Thoughts of a Disillusioned Communist

[Commodore]

Very interesting. Commodore, what was it about Communism does no longer fit with your perceptions?

Conformity doesn't constitute reality. Is Communism simply unreacheable, or is there something inconsistent down to its root?

Communism no longer fits with me because I started to see how Marx's theories really don't change the balance of power. There are still people who are going to be on top kicking down the people on the bottom. So, if the only thing that changes is who's oppressing me, why make the change at all? I still firmly believe in the concept of the stateless and classless society, but not the way Marx describes it. Therefore, I have no name for what I believe (it's similar, but it's not quite the same as Communism), I just have beliefs that don't conform to any ideology out there.

As for the statement you quoted, I really should have worded it better. What I meant is sort of what people say about Elvis (50 million fans can't be wrong). If so many people, ranging from average citizens to respected economists and political analysts, say Communism can't work, there has to be some truth to it right?

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Commodore, simply ask yourself what's wrong with the arguments, and worry less about popular oppinion. Popular oppinion not so long ago held it as undeniably true that the Earth was flat.

Oppinions are only as valuable as the value of the arguments behind them. If oppinions defy reason then they are certainly worthless.

 

[happy_Alex]

Communism is wrong as long as it is not democratic, which historically has been most of the time. I regard most communist movements with disdain, many of them have been entryist, prefering to infiltrate legitimate socialist and labour movements with the aim of gaining autocratic power.

However, don't give up on democratic socialism, mate. It has already achieved enormous advances and has re-written the book on how societies should be run and in whose interest. Before the labour and socialist movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, capitalist societies of imperialism and laissez faire were run for the benefit of small wealthy oligarchies, which sent children up chimneys, down coal mines and left the majority of people to rot in slums.

Socialism redifined representation to insist that society should be run for the benefit of all people. That is an axiom.

Indeed, in many parts of the world, children still perform those duties.

However, there is still much work to be done- vast global inequalities exist Children die prematurely in their millions each year. We need to win, for these people an quitable distribution of global resources.

In addition to this, the world is heading for environmental meltdown. When presented with the evidence of human and environmental devastaion capitalism has caused, apologists come out with crap like this :

-inequalities in wealth are largely cuased by coruption of the regimes and countries where they are caused;
(corruption exist, but capitalist nations and organisations support such regimes if it is in their interest)

-capitlism is working, its just working very slowly,
(so how many millions of people will die and will we still have a habitable planet by the time its working properly)

-protectionism is not part of the capitalist system,
(yes it is, if it is in the intrest of profit making)

-"socialism has failed" so it's not the answer...
(socialism has worked, in providing public services and housing that has lifted people out of poverty and saved them from an early grave)

but this is my all time favourite (and I quote):

-"Capitalism wasn't around when Europe was carving up and enslaving indigneous Africans. You can say the capitalist mindset started with Adam Smith (1776)"

Have a look over the 'global capitilism is failing thread', to check that these are their arguments.



Solidarity

 

[zulu9812]

Communism no longer fits with me because I started to see how Marx's theories really don't change the balance of power. There are still people who are going to be on top kicking down the people on the bottom.

That is not Marx theory, in any way shape or form. I've no idea where you got that from.

 

[downwithgravity]

Power is the most difficult drug of all to withdraw from.

Another good idea goes to waste on a species unprepared for the responsibility it entails.

 

[Commodore]

That is not Marx theory, in any way shape or form. I've no idea where you got that from.

I didn't get it from the theory itself, I got it from the fact that the ruling elite use Communism to dupe the people into surrendering their freedom "in the name of the Revolution." My trust in Communism has been shaken, not because of the theory, but because in practice, it seems to bring out the worst in humanity.

EDIT: @Aphex Twin: I realize that popular opinion does not constitute actual reality, but people usually don't care about actual reality. People generally only want to see the world in the terms they want ot see it in, regardless if their reality is completely flawed. Following that logic, one could say that popular opinion is reality in the sense that politicians will cater to the masses to stay in power (especially in "democracies"), and send out propoganda to reinforce this "popular reality." Therefore, if people believe Communism is evil, then it will be evil.