Which Would You Choose

[Traitorfish]

Option B, because I consider the equation of material equality and "mediocrity" to be quite frankly puerile.

Capitalism vs communism as they are practiced is not a dichotomy between extreme inequality vs equal but relative well-off. Rather, it's the opposite:

In capitalism (with welfare), you have 1% extremely rich, 79% well off, 20% poor but secure.
In communism, you have 1% extremely rich (the Party cadres), and 99% poor but secure, unless it's a famine in which case it'd be 99% poor and insecure.

This poll would be relevant if communists can actually find a way to deliver mediocrity, as opposed to total disaster.

The Cold War has been over for some time, you realise?

 

[Eukaryote]

Capitalism vs communism as they are practiced is not a dichotomy between extreme inequality vs equal but relative well-off. Rather, it's the opposite:

In capitalism (with welfare), you have 1% extremely rich, 79% well off, 20% poor but secure.
In communism, you have 1% extremely rich (the Party cadres), and 99% poor but secure, unless it's a famine in which case it'd be 99% poor and insecure.

This poll would be relevant if communists can actually find a way to deliver mediocrity, as opposed to total disaster.

It's a hypothetical poll. You're supposed to use your imagination.

Anyway, I'd choose option B. To think about it from a selfish point of view, if I chose option A and got a mansion, I'd be slightly happier than I was now, but if I were homeless, I'd be dramatically less happy than I am now. Given that I'm a student, I'm already used to a mediocre standard of living (in the sense of my housing conditions, food, and lack of car ownership) and I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Old Hippy]

to jump to the conclusion that B is communist and A is capitalist, in this imaginary Monarchy, is perhaps a little premature

A could be the communist state with strong centralised party government and B the capitalist system with effective corporate regulations and tax laws


either way i think the "king of the universe" will retain a veto on future changes

 

[Alassius]

Option B, because I consider the equation of material equality and "mediocrity" to be quite frankly puerile.


The Cold War has been over for some time, you realise?

It's not about the Cold War. It's about getting the facts straight. Do you agree or disagree that the extreme inequality in communist countries was a fact?

 

[Old Hippy]

Extreme inequality in ALL STATES... now thats a fact

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Everyone has a house? That sounds quite good and not mediocre at all. Also, I don't care for mansions.

 

[NYHunter]

Why are some people assuming that option A is capitalism? For all we know the king picks the winners and losers, maybe even by lottery. So even ass kissing him wont work.

 

[Traitorfish]

It's not about the Cold War. It's about getting the facts straight. Do you agree or disagree that the extreme inequality in communist countries was a fact?

I don't see the use in trying to address historical facts- which this quite clearly is, I'm not sure who's debating it- in terms of the ahistorical labels adopted by their regimes. It's unworkably idealist. We may as well argue about the implications of wealth distribution in Nasser's Egypt, if that's the road we're setting ourselves on.

 

[Alassius]

I don't see the use in trying to address historical facts- which this quite clearly is, I'm not sure who's debating it- in terms of the ahistorical labels adopted by their regimes. It's unworkably idealist. We may as well argue about the implications of wealth distribution in Nasser's Egypt, if that's the road we're setting ourselves on.

The point is that communism being poorer but more equal is an unfortunately common misconception. The OP should have an obligation to clarify that. Otherwise you'll get people quoting this poll to prove that people like communism. That would be like asking "do you prefer a Christian heaven to a hell", then conclude that 2/3 of the people are Catholic fundamentalists persuing theocracy.

 

[W|M]

I think that everyone should be turned to pig feed.

 

[Yeekim]

I would vote B just to see how he´d pull this off.
In any case, I can always say I had only good intentions!

 

[Onionsoilder]

B.

Am I pig food?

 

[Traitorfish]

The point is that communism being poorer but more equal is an unfortunately common misconception. The OP should have an obligation to clarify that. Otherwise you'll get people quoting this poll to prove that people like communism. That would be like asking "do you prefer a Christian heaven to a hell", then conclude that 2/3 of the people are Catholic fundamentalists persuing theocracy.

How do you know that the OP intended Option B to be a reference to 20th century state-capitalism? (Let alone the particular model adopted by the CP-lead states?)

 

[amadeus]

Great, everyone's equal. Now define equal.

 

[Alassius]

How do you know that the OP intended Option B to be a reference to 20th century state-capitalism? (Let alone the particular model adopted by the CP-lead states?)

I don't, but people are going to assume, since this is standard communist rhetorics.

 

[timtofly]

Since B is heaven and the absence of free will, that would have to be my choice.

 

[Colonel]

Screw that, I want a Mansion. Besides it would starve innovation and thus destroy our world society.

 

[Traitorfish]

I don't, but people are going to assume, since this is standard communist rhetorics.

...It is?

(Edit: And I'm not being facetious here, I'm genuinely unfamiliar with the association being suggested. Communistic rhetoric, of whatever stripe, always had a lot more stuff about liberation and democracy and whatnot, not just some vague references to narrow income gaps.)

Screw that, I want a Mansion. Besides it would starve innovation and thus destroy our world society.

How so? Most technological innovation is undertaken by government, university and corporate research departments, not by inventor-entrepreneurs trying to strike it rich. What about Option B suggests that this would be in any way impaired?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Besides it would starve innovation and thus destroy our world society.

I didn't know all researchers were motivated by money alone.

 

[amadeus]

I didn't know all researchers were motivated by money alone.

What about the capital used to pay for that research? If there was no profit and only the potential for loss, why would anyone risk their money by putting it toward research?