Good day, Comrades!

[AtheistComrade]

Hello, I just discovered this forum and upon viewing all the great discussions, I had to sign up immediately. I am American (unfortunately) and politically I am what one might call "communist in theory, socialist in practice."

I look forward to discussing glorious revolution with all of you.:cool: Glory to the proletariat!

[AK]

Hello, I just discovered this forum and upon viewing all the great discussions, I had to sign up immediately. I am American (unfortunately) and politically I am what one might call "communist in theory, socialist in practice."

I look forward to discussing glorious revolution with all of you.:cool: Glory to the proletariat!
How is it unfortunate to hear you're American? If anything, we're glad to hear that another Red has been pulled out of the majority reactionary hellhole that is the American working class.

How exactly can you be communist in theory and socialist in practise?

Anyhow, welcome to Revleft.

[revolution inaction]

hi welcome :)

[Sasha]

!emoclew

[Q]

I am what one might call "communist in theory, socialist in practice."
How are they different? I for one use communist and socialist interchangeably as socialism is merely the transition from capitalism to communism, a society in which the working class is in firm control and which sees the problems of the inherited old society of capitalism be overcome.

So, I wonder why you would make a difference?

[son of man]

Hey there AtheistComrade. I am also new to this site. I am from New Zealand. Welcome.

[AtheistComrade]

Thanks for the welcomes, I will try to answer your questions.

Regarding my thoughts on my country, the US, I dislike it because of its overwhelming imperialistic and capitalistic conservatism. Also, I think it will be the last country to finally undergo a socialist revolution, and by that time, it will be but a remnant of what it once was. Also, Europe is just better than the US in general.:thumbup1:

With regards to the other questions: I love communist ideals, and I'd like nothing more than seeing global proletariat revolution happen right now. The theory of communism is great and glorious, but when put into practice, history shows us that it degenerates - and the country doesn't become the workers' paradise it promised to be. The government undoubtedly falls into the hands of a Stalin or Mao (sorry to any Stalinists or Maoists, I just see no justification for the murder of millions of your own people) and becomes basically everything the revolution sought to overthrow. The next best thing is socialism, which HAS been proven to work, and I do believe we will see more countries turn to it in the near future. So yes, I believe in communist theory, but it is impractical because it inevitably turns into Stalinism and/or Maoism, and therefore, I am a socialist in practice.

I'm sorry if that little explanation made no sense whatsoever (:lol:), but I suppose that is why I am here - to learn more and to make my arguments more articulate. Maybe you guys could even convince me that communism is indeed practical.........

Glory to the proletariat!

[revolution inaction]

With regards to the other questions: I love communist ideals, and I'd like nothing more than seeing global proletariat revolution happen right now. The theory of communism is great and glorious, but when put into practice, history shows us that it degenerates - and the country doesn't become the workers' paradise it promised to be. The government undoubtedly falls into the hands of a Stalin or Mao (sorry to any Stalinists or Maoists, I just see no justification for the murder of millions of your own people) and becomes basically everything the revolution sought to overthrow. The next best thing is socialism, which HAS been proven to work, and I do believe we will see more countries turn to it in the near future. So yes, I believe in communist theory, but it is impractical because it inevitably turns into Stalinism and/or Maoism, and therefore, I am a socialist in practice.

I'm sorry if that little explanation made no sense whatsoever (:lol:), but I suppose that is why I am here - to learn more and to make my arguments more articulate. Maybe you guys could even convince me that communism is indeed practical.........


communism was not put into practice in the ussr or china, or any other so called communist country, most communists/anarchists consider these countries to have been state capitalist. Although starlinist consider those counteries to be socialist :)
Communist (and socialism) require that the workers be in control of society, so it is clear the there was never communism in the ussr or china.

[Nolan]

With regards to the other questions: I love communist ideals, and I'd like nothing more than seeing global proletariat revolution happen right now. The theory of communism is great and glorious, but when put into practice, history shows us that it degenerates

That wasn't communism, that was socialism. State socialism to be exact.


and the country doesn't become the workers' paradise it promised to be. The government undoubtedly falls into the hands of a Stalin or Mao (sorry to any Stalinists or Maoists,

I'll assume this means ruthless dictator. Why?


I just see no justification for the murder of millions of your own people)

Neither did that.


and becomes basically everything the revolution sought to overthrow. The next best thing is socialism, which HAS been proven to work, and I do believe we will see more countries turn to it in the near future. So yes, I believe in communist theory, but it is impractical because it inevitably turns into Stalinism and/or Maoism, and therefore, I am a socialist in practice.


What does socialism mean to you?

[Nolan]

Actually most communists are Marxist-Leninists of some sort and see those countries as socialist. All the other tendencies are only relevant on the internet and in North America and western Europe.

IMO, capitalist relations stayed under Mao.

[revolution inaction]

Actually most communists are Marxist-Leninists of some sort and see those countries as socialist. All the other tendencies are only relevant on the internet and in North America and western Europe.

IMO, capitalist relations stayed under Mao.

actually marx-leninists are not communists at all, and numbers don't mean anything unless you are going to claim that capitalist parties are best because they have the most members

[Nolan]

actually marx-leninists are not communists at all,

YOU ISN'T COMUNIST HAHA I WIN DEATH 2 LENNONIST


and numbers don't mean anything unless you are going to claim that capitalist parties are best because they have the most members

So capitalism is a new communist tendency?

In before some half-assed comment about teh eviil "state capitalism."

[Ovi]

Welcome. I see you have a lot to learn. First of all the so called revolutionary left is divided amongst 2 distinct factions:


authoritarian socialists; this comprises those who call themselves marxist-leninists, such as stalinists and maoists. According to most of them, the soviet union under Stalin, China under Mao and Cuba are perfect examples of worker paradise, their version of socialism.
libertarian socialists; while libertarian might mean right wing in the US, the initial meaning and the current meaning in other places is left wing. The main types of libertarian socialism are anarchism, council communism and libertarian marxism, all being quite similar. What libertarian socialists strive for is collective ownership of the means of production and democratic control by the people of the entire society. This means worker councils are the means of running the workplaces and local councils have all the governing power, completely democratic as in direct democracy where everyone has as much decision power as one is affected by a decision, usually one person, one vote, not the so called representative democracy which is only democratic in terms. We view Cuba, the Soviet Union and maoist China as state capitalist countries, where the new ruling class, comprised of bureaucrats and Communist party members has taken on the same roles as the former capitalist ruling class, thus we reject any sort of party politics and vanguardism since they only replace tyranny of the capitalists with their own. Instead, we concentrate on direct action, labor movement and all sorts of organizations where all people are invited to participate.

Welcome to revleft again. Cheers.

[Nolan]

authoritarian socialists; this comprises those who call themselves marxist-leninists, such as stalinists and maoists. According to most of them, the soviet union under Stalin, China under Mao and Cuba are perfect examples of worker paradise, their version of socialism.

Please don't make such ignorant statements in the future.

[AK]

In before some half-assed comment about teh eviil "state capitalism."
Oh damn. Well, here's my post if anyone wants it:


That wasn't communism, that was bureaucracy. Authoritarian state capitalist bureaucracy to be exact.
Fixed it for you.

[gorillafuck]

Actually most communists are Marxist-Leninists of some sort and see those countries as socialist. All the other tendencies are only relevant on the internet and in North America and western Europe.
That's not necessarily true. Look at Greece right now.

I can't believe you folks are starting a shitfest on an intro thread, though.

Welcome!:)

[Die Rote Fahne]

This part of the forum is for introductions, and for us to welcome people. Not to have sectarian arguments.

Please do not engage in tendency fights here.

[¿Que?]

Welcome, and remember...The Learning Section is your friend.

[Nolan]

That's not necessarily true. Look at Greece right now.


Greece is not the world. But yes, it is an exception.

[Chambered Word]

Actually most communists are Marxist-Leninists of some sort and see those countries as socialist. All the other tendencies are only relevant on the internet and in North America and western Europe.

IMO, capitalist relations stayed under Mao.

Emphasis added; if you didn't have your head up your arse you'd know otherwise. But it's not like North America and Western Europe matter anyway. For all of our sakes don't starting dumb arguments like this especially on intros.

[Nolan]

Emphasis added; if you didn't have your head up your arse you'd know otherwise. But it's not like North America and Western Europe matter anyway. For all of our sakes don't starting dumb arguments like this especially on intros.

Right, now you can explain why anarchism is the only other tendency that has done anything or is doing anything or why the Maoists are the only one in any position to do anything significant in the near future. Most revolutionary groups around the group are Marxist-Leninist.

[Chambered Word]

Right, now you can explain why anarchism is the only other tendency that has done anything or is doing anything or why the Maoists are the only one in any position to do anything significant in the near future. Most revolutionary groups around the group are Marxist-Leninist.

Like anarchists and Maoists are doing everything in Australia?

EDIT: And I'm not going to keep up with stupid arguments like these much further in the introductions forum, take it up with me in PMs if you really want.

[AK]

Right, now you can explain why anarchism is the only other tendency that has done anything or is doing anything or why the Maoists are the only one in any position to do anything significant in the near future. Most revolutionary groups around the group are Marxist-Leninist.
Try state oppression from all the state capitalist states of the past. The groups, the ones that were allowed to exist by the state, thrived. Many western communists must have drawn on their "success" and followed suit.