and achive at. If your not happy where you are, you can get out, apply yourself, move up and on.

I choose where I live, what I do, where I wish to go and when. I fear we are developing a generation of individuals that do not know what it is like not to. They don't remember the old USSR. I remember being quite scarred as a child watching on the news, the displays of armaments paraded through Red Square. After all that was the intention... intimidation, and it was. We obviously have a current generation that does not know real war. Only what is seen in movies and on current news networks politically motivated for their own needs.

Heck, I could most likely get in trouble for typing this, or better yet this arena would not even exist.

So Yes, clearly it would be bad.

Answer 5

Yes it would be bad. Let's take Conditions in Pre-Soviet Russia as an example. After serfdom was abolished, serfs were gathered into Communes, or Mirs, where they had basic independence. As peasants the Government did not deem them important enough to worry about, so they were left on their own, to govern themselves and fend for themselves. These Mirs were known for their lack of technical or even practical progress. Since there were no community leaders, all were essentially equal in status, the status quo remained. While other European Countries who adopted Liberal, Capitalistic Economies Flourished. Face it Communism does not and will not ever work. Progress and improvement would screech to a halt.

And by the way if you knew anything about American History you would know that the United States Government was originally designed to be weak, with low taxes, and American society revolving around individuals and families, not government. Liberals in the 20th Century decided to ignore the Constitution and increase the size of government. Republicans, in the 21st Century have bought into Liberal Practice. We need Conservatives to enter into t government to reign the feds to their original state.

Answer 6

Many countries have tried it. Just look at some of them. Most of them have failed. You can't force hardworking people to share what they've earned with the ne'er do wells who refuse to work. Communism is a horrible concept and a worse reality. Even China is on the verge of discarding it.

It's still possible to have the government to work for us, however. We just need to elect the right people and then hold them accountable.

Answer 7

what about communism in Cuba? It has been going on for more than 30 years despite all the economic attack due to the embargo that it has sustained.
Cuba has raised the average of living quality from what it used to be before communism. Now everyone is educated. Their education and their health system is top class and free.
We should learn from Cuba.

Answer 8

has communism ever been run right???? its a failed philosophy. Clashes with human nature.....you know the whole survival of the fittest thing. Imagine explaining to a bunch of lions form different packs that it was important to divide prey into equal proportions and that the lion that is responsible for the kill gets just as much food as the other lions sitting on their ***. You answer is no. A lack of incentive is the reason.

Answer 9

Yes, it would be bad. Communism stifles innovation and creativity. Where's the incentive to work hard, come up with new solutions, innovate, and take risks, if there is no chance of big rewards?

The workers in the Soviet Union all had jobs, and they used to have a saying, "We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us." With a guaranteed income, where's the incentive to work well?

The inherent problem with Marx's vision, is that it ignores basic human behavior and motivations. No system will work under those circumstances.

Answer 10

True Marxist communism is a beautiful idea. But, that is all it ever will be. True communism requires that EVERYBODY thinks of the group first and the individual last. That goes against human nature. We constantly want to prove ourselves to be better than our neighbors. The best that we can hope for is a healthy mix of socialism and democracy.