Communism vs. Capitalism, which is really better?

[gl1koz3]

The problem with USSR communism was lack of competition (or the feeling that you are getting more for doing more and better; the struggle to do it better than something else you can compare to; it existed, but not globally or in average person's life), which led to loss of motivation, which led to decline of quality, which affected motivation (morale).

Therefore it's an Utopian BS story. What we really need is just switching the economy to resource-based. So that you can provide a specific resource (labor, product, whatever) and get the resources to sustain you and your work in return. It's complicated to quantize the resource unit, nor do I know specifics, but this is what would keep the competition inside and excessive accumulation of resources - outside.

The biggest problem with it is the details of implementation. The fact capitalism is what seems to work at all is also a huge BUT. If it wasn't something that works, we wouldn't be here, so I'm questioning the need of anything else... as it would probably fit only a subset of all possible human personalities.

 

[M4A1Sopmod]

Simply put (Mostly because Im lazy and don't want to take the time to explain the whole idea) neither idea is inherently "better" than the other. Both have flaws and merits, but the person who executes it really decides whether or not the idea works. Communism could be a flourishing system in Russia at this very moment if corruption had not bled the country dry and forced it too abandon communism. Likewise, the United States has had some rocky economical ground lately and I have heard speculation that it will get worse. Capitalism has lasted longer because it doesn't hinge on people being "good" and willing sharing their belongings with their neighbor. Capitalism knows that people are selfish pigs and will climb over pregnant women and elderly ladies to get their greedy hands on money. Thus the system flourishes for now as it is founded on the ideals of greed and selfishness. Before I wrap this up I should say that I am for capitalism as it is a realistic form of economical management. In other words, greed works.

 

[acosn]

In theory? Communism.

In practice? Capitalism.


The basic most problem is that people like to be called on and counted. There's a fundamental need for occupations like doctors, engineers, and lawyers to be well paid- the jobs are highly technical and demand a great deal of effort.

And on a broader scale? Money driving the economy works a hell of a lot better than the will of the people. Communism put man in space. Capitalism landed him on the moon.

 

[Axzarious]

Humanity is the essential flaw to both. The reason why capitalism is "Better" Is also essentially the same reason "Democracy" is considered the "Best". They are the best only in the sense that both are better than the other alternatives. Essentially its a choice between Bad, worse, and horrible. You go with the least bad.

 

[Zukhramm]

I hate how people say (about anything really) that "it works in theory". No. Something that doesn't work in practice also does not work in theory. If it does, the the theory is wrong and should be discarded. And since you are claiming is does not work, without implementing the idea, you prove that it in fact, does not work in theory either.

 

[Hoplon]

Both are much like crapping in some ones drink, pointless and disgusting.

Neither works because they tend towards concentration of money and power, which is in the long term always disastrous.

 

[3redlights]

Its not an either/or question, ideally you want a mixed economy. Very few countries in the world actually practice out and out unrestrained capitalism.

 

[havass]

Both suffer from one serious flaw. Humans.

The cynic in me agrees.

OT: Democracy.

 

[LitleWaffle]

Since I never grew up in the Cold War, I've never really got why our (USA) country is so paranoid about Communism. I mean, if you look at it, Communism is, theoretically, better.

True, and communism would be better except for one problem...


People are dicks.

When Stalin controlled the Soviet Union, he had the people live in an almost communist manner, except that anyone who didn't agree to the tiniest thing about Stalin died horribly, and if Stalin was in the mood, publicly.

You could consider him as a Communist Dictator.

Personally, I don't know why we were/are scared of communists either, but my guess is that we believed/believe that with communism comes dictatorship, and with dictatorship comes no free will, and that's horrible.

 

[Paxel]

Capitalism. A big problem with communism is that it centralizes power too much, and as good old Plato said "All power corrupts". Also when speaking about communism it is important to make the distinction between Marx version and say for example Leninism and Stalinism.

 

[minimacker]

Well, seeing as how in every sci-fi movie, every society is communistic. Yeah.

But really, there has to be a balance between them. I'm a big leftie myself, but even I understand that somewhere in the middle is the best choice.


Edit : And yeah, what the other guy said. People are dicks.

 

[Counterwise]

Compare Sweden with the USA.

 

[Verlander]

Meh, I would prefer a Benevolent Dictatorship, but too much power to one guy gets them in over their heads.

Our survey says.... ding! Right answer!!

 

[The Stonker]

In Communism then you have people that can work but won't, and get as much as the average person.
In Capitalism, you have greedy people.
But they are everywere.

They both have their evils and both have their goods.
But imagine a country which nobody was rich and nobody was average.
Everybody would be poor.
You would need to have some kind of a super country or so much money that everyone can live atleast half deccent lives, and in Communism then you can be a CEO of a governmental owned company and be a man who mops the floors and get the same payments.
Is that right?

 

[Wintermoot]

a bit of both in a communistic government some officials think they are more "equal" then others in a pure capitalstic government you get the USA but worse (the richer getting richer the poorer getting poorer) its best used mixed, the frredom of capitalism and the caringness of communism ( in a pure kapitalistic goverment you are on your own if bad things happen)

 

[KnowYourOnion]

Cuba seems to be doing quite well with the whole Communist thing. Yeah they're hardly the richest country in the world BUT and this a massive but, they have the best healthcare in the entire world which is free and more importantly a lot of the people there seem genuinely happy.

 

[Arrogancy]

Capitalism. Communism plays too much into an ideal state of humanity, in the ideal communist state we all work for no other reason than to help our neighbors and make the world a perfect place where we can walk down forest paths and listen to the birds sing without being picked up by the secret police and sent to Siberia for attempted conspiracy against the Party. Capitalism, on the other hand, accounts for people being selfish greedy jerks. It works based on principles that we can see in the natural world around us, i.e. survival of the fittest. While unchecked capitalism can be a very flawed system and can, indeed, lead to some very poor outcomes (housing crisis, stock market crash) it still works.

 

[erto101]

The golden middle way: Socialism

 

[BNguyen]

I would prefer the competitiveness of capitalism to the equality of communism any day.
Communism promotes giving everyone, no matter how little they do, to getting everything that a hard worker who takes pride in their accomplishments.
Think about it, no matter how hard you work, you'll never get anything more than the bottom rung of society which now has an equal standing with you. Communism has proved time and time again an utter failure while capitalism continues to evolve to meet today's demands.
Capitalism promotes ingenuity and self improvement. It drives people to become better at their trade while inciting the bottom rung to take a step up in becoming better citizens.
The government should never have too much control over its citizens - otherwise you're just asking for a revolution or uprising.

And to the people who say Americans need the universal health care system - think about this - illegal immigrants can come and go into any hospital to receive care - all while using the money made by the work of legal citizens - it's not that we don't want it, it's that we will take it when it works to help actual citizens instead of the people who cheat to enter the country. So, would you want your money to go to help someone who is also paying for the same system, or to someone who'll not contribute at all?

 

[guntotingtomcat]

You see, I like communism.
But I also like capitalism.
But which is better...

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT!

FIGHT!!!