Poll: Capitalism or Communism?

[ImSkeletor]

I vote for capitalism. I know thats the "uncool" answer but I don't care. Like anarchy communism sounds nice but has never and will never actually work and when you think about it for more then ten seconds just falls apart. Capitalism has worked out to atleast SOME extent.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

To quote Austin Powers

Yay Capitalism.

Yeah it was sarcastic, but it's how I feel. I loves me some free markets.

 

[Dan Steele]

I believe both will fall to a more superior form of economy in the future.

 

[CulixCupric]

Communism works. In theory.

Capitalism works. In theory.

Both are shitty in reality, but Communism sounds better on paper.

i can agree with the first two. not sure about the last one, that's more of an opinion.

 

[Random Fella]

Communism makes there nothing for you to work towards, whatever you do you get the same thing. IMO if you study for 6 extra years after school and become a Docter you deserve to earn multiple times more than the person who dropped out to become a rubbish man.
So I would have to say capitalism, in reality and in theory.

 

[Wintermoot]

a mix
only Capitalism results in the US
only Communism results in the USSR
the best of both worlds free market and power to the people.

 

[Chalacachaca]

Do I have to choose? I'll go for capitalism then, things were better when we followed U.S. as an economic model instead of Cuba.

 

[Tooshay]

you haven't seen/been in a Communist country.

Very few people have, if any. Technically, Russia was Stalinist, not Socialist, not Communist. China is Capitalist, not Socialist, not Communist, Cuba was just as Fascist as Communist, and not a single European state owned by Russia was Communist. They all call themselves communist to pacify the working population.

If the communism that was on that above poll was TRUE Communism- which hasnt ever existed yet -then i would vote for that.

Unfortunately, True communism is impossible, and would never ever work in a modern world. Ever.

If it would, i would be all for it, though.

Capitalism is a horrible, horrible system, but its all we got.

Marxist-Leninist Socialism (which is what the USSR was) is communism. Because you know, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin were the ones who started the USSR experiment.

Socialism and Communism arent really the same thing, And Leninism is not communism. Lenin, although Socialist, never ever actiualy managed to impose Communism - And barely Socialism - Before his death. There are several main examples of how Lenin wasnt communist- He didnt support Industrial Workers, Opposed most Peasant classes, Created several NEW class divides and, through the implementation of "The New Economic Policy" of the early 1920's, actiualy pushed Russia closer to Capitalism, if anything, as the NEP allowed free trading, and resulted in the creation of a "Wealthy Peasant Class".

Stalin was much more sucessful in creating a Socialist class, but this was only though more Division, the stopping of all freedoms (Through the great Purges and Propaganda) and creating a Single Party Dictatorship. If Stalin, or Lenin, ever wanted to make a TRUE Socialist state, they were litteraly doing every single thing wrong imaginable.

I feel i should point out though, that my knowledge of Russian history comes from one year of study in highschool. I should also point out that my knowledge only includes the period of 1885 to 1941.

TL;DR, They werent really Socialist, Socialism isnt Communism, Stalin and Lenin were doin' it wrong.


EDIT: I just realised i actiualy went quite off topic there, and i want to restate my original point;

If the option in the poll for "Communist" really means Pure Marxist theory, then yes i choose that. If "Communist" Means the American bastardized version of the word "Communism" then no.

EDIT 2: i would also like to say that i was using the word "Technically" for a reason, and i was merely stating history as i saw it after a study over a year period. Your version of events is completely true, at the very least to you, its just wrong, To me.

I haven't done any formal study on Russian history, but I did do three years of formal study on politics. And you are right, socialism and communism are not the same thing, but they are on the same scale.
Its worth pointing out that Marxist-Leninist Socialism and communism were terms retroactively applied to ideas or states. Prior to the October revolution the driving force was simply socialism. Over time it was bastardized into Marxist Leninist Socialism which became what most people know as communism.
And yes I agree that Russia never approached a proper socialist state, but what they became was known as Communism (after all, I am pretty sure we only have the word because of what the USSR turned into, if its socialist experiment actually worked we would just call it socialist).

But back on topic. I simply cannot believe so many people voted for communism. In a communist system you have no free will, and if the authors of soviet literature are to believed no free though. I could understand people voting for socialism, because at its heart it does have a few liberal ideals.

 

[SimpleJack]

Communism, because I'm SUCH A FUCKING HIPSTER.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Socialism... socialism... now, what does that remind me of. Is that diet communism? Relabelling things just like "People's republic of you all need to shut up and die now", commie countries calling themselves "democracies"? The either or question is a bit off, since the termwordthing "capitalism", right now, seems mostly shaped by the critics and haters of it (and they usually don' extend their graceful hatred onto freedoms, achievements and legal securities offered), and communism tends to be defined by... well, the very same bunch of clowns.

If there's any communism around, kill it with fire. Thank you.

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[Smooth Operator]

It's about a thousand years too early for Communism, simple fact is we don't want to be equal, we all want to be better then others.

So for now we cling on to our old jungle law, or the politically correct term Capitalism.

 

[Paladin Anderson]

Communism is based on the idea that people, at heart, are all good and aren't going to tear the system apart trying to get theirs.

Capitalism is based on the idea that the flow of money is self regulating. Companies aren't going to screw over their customers because that's bad for the bottom line. Or that customers are going to have the intelligence and self control enough to stop buying from companies that fuck them over. If either of these were true then EA, Walmart, and many banks, would be out of business. Instead companies are rushing to emulate them hoping to copy their profit margins because, people *****, but they wont actually do anything. Those that do try to do anything are mocked because caring about anything is SOOO 1960. Government attempts to step in because we're too self serving and apathetic for the system to work are fought by those who are bought and paid for by said companies.

Let's use an example hmmm... The sub prime lending debacle. In most countries, sub prime lending is illegal. But that was government interfering in business so it was fought against here and allowed flourish. Then after it was all said and done, the banks who took part in it are still in business because the customers either don't care or aren't informed. So they are free to move onto the next perfectly legal scam. The economy will, eventually recover, people will stop watching them so closely, and they'll find another loop hole to exploit and we'll all be back here again.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

you haven't seen/been in a Communist country.

Very few people have, if any. Technically, Russia was Stalinist, not Socialist, not Communist. China is Capitalist, not Socialist, not Communist, Cuba was just as Fascist as Communist, and not a single European state owned by Russia was Communist. They all call themselves communist to pacify the working population.

If the communism that was on that above poll was TRUE Communism- which hasnt ever existed yet -then i would vote for that.

Unfortunately, True communism is impossible, and would never ever work in a modern world. Ever.

If it would, i would be all for it, though.

Capitalism is a horrible, horrible system, but its all we got.

Marxist-Leninist Socialism (which is what the USSR was) is communism. Because you know, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin were the ones who started the USSR experiment.

Socialism and Communism arent really the same thing, And Leninism is not communism. Lenin, although Socialist, never ever actiualy managed to impose Communism - And barely Socialism - Before his death. There are several main examples of how Lenin wasnt communist- He didnt support Industrial Workers, Opposed most Peasant classes, Created several NEW class divides and, through the implementation of "The New Economic Policy" of the early 1920's, actiualy pushed Russia closer to Capitalism, if anything, as the NEP allowed free trading, and resulted in the creation of a "Wealthy Peasant Class".

Stalin was much more sucessful in creating a Socialist class, but this was only though more Division, the stopping of all freedoms (Through the great Purges and Propaganda) and creating a Single Party Dictatorship. If Stalin, or Lenin, ever wanted to make a TRUE Socialist state, they were litteraly doing every single thing wrong imaginable.

I feel i should point out though, that my knowledge of Russian history comes from one year of study in highschool. I should also point out that my knowledge only includes the period of 1885 to 1941.

TL;DR, They werent really Socialist, Socialism isnt Communism, Stalin and Lenin were doin' it wrong.


EDIT: I just realised i actiualy went quite off topic there, and i want to restate my original point;

If the option in the poll for "Communist" really means Pure Marxist theory, then yes i choose that. If "Communist" Means the American bastardized version of the word "Communism" then no.

EDIT 2: i would also like to say that i was using the word "Technically" for a reason, and i was merely stating history as i saw it after a study over a year period. Your version of events is completely true, at the very least to you, its just wrong, To me.

But back on topic. I simply cannot believe so many people voted for communism. In a communist system you have no free will, and if the authors of soviet literature are to believed no free though. I could understand people voting for socialism, because at its heart it does have a few liberal ideals.

What is think is happening is that people who support communism are supporting MARXIST communism- Complete freedom of speech, race, gender, religon, and freedom from poverty and control.

Communism, at its base, BASE, element, is complete freedom from EVERYTHING. (Obviously, not achiveable, but we can -in theory- get quite close)

People who voted against it, have no real idea what communism is, and think immediatly of the purges and terror Stalin used under the name "Communism"...

I didnt explain that well, heres another way;

If people knew what "Communism" meant, they would vote for it. People dont know what "Communism" means, and vote against it.

In honesty, we need a better name for the two policys. Communism doesnt mean Communism...

Marxism and Stalinism would be better terms, i think.

And i think that there is a reason people are voting for "Communism" - I mean, look at the Wall St Protests; This could EASILY be seen as the start of a Communist revolution. I mean, in 100 years, if communism had come to power, would it be too far-fetched to say that the Wall St protests were the first in a series of protests and uprisings?

Edit: And good on ya for studying politics, it makes my head spin.

Im 17 and i STILL dont know HOW the Australian govenment works.

(Presuming, for once, Julia shuts up and something actiualy happens)

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

If the option in the poll for "Communist" really means Pure Marxist theory, then yes i choose that. If "Communist" Means the American bastardized version of the word "Communism" then no.

EDIT 2: i would also like to say that i was using the word "Technically" for a reason, and i was merely stating history as i saw it after a study over a year period. Your version of events is completely true, at the very least to you, its just wrong, To me.

I've read my fair share of Mein Kampf and Das Kapital to state that yes, indeed, both made me think and rethink and reconsider some of the statements and claims of history books or people's accounts of first-hand experiences.

Pure marxist theory, to me, is just that: theory. Not only that, but Marx really easily comes off a frothing, angry madman foaming at the mouth. The way I currently understand things is this: Without Marx, without socialism, we would never have had Schicklgruber become Elvis pompous Hitler in the first place. Then again, if evil capitalist notions are the number one reason for having stomped on Germany over more than a century now,

what do you think becomes of, say, Iraq now? Iraq hasn't had a potential anywhere near Germany in the last, say, two-thousand years. Iraq is pretty much a hell-hole. While Germany after WWII managed to become yet again the motor of some artifical European "Union", Iraq is just about to explode, big time, incessantly, with no happy end in sight. Would Communism help? Can socialism, capitalism, democracy really fend off the threat of what has falsely been dubbed the "Islamist" threat?

I think socialism is something that grows on the fertile soil of democracies. Yes, being "social" is big in my books, but that doesn't mean I'm a fan of "socialism". Communism can never be productive or safe, as it grows on capitalist or religious or otherwise "free" societies like mold, or cancer, seeking to destroy it and replacing everything with just a new strain of asshattery. It's never been more than experiments so far. Human experiments, seeking to make people turn into something they're not, something they'll never be.

 

[Wintermoot]

a mix
only Capitalism results in the US
only Communism results in the USSR
the best of both worlds free market and power to the people.

You really think the Soviets with their gulags gave power to the people? Democracy/constitutional republic gives power to the people much more than communism ever could. Unless mass famine, virtually nonexistent civil liberties, and slave labor camps means power to the people to you. The Fatal Conceit proved capitalism trumps communism long ago.

my fault I think I accidentally mentioned two good things about Capitalism.
free market and workers helped by the government.

 

[PatrickXD]

Having a non corrupt communist society is like having a non broken candy cane. Everybody wants it but it's never going happen.

Ironically, a candy cane I was eating broke as I read your post...

OT: I agree with Cazza, communism would be great but you can't get all of the guys involved to not be corrupt. I think a balance would need to be struck between the two.