Communists

[Legends]

Can anyone give me a brief description of what a communist stands for, I am trying to get into it but all the books I read go into far too much detail.

[canikickit]

What is communism, a brief definition. (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=6&t=6362&hl=)

Also, just read all the threads in the theory section for a diverse cross section of opinions.

[peaccenicked]

NB Marx was at his most brief when he said "I am egotistical I want the world. I am selfless I want to share the world" I cant remember where in his early writings that can be found. :marx:

[Elect Marx]

A communist is a person that understands and participates in class struggle.
According to Marx and Engels:
"In what relation do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole?
The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to the other working-class parties.
They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole.
"They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mold the proletarian movement.
"The Communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties by this only:
(1) In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proletariat, independently of all nationality.
(2) In the various stages of development which the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie has to pass through, they always and everywhere represent the interests of the movement as a whole.
"The Communists, therefore, are on the one hand practically, the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country, that section which pushes forward all others; on the other hand, theoretically, they have over the great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly understanding the lines of march, the conditions, and the ultimate general results of the proletarian movement.
"The immediate aim of the Communists is the same as that of all other proletarian parties: Formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat.
"The theoretical conclusions of the Communists are in no way based on ideas or principles that have been invented, or discovered, by this or that would-be universal reformer.
"They merely express, in general terms, actual relations springing from an existing class struggle, from a historical movement going on under our very eyes.

Manifesto of the Communist Party
:marx: :engles: