Why did communism never work?

[Spectral]

In order to call something a theory it has to already be tried, otherwise its a hypothesis.

Social theories aren't really the same as scientific theories when it comes to nomenclature. If they were held to the same burden of proof, they'd be close to non-existent as "theories".

[Thoughtful Trolli]

Why have a communist system, when you can have a communist system for the genius billionaires hidden over the span of the entire continent in various mansions strewn throughout the wilderness while the main cities practice and preach capitalism and act as capitalist traps for the people who wouldn't think communism would work?

Then you've got your capitalists playing the capitalist game, and the communists living gloriously fulfilling work-free lives in a hidden cave by the ocean nearby.

EDIT: *hint hint*

[Deleted]

You like to help people, women think that doctors are more sexier then burger flippers, in a utopian world you only do that work that interst you. Have you never known the joy of cooking? Personally I think cooking is necessary evil but I know peopel who like it.

Well, I like bad boys more than doctors (although I would never let them have any of my money).

But in any case.. it takes around 10 years to become a doctor. First, its insanely sexist to assume only men (or lesbians) can be doctors when there are more women in the medical field and second.. no one, even the geekiest nerdiest loser would ever put in 10y of hard work to have a better chance of getting a GF if he can just do some basic job, slack and play video games and party all day.

As for cooking. and other things. Yes, I love cooking. If never cook 8h a day if I have the option not to do that though. And if I had to.. Id just wouldnt put in much effort as theres no incentive to do that.

[One-Eyed Jack]

But Stalin was not that bad.

Are you joking?

[Elim Garak]

Communism/socialism is about who owns what, not how you pay for something exactly. In a true communist state the workers would own their means of production, how things are traded and divided exactly is still something that can be discussed. I think it would be insane to have a society where there you can produce but have no way of trading them in any meaningful way. All that money does is making a way to trade things. Money isn't inherent to capitalism.

1. Stop slashing communism and socialism together. They are related but not one and the same. Socialism is just a first step on the way to communism.
2. There is no trade in communism as there's nothing to trade for. If you need something you get it. If it isn't available - you either wait for it to become available or if it's really needed - you get it from some one who doesn't need it that badly and a new copy is going to be made to account for that. Everything belongs to everyone. Everyone gets what they need as long as they provide what they can.
3. Emphasis on need. Not want. If you want something do it yourself, or ask your friends to do it for you they might ask you to do something for them. but there's no contract in that kind of "want" relationship. So it's not trade. It's favor for a favor. A communal way of doing things.
4. Above is the reason it's considered utopian on grander scale, but it can work in small communities to an extent. Because said communities still ahve to deal with capitalistic world around them - there are some tweaks, like they still can have money for external trade.

[mickybrighteyes]

Communism fails because just before it can ever reach what is 'ideal'.... some asshat decides they like living like a king while everyone else deals with crap

[May90]

Are you joking?

*looks at the OP's profile picture* Hmm... Hard question.

[Deleted]

Also I forgot to mention the main problem with communism.

Do you know what evolution is? Nature itself adopted the most efficient way to keep live relevant and viable.

Capitalism is a lot like evolution. It will kill off unsuccessful ideas, businesses and forces people to adapt and give their best to be successful. Communism on the other hand does away with all of that. If the crappiest loser can enjoy the same benefits as a successful, hard working person, it just does away incentive to do anything and leads to stagnation and in the eventual collapse of the society.

[Dezerte]

Extremely difficult, if not impossible, to implement.

[neocount]

Seems like a sensible and rational system.

Human nature.

[Deleted]

1. Stop slashing communism and socialism together. They are related but not one and the same. Socialism is just a first step on the way to communism.
2. There is no trade in communism as there's nothing to trade for. If you need something you get it. If it isn't available - you either wait for it to become available or if it's really needed - you get it from some one who doesn't need it that badly and a new copy is going to be made to account for that. Everything belongs to everyone. Everyone gets what they need as long as they provide what they can.
3. Emphasis on need. Not want. If you want something do it yourself, or ask your friends to do it for you they might ask you to do something for them. but there's no contract in that kind of "want" relationship. So it's not trade. It's favor for a favor. A communal way of doing things.
4. Above is the reason it's considered utopian on grander scale, but it can work in small communities to an extent. Because said communities still ahve to deal with capitalistic world around them - there are some tweaks, like they still can have money for external trade.

Nope, go watch the video of the professor that i posted explaining what it is. The only difference between them is where to start, via revolution or via politics.
What you are thinking of is state capitalism, that is not communism.
Again the emphasis of socialism/communism is that of the workers/peoples owning the means of production. This has nothing to do with how to trade one good for another, again, money isn't a capitalistic concept.
Go watch the video of the professor's lecture, im pretty sure he knows more about this then you and me put together.

[ControlWarrior]

After four pages, a better thread title may have been "Why do people still believe communism can work?"

[Deleted]

Communism worked:

1) Full employment.
2) Universal healthcare.
3) Low cost of living to the extent that a cleaner could live comfortably if unspectacularly off their wage.

I'm not sure why some seem to think capitalism "works" when it can't do any of these things.

Really, what are these amazing achievements capitalism has produced?

[Dezerte]

Also I forgot to mention the main problem with communism.

Do you know what evolution is? Nature itself adopted the most efficient way to keep live relevant and viable.

Capitalism is a lot like evolution. It will kill off unsuccessful ideas, businesses and forces people to adapt and give their best to be successful. Communism on the other hand does away with all of that. If the crappiest loser can enjoy the same benefits as a successful, hard working person, it just does away incentive to do anything and leads to stagnation and in the eventual collapse of the society.

Capitalism does not exist in it's pure form anywhere. Capitalism in it's purest form suffers many of same problems that Communism does, it's far too idealistic and does not account for all the human desires.

Also, Evolution does not care about unsuccessful ideas - being successful enough to survive and pass on your genes was all it took to keep the 'idea' going.

[callipygoustp]

Kampuchea was true communism.

(I'm leaning towards your post mainly being a troll post, but, just in case)

No, Kampuchea most certainly was not true communism.

[Deleted]

Capitalism does not exist in it's pure form anywhere.

Yes it does. All over Africa. Somalia is a perfect freemarket. No "nanny-state" interference there! It is an entrepeneurs dream!

[Deleted]

Capitalism does not exist in it's pure form anywhere. Capitalism in it's purest form suffers many of same problems that communism does, it's far too idealistic and does not account for all the human desires.

Also, Evolution does not care about unsuccessful ideas - being successful enough to survive and pass on your genes was all it took to keep the 'idea' going.

Why bring up that strawman.. no system can work in a pure form and even "impure" capitalism if vulnerable to corruption. My point was that any country with more capitalism is more viable than a country with less capitalism and communism will inevitably stagnate and destroy any country that attempts it once the wealth robbed from the rich has been spent.

[vindicatorx]

Seems like a sensible and rational system.

Always going to have lazy people and when you have a system where everyone gets the same no matter what they put in you will get stagnation. That and when the people who are in charge don't want to pass up their power to the next guy when their turn is up you tend to have some issues.

[Deleted]

Also I forgot to mention the main problem with communism.

Do you know what evolution is? Nature itself adopted the most efficient way to keep live relevant and viable.

Capitalism is a lot like evolution. It will kill off unsuccessful ideas, businesses and forces people to adapt and give their best to be successful. Communism on the other hand does away with all of that. If the crappiest loser can enjoy the same benefits as a successful, hard working person, it just does away incentive to do anything and leads to stagnation and in the eventual collapse of the society.

Which is not how it works in theory or in practice.

Why do people chime in on stuff they don't know anything about when it comes to politics? I don't tell my electrician what to do.

[May90]

Yes it does. All over Africa. Somalia is a perfect freemarket. No "nanny-state" interference there! It is an entrepeneurs dream!

Somalia is a free market? Since then? Economy controlled by warring clans has nothing to do with free market.