Why are young people so impressed with communism? Don't they know that capitalism is the only way--?

Question

to better themselves? They just seem intent on bringing everyone down to a poverty level.

ryuo-- I believe you are mistaken, the only ones who enjoy communism are the elitist ruling class.

Answer 1

My son and almost all of his friends are capitalists, but those people all went to private schools and then on to college after. He does have a few friends but they are not good examples and they did go to public schools. So in my experience it is government education that is making them believe communism is okay.

So it appears that the communist brainwashing is taking place from kindergarten through high school, with advanced training in colleges.

The solution is simple, eliminate public education and let those parents take their children and their money to where they think the education is the best. Schools can be developed for the various price points you can afford, no child will be left behind. For instance a low income family could send their child to a school that just teaches the basics, reading, writing, math, science. And then of course if you want to add sports, it would cost more, or music, or theater, or revisionist history, In fact if the market demanded it there would even be a communist school, although I think like Air America that one would fail in the marketplace.

and for all of you idiots that scream about religious schools, we did not send him to one, and if we wanted to it is our RIGHT.

Answer 2

I've been an ardent capitalist since I was a young teenager. Capitalism just makes the most sense to me. I grew up on the lower end of middle class--we struggled to afford school clothes and even food sometimes--but I still thought capitalism was the only ethical system. I don't understand the leveler mentality at all. I think it stems from a victim identity. I can't relate. Communism appeals to young people because they're largely inexperienced, naive, and ignorant - the same reason communism appealed to the impoverished and peasant populations of Russia and China.

ryuo - China is becoming an economic powerhouse because it's reforming economically. That's right - while China is largely totalitarian, its economy is growing more and more capitalist. Also, China doesn't have a few billion people. China would have more people if the economic, social, and political failures that communism wrought onto the country hadn't killed off ten million.

Answer 3

A lot of people don't realize that communism doesn't work because it puts power in the hands of a few in the government rather than a few in the corporations.

Poverty is a social problem, one that will only be solved when people take it in their own hands to become better people. Government can't make people good. Punishing those who are honest and work hard by stealing their money in the name of wealth distribution doesn't work.

Answer 4

Not all young people, only the ones that swear the news is the truth before backing it up with fact. The others just follow the loudest herder.
You know the grass is greener when you don't have to work for it. What a promise to behold.

Answer 5

It appears to me that the young folks have been fed a full load of "entitlement"... In other words, they have been told all their lives that they are special... that the world owes them everything and that they should not be held accountable for anything. A crime? "I'm not responsible, society is the cause".

"I'm poor, the government should take care of me, should raise my children, should give me anything I want".

"I don't need a job, the government will pay me."

"Other people have plenty of money, they should give me some!"

So, with this in mind, Communism seems to be the perfect answer to their problem of "entitlement".

Capitalism gives a person pride in their work and a wish to better themselves.

Government should get out of "business" and let business take care of itself. When government dictates how business is to be conducted, then poverty is usually the result.

Poverty will always be with us but it is a symptom, NOT an illness !

Answer 6

I think socialism/communism appeals to our sense of compassion and sharing. These are things that young people like to do but they don't realise that when govt controls what gets shared it means you have no control over your own property, money, or any thing else you need to survive.

I think that people ought to be free to be whatever they like. People should have the right to be Mother Teresas or Greedy ******* with their money.

Answer 7

Most young people today aren't "impressed by communism": This isn't the 1960s.

Young people like to have material goods. IPods, cell phones, laptops, etc. As Madonna once crooned, "we live in a material world"

Answer 8

I am fifteen and am a staunch capitalist libertarian. Regarding ryuo's comment, I have actually visited China and nearly every person I talked to( tour guides, students who wanted to talk with you to improve their English, people who seemed only to want to have the experience of talking to a foreigner[pretty cute asian girls too], etc.) attributed China's achievement to it's economic liberalization. They also admitted to being capitalists themselves. Many of them were fans of Richard Nixon. There is a correlation between China becoming more capitalistic, and becoming more economically stable. Before Nixons visit, China's economy was perfoming as well as the USSR. But is the past thrity years, China has become more capitalist and the result is visible. It is obvious that twenty-five years from now, China will continue to liberalize its economy, and as the US and EU continue to sink into socialism, with China becoming the economic Superpower. It is funny how socialists, most of whom have never been to China will say"Look how well China, a Communist Country is doing". China, in present day is only communist in name, but capitalist in practice.

Answer 9

Perhaps a little compassion. Young people are actually concerned about their fellow man, and don't want to see them suffer.
While you think communism brings everyone down to a poverty level, you're completely ignoring that fact that we're shaking in our boots at the undesputed economic power that china is becoming, and what their military is turning into.
You can say communism doesn't work, but I know a few billion people who might argue with you.

Answer 10

In its simplistic form (which I acknowledge is merely an academic expression and is totally unworkable), there is nothing wrong with the notion: From each, according to their ability; to each, according to their needs. Naturally, only the naive would think this could work.