Why is everyone so down on Communism?

Question

In theory, it's not a bad idea...I've never understood why we treat it like it's evil...still. Think about it, in theory mind you, a bunch of people working together toward a common goal of bettering the lives of everyone and eliminating hate and violence based on wage disparities? If it wasn't so easily corrupted, I don't think that it would be a bad way to organize a government...who's paying for your healthcare or making sure that you are able to find employment...not the capitalist system. Any thoughts other than calling me an Anti-American Communist?

Answer 1

Stalin gave Communism a bad reputation. Marx, who wanted to revolutionize the distribution of wealth, would have shot Stalin himself, if he had lived then. Unfortunately for the human race, a few bully's with absolute hunger for power will always control wealth, see the USA - 1% of the population holds 75 % of the wealth, it was under Stalin not different in the USSR.

Answer 2

I agree that the ideas behind the theory of communism sounds good. The idea of making sure that your neighbors, parents, friends, etc can have the same rights (monetarily and health) is a great idea.

BUT.... it doesn't work... the only way for communism to work is by full control of the government!!! the only way that a government can control the ork force and the market, is by setting prices, allocating resources, etc... and without havening these things run by market demand, they will be allocated and run inefficiently, and in the end collapse as we have seen throughout history....

In communism the right of the individual is also taken away!!! I can understand that the right of the masses has to be looked out for, but what is the point of that when the individual losses his own individual rights?!?!?!?

Even china, that claim to be communists, one can see that the market is defenately not so... do you see any sort of equality in that country?... NO.... it doesn't work... the only last pure communist country is Cuba and they are in economic peril.

the only thing that comes close is socialism that you find in western Europe, where students get free university, people get free heath care, etc... but even in this case the government is very hands off and just puts high taxes in order to pay for these things...

Answer 3

In theory, it doesn't sound bad. In practice it's a disaster. The theory of how to execute communism fails to take into account human nature and our desire to improve our lives. What happens is the people in government prosper, while the citizens share the poverty.

Here's an idea: make an impartial head of a communist government, like say make a computer program to run a communist government. The program would not attempt corruption because it would have no concept of it. It's only priority would be to equally distribute the wealth and prioritize its citizen's tasks.

Answer 4

if you want to stick to theory, it can still be shown to be a bad idea.

communism must claim one of the following: equality is a virtue or people all deserve everything equally.

equality is not a virtue. if one person is getting $10 and he deserves $20, and another person is getting $5 when he deserves $5? there's no reason that we should knock the first person down to the second person's level.

if two people both get $10 and they both deserve $20, is that better than one of them getting $12 and the other $10? i argue that it's not--getting someone closer to where he deserves to be is not a bad thing.

finally, if one person gets $20 and deserves that amount, while another gets $10 and deserves that amount, what's wrong with that equation? they both get exactly what they deserve.

(P1) If equality has value, then equality has value in some possible circumstance.
(P2) If equality has value in some possible circumstance, then it has value
when it is (a) opposed to desert, (b) aligned with desert, or (c) desert is silent.
(C1) Hence, if equality has value, then it has value when (a) equality is
opposed to desert, (b) equality is neither opposed nor aligned with
desert, or (c) equality is aligned with desert. [(P1), (P2)]


(P3) It is false that equality has value when (a) equality is opposed to desert.
(P5) It is false that equality has value when (b) equality is aligned with desert.
(P4) It is false that equality has value when (c) equality is neither opposed nor aligned to desert.

(C2) Hence, it is false that equality has value.


the only other claim open to a communist is to then say that all people deserve the same things.

but this is so out there that it's hard to see how you could get it off the ground.

in what tangible way are all people equal? rather, in what way that would ground what you deserve make everyone equal?

if i kill someone, surely i don't deserve the same exact thing as a surgeon?

Answer 5

The concept of communism eliminates capitalism. Why would anyone work hard when they are simply given equal reward as the sloth who does nothing?
Communism kills productivity, creativity, invention, entrepreneurship, etc.
Communism is embraced in a community where there is no chance of getting out of the lower class no matter how hard you work. In a capitalistic system, you could be born into complete poverty and through hard work and achievement, the sky is the limit.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, it only works in theory. It is too easily corrupted and has not worked. Look at the countries who have has communist governments their people have not been better off because of them.

Answer 7

For the last 50 years the USSR was our enemy, and they were Communists. SO if you grew up during this time you were constantly subjected to anti-communist propaganda. People have been brain washed since early childhood that communism is evil, and most people can't overcome that. On paper it does look great, it really doesn't' work in the real world though,

Answer 8

It is a horrible idea, in theory. It rewards the lazy and punishes the hardworking. If you want to stop people from wanting to work hard because they will get the same as some lazy slob who does nothing then all you need do is set up a Communist state.

Answer 9

Okay, I'll avoid calling you an Anti-American.

You actually answered your own question when you said "If it wasn't so easily corrupted." In capitalism, when corruption occurs, the people have the opportunity to remove the corrupt person(s) from positions of power. In Communism, once corrupt people get in power, the people do not have that opportunity. They're just stuck with it.

Answer 10

Look at China, they are a communist nation, while they are fast becoming a world super power, their citizens lack many rights we as American's enjoy, such as freedom of information, freedom of the press, ect.

Communism would be great if anyone ever tried it. Most communist governments through history are dicatorships, meaning an individual rules, not the people.