Is Communism / Sociolism the wave of the future?

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JonTheBaller

Golden Member
Dec 2, 2002
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Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: aswedc
This is exactly what I've been thinking. The top countries in the next century will be as capitalistic as the US, but not nearly as democratic. China, India, and Russia all demonstrate this.

Even in the US people aren't taking the traditional system of checks and balances and the governmental process seriously anymore, as long as the government delivers results, real or perceived.

If China, India, and Russia became a full on democracy, the mass poor would vote in a communist government that would hand out "free" money. They would not grow this fast (or at all) under a democratic government (in my opinion).
Maybe the mass poor won't vote like they don't vote in America. :p
 

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
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Originally posted by: Blazin Trav
No. Communism and Socialism is not free, so therefore it is FTL.

I assume you mean free like the birds, rather than free like refills at McDonalds. What is 'not free' about a socialist democracy like Britain or France?

Originally posted by: JS80
If China, India, and Russia became a full on democracy...

India is a democracy. They even voted in a female leader which is more than I can say for some.


 

JonTheBaller

Golden Member
Dec 2, 2002
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Originally posted by: Atheus
Originally posted by: Blazin Trav
No. Communism and Socialism is not free, so therefore it is FTL.

I assume you mean free like the birds, rather than free like refills at McDonalds. What is 'not free' about a socialist democracy like Britain or France?
The right to bear arms
 

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
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Originally posted by: Aflac
China is becoming an economic powerhouse because of the forces of capitalism, not communism. At least, that's how I see it...

QFT. China has grown economically because of other capitalistic societies in the world and being permitted to participate in them.
 

hdeck

Lifer
Sep 26, 2002
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they aren't rejecting democracy. russia is becoming more democratic. as china continues to globalize, it's politcal ideology will slowly shift as well.

the only truly communist nation is north korea, and their economy is doing great, isn't it?
 

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
7,313
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Originally posted by: JonTheBaller
The right to bear arms

Huh? You can own weapons for home defence or recreation in Britain. Pretty sure it's thae same in France.
 

Albatross

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2001
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in fact the US market subsidizes the socialism of the whole world since they export so much of their products to the US.
 

JonTheBaller

Golden Member
Dec 2, 2002
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Originally posted by: Atheus
Originally posted by: JonTheBaller
The right to bear arms

Huh? You can own weapons for home defence or recreation in Britain. Pretty sure it's thae same in France.
"England - Licenses have been required for rifles and handguns since 1920, and for shotguns since 1967. A decade ago semi-automatic and pump-action center-fire rifles, and all handguns except single- shot .22s, were prohibited. The .22s were banned in 1997. Shotguns must be registered and semi-automatic shotguns that can hold more than two shells must be licensed."

Won't bother looking up France, but they probably have as little respect for civil rights as the English do.
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
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Communism is, in it's lowest common denominator, simply "everyone working for the betterment of everyone". Period. On paper, it's a wonderful idea.

It's only when you introduce the human element that it gets totally screwed up! Let's face it, humans are lazy, self-centered and whiny. It takes no time at all before someone decides that they don't have to work as hard as everyone else, maybe because their work is better than everyone else's. Then someone else decides that if person #1 doesn't have to work as hard, neither do they. Add to that the absolute lack of incentive that anyone has to work harder, and before you know it you have no one working, and everyone expecting everyone else to work harder for their betterment! Like I said, it's wonderful on paper, but unrealistic in real life, insofar as humans are involved.

Socialism is nothing more than everyone chipping in to make certain that everyone has at least a minimum standard of living. Socialized medicine is one easy example, and look at how poorly that works. If you screw up your knee in the good ol' US of A, you can probably get your doctor to get an MRI scheduled for you within a month, tops. If you're in England, you might wait 6 months or longer, or you might not even get to go see a specialist or get that MRI done! Why?? Once again, you've taken away the incentive for people (in this case, doctors & other medical personnel) to work harder, because they're not going to better themselves by working harder or doing more for the patients.

What you're likely to see in the future is some bastardized version of the current democratic republic that the USA runs. Let's face it, we already do have some socialistic tendancies, in welfare and other "public assistance" that's given out, right? ;)
 

SophalotJack

Banned
Jan 6, 2006
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India is the largest democratic govt in the world.

Didn't know it was more expensive to live in Moscow then it is to live in Manhatten, South Beach, 90210, downtown chic, etc.. I don't know if I buy that one.

China is the global friendly version of North Korea. They don't have a crazy person as the face of their country and we'll never talk ****** about them because they own us like a credit card owns a poor college student. Would never want to be in China as a citizen.

But you have a point. Democracy is looking like it is failing. It had a decent run... 250 years, but the established 1 king / dictator style countries seem to always stay on the map.
 

fitzov

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2004
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If this thread is not P&N then what is?

Anyway, since not one of you have read Marx then you've nothing to say about Communism. You don't even know what it is.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
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Originally posted by: fitzov
If this thread is not P&N then what is?

Anyway, since not one of you have read Marx then you've nothing to say about Communism. You don't even know what it is.

Dude, please explain it to them then.

Don't be that guy.
 

fitzov

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2004
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Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: fitzov
If this thread is not P&N then what is?

Anyway, since not one of you have read Marx then you've nothing to say about Communism. You don't even know what it is.

Dude, please explain it to them then.

Don't be that guy.

Take a course on political philosophy, or at least read Capital vol.1.

edit: and don't even try the "look at USSR" bit--they were not communist.
 

aswedc

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2000
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Originally posted by: SophalotJack
China is the global friendly version of North Korea. They don't have a crazy person as the face of their country and we'll never talk ****** about them because they own us like a credit card owns a poor college student. Would never want to be in China as a citizen.
Hardly. Hong Kong hasn't missed a step since Chinese control. And some mainland cities like Shanghai are just as business and consumer friendly.

 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: marvdmartian
Communism is, in it's lowest common denominator, simply "everyone working for the betterment of everyone". Period. On paper, it's a wonderful idea.

On paper it's a terrible idea. Quit parroting that. Any system in which everyone is a slave to everyone else is immoral, no matter what.
 

wfbberzerker

Lifer
Apr 12, 2001
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communism as a principle will never work because those people who have the power/money will not relinquish it to be equal with everyone else.
 

aswedc

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2000
3,543
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Originally posted by: So
On paper it's a terrible idea. Quit parroting that. Any system in which everyone is a slave to everyone else is immoral, no matter what.
It's not immoral for 20% of the population to control 84% of the wealth? :confused:
 

Albatross

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2001
2,344
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Originally posted by: aswedc
Originally posted by: So
On paper it's a terrible idea. Quit parroting that. Any system in which everyone is a slave to everyone else is immoral, no matter what.
It's not immoral for 20% of the population to control 84% of the wealth? :confused:

why should it be? :confused:
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
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It isn't because they are Communist... It is because they ambraced Capitalism. Sooner or later, it will make the middle class push for more political freedom, but that is in the long run.