History Lesson: What is Communism?

[rambone]

What is Communism?

Origin.
In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published a book in German titled "Manifesto of the Communist Party" and commonly referred to as "The Communist Manifesto." This book laid the foundation for one of the most widespread and destructive political movements of all time: Communism.

Overview.
Communism is the political and economic principle that gives the Government supreme control over everything in its citizens' lives. The people must work "for the common good" meaning everything they earn is taken from them.

Other Names of Communism:
Marxism
Socialism
Statism
Progressivism
Collectivism
Redistributionism
Proletarianism
Equalism
Solidarism
Totalitarianism
Leninism
Maoism
Stalinism
Trotskyism
Bolshevism
Leftism
Liberalism (yes I said it)
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Rule by Man, Not By Law
Communist countries are always run by dictators. Communism works best when a small, tyrannical oligarchy has control of everything. Individual rights are null-and-void in this system of rule. Many would argue they would rather live under a King than under communism. At least you would be free to keep the fruits of your labor.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
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To summarize Communism in one phrase, most would choose the Karl Marx quote, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."It assumes that all members of society will work to their maximum potential, regardless if the are rewarded for doing so. Another way of saying the same thing is the Nazi slogan "Public Good Before Self-Interest."

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Revolutions.
Communist revolutions typically start by rousing the emotions of the "working class." Party leaders work to create class-envy of those who are rich and successful. They insist that their wealth be redistributed to the rest of the country. In reality the Government takes everyone's wealth and the daily routine of all people becomes the struggle to obtain another day's meal.


Communist regimes notoriously choose to do what was best for themselves and not their people, despite their idealized image that their Communist society is in the people's best interest. Between people dying in forced-labor camps, dying from government induced starvation, and dying by torture, execution, or other direct manner of violence, the total death toll by Communist regimes on their own people in the 20th century is estimated to be around 150 Million people dead.

Notorious Communist Regimes of the 20th Century
Soviet Union
Communist China
Nazi Germany
Nationalist China
Imperial Japan
Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge
Turkey under the Young Turks
Communist Vietnam
Communist Poland
Pakistan under Yahya Khan
Communist Cuba
Communist North Korea
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Collectivism.
The idea Marx envisioned revolves around a theory of collectivism. Rather than allow people to do with what they own the way they choose, this theory gives the Government to collect all the possessions and resources of the country and redistribute them in a way they see as fair. Of course, the theory only is fair if you believe that stealing is acceptable when the Government does it. History shows many cases of communist dictators purposely withholding food and other essential resources from their own people, to serve their own purposes.


Unrealistic Utopia.
Communists view their society as a utopia, when in reality it is anything but one. In order to dictate every rational choice away from its citizens, it is necessary that they have no personal freedoms and rights. Liberty is a foreign concept to the populace in Communist countries. The Government oppresses speech, right to own guns, right to assemble, freedom of religion, freedom of press, right to a trial, right to privacy, protection from illegal search and seizure, etc. Communism is the exact opposite of everything the American Founding Fathers envisioned for their country.


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The 10 Pillars of Communism

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.

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Progressive Movement
Over the past century, American Presidents and Congress have slowly been moving our country away from the founding principles and toward the Communism. With the advent of the Federal Reserve, the introduction of the IRS and Federal Income Tax, the introduction of the Death Tax, the Department of Education, etc, we have been slowly modeling our society after the 10 Pillars of Communism. This is known as the "Progessive Movement" in America.

Names/Nicknames of Communists and Their Sympathizers
Commies
Card-Carrying Communists
Chi-Coms (Chinese Communists)
Reds
Pinkos
Ivans
Marxists
Leftists
Statists
Bolsheviks / Bolshies
Apparatchiks
"Fellow Travelers"
Comrades
Socialists
Progressives
Liberals
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American Movement.
Today the platform of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) is in 100% alignment with that of President Obama. That is because the Democrat Party has been sufficiently morphed into something that mimics all the principles of Communism. America has been infiltrated from within and is being toppled into Communism with each passing President. This is not by accident.

Slavery by Definition
Communism is the very antithesis of every American value. People living under Communism are effectively made slaves by their dictatorial governments, since they are forced to work "according to their ability," while abiding by the tenet of "Abolition of Private Property." The very definition of slavery is "forced labor without being compensated." Communism = Slavery. Always.

Socialism.
Socialism is a watered down form of Communism, that slowly erodes people's liberty and freedom until full-on Communism is realized. The goal of Socialism is always Communism. Socialists embrace the teachings of Marx without (openly) approving of dictatorships, even though most of their actions support the general deterioration of the American form of Government (republic). Socialism is Communism's trendy cousin.

Propaganda.
Communist societies are usually ripe with propaganda. For one thing the media is usually controlled or heavily influenced by the Government. Free speech against the Government is heavily suppressed. Therefore there is no watchdog over the actions of the Government, and it can get away with any violation of human rights it pleases, sometimes with little notice from the people. In place of fair media, the Government often substitutes pro-Government broadcasts, commercials, posters, articles, etc. The Government glamorizes its leaders and conceals its true methods and motives. With no outside influences, and no indication of the actions of the Government, the enslaved masses become jaded to the culture and objections to the Government are kept to a minimum.

Life Without Freedom.
America was founded on the premise of freedom. In America, all men are free to pursue their own happiness, and in each man doing so, society improves as a whole. People do not work as hard when they are not rewarded. America has risen to be the greatest nation the world has ever known because of liberty and freedom. When your Government tells you where you can live, what profession you must follow, how many kids you can have, what you will eat, what you will own (nothing), what you can say and not say, and that you may not leave.... its people's spirits are broken, and they become hopelessly enslaved.

America's Fight Against Communism
Communist infiltrators aside, America has fought on the virtuous side of wars in order to stop Communist regimes from taking power in new lands. Since a goal of Communism is to achieve an entire world under communism, it is an ongoing battle. After WWII there have been dozens of countries that have fallen to communism, and relatively few successfully stopped. However, if America doesn't shape up its parties, she too will fall to communism.

Disarmed Populace.
It goes without saying, that a Government bent on controlling its people, needs to have first disarmed those people. Tyrants would soon be over-thrown if they allowed their people to revolt. That's why Communists always suppress dissenters and protesters with violence or sometimes with imprisonment. A righteous Government will not disarm its people. A tyrannical Government always will. Disarmament is a precursor to tyranny.

Communist Religion.
It is often said that Communism is a "substitute religion." Communism is inherently atheistic and instead represents the worship of Man as the maker of his own destiny. Those who follow actual religions under Communist rule are largely discouraged and heavily persecuted, or banned outright. In many cases, the premise that God doesn't exist is a premise that enslaved populations simply cannot accept. Belief in anything other than Government is a threat to Government's existence in Communism.

Dissolution of Family.
Since people enslaved with Communism aren't allowed to have any possessions of their own, it follows that man should not have a wife of his own either. The whole concept of "family" is dissolved. A man with a family will instinctively do things in the self-interest of his family. This conflicts with the Communist dictum that all his efforts should go to the "public good" before his own "self interest." Therefore the Government is threatened by the concept of marriage. "Free Love" is promoted and selective-breeding is sometimes introduced. It is no coincidence that the liberalization of America in the past 50 years has led to deteriorating marriage survival rates.

State-Run Services
Since no one can own anything, every business is owned by the Government and all services are run by the Government. With all services being nationalized, a person's well being is dependent on the reliability of the State-run services. Like all nationalized programs, once the Government has control over an industry, it does not have to worry about competition or efficiency. Since those who run these services are quite enslaved themselves, there is no incentive to excel at your service since no additional rewards come from doing a better job. Additionally, new technology is rarely developed under communism because the incentives to develop new products do not exist.

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This thread is designed to shed some light on a piece of history that is should
be studied so that it does not have to be repeated. God Bless America.
More History Lessons: INGO - History Lessons[/FONT]
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[SavageEagle]

I knew a little about this before reading it. I've look through a few pages of the book and when studying NK, some of China, and watching the Soviet Union dissolve it's hard NOT to study and understand what happened in the past.

Europe is embracing it and now our own government is forcing it down our throats. It's kinda scary. ESPECIALLY when a communist leader tells our POTUS what he's doing is wrong...

 

[Dryden]

If History is NOT taught in the schools.... it does not matter what we know about communism. Our children are blindly unaware of the distructive nature of socialism/communism. While the rest of the world is running FROM it, America is running TOWARDS it.
And the lessons learned are all forgotten once again.

 

[RCB]

Well, actually, many forms of communism are different from one another, similar to democracies.

In theory, communism is a great idea. Everyone doing their part to make a great society. Each person putting their best talents to use. However, the reality is that it is untenable on a large scale. And for that matter, it's almost impossible anywhere, where greed and corruption are prevalent... that is to say everywhere.

The communist movement came from the abuses prevalent at the time. Basically, it was class wars. The have's vs the have not's. That is the danger of a free market society without moral guidance.

And actually, the principles of Marxism aren't the same as communism, however it was a driving force behind many communist movements.

Marxism specifically targeted capitalism and that only a few individuals controlled resources. It also criticized these oligarchs (which is what we predominantly have in the US today) for having more resources than necessary produced, and keeping it for themselves, as opposed to the workers sharing the excess.

Fact of the matter, there are people with wicked intentions that use any tools necessary to control the masses. The Oligarchy we have in the US are little different at this point.

It's not always just "class-envy" but rather the virtual enslavement of people through economic means that leads to this. I know people who bust their tail six days a week, just to get by. Now generally, it is viewed that anyone who works so hard should succeed in a free market economy. Well we really haven't been in a free market economy for a very, very long time. I always point out to my friends that government by its very nature is corrupt and can not resist being corrupted. It is why smaller, more local governments usually fare better.

It is important to understand the differences in government structures to more effectively state our points. If we have incorrect or incomplete information, it makes our stances easy prey for better informed opponents.

I would highly recommend everyone read much more about communism, marxism, oligrachys, capitalism and free market as well as world history from the late 19th century through today.

Some fascinating and dangerous stuff.

 

[Dryden]

RCB: "The communist movement came from the abuses prevalent at the time. Basically, it was class wars. The have's vs the have not's. That is the danger of a free market society without moral guidance."


So, why are we heading there nowadays? Over the past forty years, social welfare programs have provided food, shelter, medical, educational and unlimited baby-making opportunities for poor people. If someone decides to not use their free education or to get pregnant at 14, or ingest huge quantities of alcohol/meth/coke/peanut butter into their bodies,... why should the have's contribute more money towards their downfall?
I don't see any moral guidance coming from this government.... I only see penalties for those that earned their success.

 

[RCB]

The reason why we are headed there, is because it's profitable for big business. No moral guidance. They have diminished wages where both parents need to work just to get by, leaving no one at home to impart proper conduct.

In the quest for money, companies have touched on every sin and transgression imaginable for profit. Look at Las Vegas.

There has been an air of depression because now you are "required" to do many things just to live or chance having everything taken from you.

We essentially rent our land from the government anyhow. Property taxes by their very nature are unconstitutional. What about income tax?

And as far as those who "earned" their success... I have seen areas, although dilapidated or unpleasant to look at were owned by poor individuals, where cities have passed laws in order to fine the owners of those homes, who had very little money, in order to force them out, take their homes and build new high end communities and reap huge profits. They didn't "earn" success but rather used the muscle of the government to take it.

Big business uses the government to pass laws that are favorable to them in order to make money. The intent of anti-trust laws was to protect the people from utter control, but now those laws have largely been subverted.

You know the reason why we have a patent and copyright office? It's to encourage new business. But now, it extends far past that. Now they last so long that many companies can buy up ideas just so CAN'T be used in the market.

People aren't interested in honest pay for an honest day, they want it all NOW. And they don't care how they get it.

It's why this whole cap and trade system is absurd. It will only be an excuse to raise rates (and profits).

Then you have credit companies that have the audacity to charge 15% and up interest rates, not to mention the fees. What are they doing to "earn" that money. I am fine with interest, it's thank you money for the loan, but when a bank can double the debt you had in a year, something is wrong. Of course, we don't really need all the gadgets we buy. But to allow a situation where a few thousand dollars can indebt a person for over ten, is really unacceptable.

Now, that being said, there are those who HAVE earned their success, but it pales in comparison to those trod under foot by thieves and conmen, not to mention the thieves and conmen themselves.

Just because it is legal, doesn't mean that it's ok.

Know why we haven't legalized and started taxing pot? Because prisons and jails are big business. If you want a shock, look back at Clinton's crime bill. Look at the appropriations for new Prisons. More than a little shocking.

Why don't we make working profitable again? It would get a lot of people that CAN work off of welfare. That is the dilemma many face. Yes, they can get off of welfare, but if they do, they won't have the money to live.

No one can work their way up anymore. For whatever reason, every decent paying job wants you to have a college education, even though they have proven that someone trained in the job without college education is far more capable at it. (personally I still advocate a return to an apprenticeship system for many livelihoods)

People have worked at jobs for years and years, terminally stuck at the same level. We need to ask why can't qualified, knowledgeable individuals apply for a job, without a degree? Know why? Two reasons, first is that it restricts the job pool making selection easier. Second, it is the business of education. Surely we all know how much money is tied up in those institutions. Certainly, there are many jobs where education, be it from a college or apprenticeship, is essential. However, a vast majority of jobs don't need a college degree. Some of the most capable people I have ever met never attended college. Similarly the most unintelligent people I ever met, were in college.

Ok, digressed. Point is, our current ecopolinomics and communism are most often disguises for oligarchies. Welfare was started to appease the poor, and largely does so today. If we force those who can work, to start asking why they can't work for living wages... then things will start to be solved. However, the government (both Dems and Reps) like having the masses dull and compliant.

But, don't believe anything I say... really. Don't believe ANYTHING someone else says. Read, read and read some more. Consider all possibilities. There are always at least two viewpoints on everything... at least two.

We need to be well informed to REALLY change this country and the path it's on.

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

And as far as those who "earned" their success... I have seen areas, although dilapidated or unpleasant to look at, where cities have passed laws in order to fine the owners of those homes, who had very little money, in order to force them out, take their homes and build new high end communities and reap huge profits. They didn't "earn" success but rather used the muscle of the government to take it..

Need proof of this ? Take a drive down to 12th & MLK or the near E. side of Indy , Penn. Ave. , it's happening all over downtown .

I guarantee you that NONE of the "native" residents of these neighborhoods can afford to live in the places that have been going up .

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

However, a vast majority of jobs don't need a college degree. Some of the most capable people I have ever met never attended college. Similarly the most unintelligent people I ever met, were in college.

This to , during my years of construction work I've met plenty of "educated idiots" , folks who are book smart and life stupid .

 

[Dryden]

The term, "Big Business" has no meaning anymore. Obama owns the auto companies, the evil banks, General Electric (for all intents and purposes), and soon, health related industries.
The line has blurred and one cannot distinguish between the two. To me, that adds up to socialism/communism. If you were afraid of Big Business being greedy... you'll just have a heart attack with Big Government.
And if you do have that heart attack, maybe Canadian doctors will see you before American cardiologists approve you.
This whole situation is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

 

[kludge]

From the communist party usa website, they state that the goal of the communist party is to "establish socialism" you know, like the Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics.

 

[RCB]

This whole situation is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

Agreed. I tried explaining to some friend a few years ago why the housing market was a sham, but they didn't want to hear it. Also tried explaining the concept of the 2nd amendment... like talking to a dog, except dogs may understand some words. Also tried explaining why their 4 years of general education at x university can't reasonably entitle them to 75k a year, starting out. They really didn't want to hear that.

I guess if I had one wish, it would be for people to actually understand our politics and read history. Why it's there (even I forget the positive points of government from time to time ) and the problems with it.

 

[Dryden]

RCB:
When I found out my daughter finished her Master's Degree without having to take ANY history classes, I saw the beginning of the end.
She's smart, but has no idea what's taken already place and who's done what to whom. (She did vote for Obama.)

 

[RCB]

I know this digresses from topics on communism, but I think the worst transgressions I have seen by college goers is the lack of respect and acknowledgment they have for people who didn't go to college. They really feel entitled, regardless of how qualified they really are.

I always have to ask, what can you really do? Every fresh college grad basically has to start learning once they get to a job. Most only know how to do the most basic of tasks. I lucked out in that even though I left before graduating, I was good at what I did and could make my way based on skill, and to give credit where it's due, it was mainly due to some excellent professors. That being said, I could train most people to be efficient in my job in a year or so which is all most companies are looking for and really all that most college grads can accomplish.

 

[Dryden]

I know this digresses from topics on communism, but I think the worst transgressions I have seen by college goers is the lack of respect and acknowledgment they have for people who didn't go to college. They really feel entitled, regardless of how qualified they really are.

quote]


No digrission here. It still addresses the basic causes behind how our government feels about it's constituents. Keep'em dumb and happy. That way, they're easier to herd towards a caretaker political system. Our politicians show their contempt at every town hall meeting with the unclean public. They're just plain Better than everyone.

 

[Phil502]

Good read, I knew most of that because I like history, a lot.
Reading personal accounts of people who lived through the Soviet occupation of eastern Europe is both interesting and terrifying and really opens your eyes up to what is possible once the system is fully in place and your rights and power is squashed.

 

[rambone]

Reading personal accounts of people who lived through the Soviet occupation of eastern Europe is both interesting and terrifying and really opens your eyes up to what is possible once the system is fully in place and your rights and power is squashed.

No kidding. I am always interested in hearing personal accounts. I find the subject fascinating. I hope some people share.

 

[Dryden]

No kidding. I am always interested in hearing personal accounts. I find the subject fascinating. I hope some people share.

By next year, we'll all have a story to tell. Most probably won't want to share because the government frowns on that type of activity. It's not a good idea to be on the wrong side of Obama's government.

 

[MTC]

No kidding. I am always interested in hearing personal accounts. I find the subject fascinating. I hope some people share.

Great posts all! Studied this subject extensively at IU nearly thirty years ago. Marxist Theory, Authoritarian Regimes, World Politics, State Politics, Soviet Politics. Lots of (mainly military) History, Sociology, and Social Psychology.

In addition to your other studies, please read America's Thirty Years War ... Who is Winning? by Balint Vazsonyi, a Hungarian-born historian and world-renowned concert pianist. He immigrated here in the '50s after living through first the Nazi, then the Soviet occupations of Hungary. He is (or was) the director of the Center for the American Founding and has written for National Review, the Washington Times, and the Indianapolis Star.
Also see all articles by Henry Lamb.

 

[Denny347]

 

[RCB]

That's a fairly accurate diagram.