Is Communism really that bad?

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues

What's money? What are numbers? I hate to get all philosophical but really? If that's what you desire, you should definitely focus on bigger and better things in life. I used to be terribly materialistic and have the apartment, furniture, clothes, and car to prove it.. I look back on it now and I've kind of dug myself into an empty lifestyle. Now I travel, volunteer, and am trying to sell my car (2004 Subaru STI, Rally blue, if anyone's interested) and go on the lam. The dream they have us chasing is meaningless. Really, it is. The more you chase it the further away from happiness you get. It's a f# paradox.

The image of people who enjoy a nice car, good clothing and other luxury being soulless, not enjoying life anymore is a....cliche, a stereotype. There are unhappy rich people and unhappy poor people as well as happy poor people and unahppy poor people.

There is nothing wrong with performing well at work and getting rewarded for that performance.

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
reply to post by Kacen

 

What's money? What are numbers? I hate to get all philosophical but really? If that's what you desire, you should definitely focus on bigger and better things in life. I used to be terribly materialistic and have the apartment, furniture, clothes, and car to prove it.. I look back on it now and I've kind of dug myself into an empty lifestyle. Now I travel, volunteer, and am trying to sell my car (2004 Subaru STI, Rally blue, if anyone's interested) and go on the lam. The dream they have us chasing is meaningless. Really, it is. The more you chase it the further away from happiness you get. It's a f# paradox.

What makes you think I am 100% materialistic? Why do people love to think in black and white all the time? I like a little bit of everything. I like meaningful things but hey maybe I want to uh own a big mansion too?

Sheesh...natural desire. Yes by itself it gets boring but thats why you mix the meaningful stuff in with it. I use meaningful for lack of a better term (uh friendship, love whatever).

reply to post by Redge777


*thread hijack*
*cough*
back on track now...
Like said so many times before, communism is a great idea on paper, but when it becaomes a reality, it never works because those in power abuse it. Unless we can get the perfect, most just, loyal and fair governing being (God) to be our "dictator" then in now way will we be ever able to achieve a perfect communist society, and if we did, we would call it a "utopian society" because in Utopia, everything is perfect. AKA Heaven.
My 0.02$ CAD anyways...

Edited for spelling errors

[edit on 053131p://444 by For(Home)Country]

Commies would envy us for enjoying dance, love, laughter, friendship, companionship in a beautiful mansion surrounded by palm gardens. Instead they envision a workers paradise, having us sweating in some factory under a poster of the revolutionary leader. Yuck.

Originally posted by Skyfloating
Commies would envy us for enjoying dance, love, laughter, friendship, companionship in a beautiful mansion surrounded by palm gardens. Instead they envision a workers paradise, having us sweating in some factory under a poster of the revolutionary leader. Yuck.

Who ever said modern day communism has been a dream? Even those of us who agree with Communism as an ideology dispute the variable in which fails it. The human one. No one is defending the communism in the industrial age, although we are defending it for what it is as a philosophy.

Originally posted by For(Home)Country
reply to post by Redge777

 

*thread hijack*
*cough*
back on track now...

I was not hijacking the thread, I did post a comment regarding the theme not started by me, and then responded to a post that was unclear. This seems to be an unjust and falsly motivated reply by you.

both pure capitalism and pure communism are good, its when u start mixing them together, things go bad.

What makes you think I am 100% materialistic? Why do people love to think in black and white all the time? I like a little bit of everything. I like meaningful things but hey maybe I want to uh own a big mansion too?

Sheesh...natural desire. Yes by itself it gets boring but thats why you mix the meaningful stuff in with it. I use meaningful for lack of a better term (uh friendship, love whatever).

I never said you were anything. I gave you a personal scenerio and you may have personalized it for the sake of your argument. You internalized it as a black and white matter, I didn't present it in one. Regardless, there's no reason to live above ones personal needs. A big house, fast car, cool stuff, are all just trivial pursuits in life. Life for a lot of people is horrible because others want it better. We've distanced ourselves from what's "real" and we're living in this fantasy world of caste lines and 24" wheels. I'll always defend Marxism as a philosophy, I just don't think people quite understand it's concept spiritually.

reply to post by Redge777


I wouldn't even sweat something like that. Discussion is discussion. It'll make it's way back around one way or another. haha. All relative aspects of the same topic, as far as Ive seen.

reply to post by Redge777


I wouldn't even sweat something like that. Discussion is discussion. It'll make it's way back around one way or another. haha. All relative aspects of the same topic, as far as Ive seen.

Originally posted by bigspud
both pure capitalism and pure communism are good, its when u start mixing them together, things go bad.

...

What?

Thats when it's good.

Its ether one by themselves that are bad (communism more so).

Seriously is your head screwed up?! O_o;

The point of this thread is to get, peoples views on communism. not to get comments about what i did or didnt do.

I know a girl who lived in a soviet country, she lives, and works and has a good job, but u know what? she would rather live in a communist country. i can Quote her on that too.

" I wish that i lived in surbia again, over there you survive and your happy somehow, they do it, why do we have to work so hard over hear to live and survive, id rather live in communism "

I dont see her kissing everyones A$$ to get some where in life, and i don't see her kissing the ground she walks on either, she could care less.

But again this thread was not created for me to just make a big deal and talk on about something just to annoy people. Like i said if people enjoy being constantly chained to something, thats perfectly fine, everyone is there own person.

also ATS is about free speech and posting almost anything and everything, it's not about who is right and who wrong, or who is not a true American and who is not. Sure the word communism only makes people angry, becouse when people think of communism the only thing they can thing of is Nazi Germany.

What would you call what our president is doing right now, as far as Iran, Iraq, is concerned? people believe that his capitalistic ways are doing any good? is that what people call a good Christian? someone who is on the right path? well i beg to differ on all counts.

But again i guess to some people billions and billions of solders and civilians died for a good reason.

Yes Wiki, Has more interesting information about Communism. If you want to Read. It also said that there are many different ideas and views of communism.
Feel Free to read, About it, and understand it before you assume.

[en.wikipedia.org...[/url]


[edit on 11-10-2007 by 1111111111111]

It's just a more civil way, by theory, to conduct a civilization. Equality for everyone regardless of employment, race, religion, caste. We're far away from ever achieving this in modern times but it will be a beautiful thing when it finally works.






[edit on 11-10-2007 by DeadFlagBlues]

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
I wouldn't even sweat something like that. Discussion is discussion. It'll make it's way back around one way or another. haha. All relative aspects of the same topic, as far as Ive seen.

I don't understand this. please explain the humor, would love to laugh to, it seems you are leaving some out.

I see you are responding about a post by your friend. Are you also elaborating on your post following mine on last page. Your posts seem to be cryptic to me.



[edit on 11-10-2007 by Redge777]

reply to post by Redge777


He/she said you Hijacked the thread and you seemed to be irritated by it. I was just lending some support for dicussion is all. No ulterior motives or meanings, man. Haha.

Originally posted by DeadFlagBlues
It's just a more civil way, by theory, to conduct a civilization. Equality for everyone regardless of employment, race, religion, caste. We're far away from ever achieving this in modern times but it will be a beautiful thing when it finally works.

Equality on sex and race I am 100% for and will fight for however seriously we need people to do different jobs. In all honestly I don't think it is right that a doctor who saves peoples lives should be paid the same as a janitor.

Wow your a hypocrite you know it irritates me how you left out sex but figures since your a freemason you sexist b...caught myself. But I cannot espouse enough how much I wish I could say it.

[edit on 10/11/2007 by Kacen]

Communism is like anarchy, good in theory until you plug the human factor in. There are the power hungry and those that couldn't care less for administration. Both systems would be good but the reliance on autonomy is lost on many. Most think "communism" and think Russia or Cuba, nothing could be further from the truth. That's not true communism. Same as anarchy. People think that's a total "free for all". It isn't. It's about having the rule, "No rules, as long it doesn't infringe on another." It takes personal responsibility. THAT'S the problem, too few are willing to accept the WORK it takes to make these systems work. They'd rather be told, and ruled.

If you read up on what Marx said about capitalism, he maybe right after all regarding exploitation of labour and the replacement of men by machinary.

But the interesting thing is China. In theory, it's a communism style of capitalism they've created. The economy is far from Western capitalism. Most businesses in China are joint venture with the government i.e the government has 51% (majority shareholder).

I point you all to this article;

Does Communism work after all?

China is securing an ever-bigger share of the world market with the methods of a planned economy. Competitors and economists alike are astounded by the country's seemingly unstoppable march to becoming a global economic superpower. The development has left many wondering: Does communism work after all?

Why does pay have any relation in what you do? The doctor should find a great amount of love for his work. He should become a doctor for his want and will to help people. Why should he drive a fancier car than a man who cleans s# all day? Should he be allowed more comfort because he has a better job? Transportation is transportation. A house is a house. Food is food. Why should it be divided due to class lines? Why can't we do things for our fellow human being rather than a piece of paper? It's beyond "pay." If you can't understand that, than our discussion is going nowhere.

Originally posted by 1111111111111
The point of this thread is to get, peoples views on communism. not to get comments about what i did or didnt do.

I know a girl who lived in a soviet country, she lives, and works and has a good job, but u know what? she would rather live in a communist country. i can Quote her on that too.

" I wish that i lived in surbia again, over there you survive and your happy somehow, they do it, why do we have to work so hard over hear to live and survive, id rather live in communism "

I dont see her kissing everyones A$$ to get some where in life, and i don't see her kissing the ground she walks on either, she could care less.

But again this thread was not created for me to just make a big deal and talk on about something just to annoy people. Like i said if people enjoy being constantly chained to something, thats perfectly fine, everyone is there own person.

also ATS is about free speech and posting almost anything and everything, it's not about who is right and who wrong, or who is not a true American and who is not. Sure the word communism only makes people angry, becouse when people think of communism the only thing they can thing of is Nazi Germany.

What would you call what our president is doing right now, as far as Iran, Iraq, is concerned? people believe that his capitalistic ways are doing any good? is that what people call a good Christian? someone who is on the right path? well i beg to differ on all counts.

But again i guess to some people billions and billions of solders and civilians died for a good reason.

Yes Wiki, Has more interesting information about Communism. If you want to Read. It also said that there are many different ideas and views of communism.
Feel Free to read, About it, and understand it before you assume.

[en.wikipedia.org...[/url]

[edit on 11-10-2007 by 1111111111111]

This little missive is so naive and full of holes, ( billions and billions of solders and civilians died ??) and a complete misapprehension of human foibles, that it is simply sad.
Rather than to 'enlighten' you, I would simply say " Go in peace" to China.

Please. By all means. With all possible haste.

But even china is no longer a purely communistic 'utopian' society. (has it ever really been?) In fact, as time passes, it becomes more and more capitalist, and even much more so if you count the black market underground where the real commerce is done everyday. The chinese people know your brand of Big Gov is a house of cards and 'subvert' it every day. With capitalism.
BTW, how old was your girl friend in europe?
Just curious.

edit for SP.

[edit on 11-10-2007 by 1111111111111]

[edit on 11-10-2007 by Alexander the o.k.]