Any comments on a thought I had?

[GodLike1001]

I'm a noob when it comes to communism and other political theories, so there's a chance my idea already exists...there's also a chance I have no idea of reality...keep that in mind.

Basically, I've been to question the idea of working. If we want to survive, we need to work. As we recieve income to buy a home, clothes, food, electricity, etc...The only right we have as a worker is to choose WHERE and WHAT type of work we want to do, however due to the cost of surving, we cannot choose IF we would like to work.

My little knowledge of Communism tells me that all people in a society should be equal and all resources divided equally. I disagree with communism due to the fact that everybody isn't equal. In my maths class, I am one of the brightest, however there are also some very dumb people. I consistently do all of my work and come within the top of the grade, whereas other in my class avoid doing work and mess around all day. If I was told all members of the class would recieve an amount of money for their effort, unaltered by their effort, then I would be pretty pissed.

Instead, my idea of a equal society would need the following. Survival cannot be dependent on working. All means of survival; housing, food, clothing, electricity, etc... should be universally available for free to all members of the society. One should not be capped in their efforts to succeed and those who wish to rich have the opertunity, while those who do not, needn't work. The elite and those who control a society, should be the intelligent over the wealthy.

Does a similar idea to this exist? Is this idea plausible?

[Zanthorus]

My little knowledge of Communism tells me that all people in a society should be equal and all resources divided equally.

No, the defining point of communism is the abolition of wage-labour performed for a production unit which is isolated from the rest of the process of production apart through the market mechanism and it's replacement with communal labour towards the common stock.

As for how the common stock would be divided up communists differ on that question. However in the description given of a communist society in Das Kapital Marx tells us that everyone would be rewarded according to work done or "effort".

[SeaSpeck]

Basically, I've been to question the idea of working. If we want to survive, we need to work. As we recieve income to buy a home, clothes, food, electricity, etc...The only right we have as a worker is to choose WHERE and WHAT type of work we want to do, however due to the cost of surving, we cannot choose IF we would like to work.


You basically hit it right on the nose. You've outlined the basic concept of "wage slavery" in which you are indentured to your wage because without it, you can not live. Thus putting large amounts of power in the hands of the employers.



My little knowledge of Communism tells me that all people in a society should be equal and all resources divided equally. I disagree with communism due to the fact that everybody isn't equal. In my maths class, I am one of the brightest, however there are also some very dumb people. I consistently do all of my work and come within the top of the grade, whereas other in my class avoid doing work and mess around all day. If I was told all members of the class would recieve an amount of money for their effort, unaltered by their effort, then I would be pretty pissed.


Those who subscribe to "To each according to his ablitiy, To each according to his contribution" say that if you make 20 buckets while your friend makes 2 in one hour, you would be remunerated more because you did more work. So, everyone wouldn't be treated the same.



Instead, my idea of a equal society would need the following. Survival cannot be dependent on working. All means of survival; housing, food, clothing, electricity, etc... should be universally available for free to all members of the society. One should not be capped in their efforts to succeed and those who wish to rich have the opertunity, while those who do not, needn't work. The elite and those who control a society, should be the intelligent over the wealthy.


This is the basic idea of communism. Does your future society have a wage-system or not?

[leftace53]

The elite and those who control a society, should be the intelligent over the wealthy.


Sounds like noocracy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noocracy) to me.

[SeaSpeck]

Sounds like noocracy to me.

This is the basic idea of communism, minus this part *cough*

[mikelepore]

I disagree with communism due to the fact that everybody isn't equal. In my maths class, I am one of the brightest, however there are also some very dumb people. I consistently do all of my work and come within the top of the grade, whereas other in my class avoid doing work and mess around all day. If I was told all members of the class would recieve an amount of money for their effort, unaltered by their effort, then I would be pretty pissed.

Were you under the impression that your capitalist boss is going to give you a raise in salary after it becomes evident how good you are at mathematics? In a few years you are going to get an unpleasant surprise.

[mikelepore]

The only right we have as a worker is to choose WHERE and WHAT type of work we want to do, however due to the cost of surving, we cannot choose IF we would like to work.

You don't even get a choice of where and what at the same time. You get to choose where, or you to choose what, but not both. When I was computer chip designer in the Hudson Valley, and then I got laid off, the only one chip manufacturer in the region could no longer be a consideration for me. This became my choice: either I can stay in the Hudson Valley but no longer be a chip designer, or I can continue to be a chip designer but no longer live in the Hudson Valley.

[Catillina]

My little knowledge of Communism tells me that all people in a society should be equal and all resources divided equally. I disagree with communism due to the fact that everybody isn't equal. In my maths class, I am one of the brightest, however there are also some very dumb people. I consistently do all of my work and come within the top of the grade, whereas other in my class avoid doing work and mess around all day. If I was told all members of the class would recieve an amount of money for their effort, unaltered by their effort, then I would be pretty pissed.


From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

If you are brillant in Maths, and you get good points, and others are not so good in Maths, and therefore don't get the points you get is another issue, probably they dislike/hate Maths(like me).
There isnt only a single domain of work, lets take the example that you will work at Maths. Its clear that your Class-Comrades wont work at Maths, because they dislike it, but they will work at, lets say, chemistry! Because they like chemistry, and they are good at it.

So to get to the point, from each according his domain of capacity, AND to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

[GodLike1001]

This is the basic idea of communism. Does your future society have a wage-system or not?

Wage labor would exist, however it would be altered to support the needs of a society. Eg: Those who contribute to the society and offer some kind of value, would recieve a higher income than others. For example, In our modern society, some of the highest paid professions include sporting stars that offer no real value to a society (not including entertainment). Whereas some of the lowest paid professions are teachers, and they are responsible for an entire generation within the society. Teachers > Athletes, Teachers would recieve a greater wage and be considered more powerful in society.

I cannot imagine a society without a wage-system. Truthfully, I like the capitalist system, as well as the whole idea that one group sells their labor for another group to buy and use how they wish.

I do not like how some of the labor is exploited for more than necessary profit by the latter group. In a system where both parties depend on the other to exist, why should power be in the hands of one?

I also dislike how members of the labor group (and capitalist), must continue this tradition or no longer exist.

How would a society without waged labor exist?


From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

If you are brillant in Maths, and you get good points, and others are not so good in Maths, and therefore don't get the points you get is another issue, probably they dislike/hate Maths(like me).
There isnt only a single domain of work, lets take the example that you will work at Maths. Its clear that your Class-Comrades wont work at Maths, because they dislike it, but they will work at, lets say, chemistry! Because they like chemistry, and they are good at it.

So to get to the point, from each according his domain of capacity, AND to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

I understand what you are saying, and I should have been more specific...but I was intending to describe those who are too lazy to even try. There are those in my class who struggle with maths, but dominate other subjects, however there are also people who struggle with maths due to the fact that they never attempt to learn or most days, enter the classroom. These students are at the bottom of the year, not because they dont have the academic potential...but because they lack the will or effort to attempt the work.

These are the students that I would not consider equals. (didnt mean for that to sound so arrogant).


Sounds like noocracy to me.

I found a definition that says:

Noocracy - is the power of the collective brain rather than separate individuals representing certain social groups or society as whole.

Sounds a bit like something from 1984. Not to sure how it would work, but seems like it's prone to corrupting.

[AK]

No, the defining point of communism is the abolition of wage-labour performed for a production unit which is isolated from the rest of the process of production apart through the market mechanism and it's replacement with communal labour towards the common stock.

As for how the common stock would be divided up communists differ on that question. However in the description given of a communist society in Das Kapital Marx tells us that everyone would be rewarded according to work done or "effort".
"To each according to their contribution"
I thought that was just for transitional period? Isn't the idea of communism "From each according to their ability, to each according to need"?