government, labor, and resources

[jmpeer]

How is a communist state governed?
How is labor organized?
How are resources distributed?
Please note, I do not define government as being authoritative or oppressive, I merely define it as a set of processes by which the purposes of government are fulfilled, which purposes I think we all agree are similar for most political ideologies. A republic is governed by law, a democracy is governed by the people, just as examples. I know the USSR had worker councils. But I also know you say the USSR wasn't exactly communist. Government could even be a purely technical process, without any overhead people we call "the government".

[Comrade1]

How is a communist state governed?
How is labor organized?
How are resources distributed?
Please note, I do not define government as being authoritative or oppressive, I merely define it as a set of processes by which the purposes of government are fulfilled, which purposes I think we all agree are similar for most political ideologies. A republic is governed by law, a democracy is governed by the people, just as examples. I know the USSR had worker councils. But I also know you say the USSR wasn't exactly communist. Government could even be a purely technical process, without any overhead people we call "the government".
Lets set a few things straight first. Communism= A classless, stateless, and propertyless society. There are some steps in order to achieve this though. A transitionary phase called socialism. Labour would be organized by local workers councils. They would be democratically elected and would be subject to recall and no higher salaries. Resources would be run and distributed by the councils for the most part. Ofcourse the people would have a say. So just so you know, the SU, wasent even socialist after lenin.

[Across The Street]

"I do not define government as being authoritative or oppressive,..."

There's not a government in the world that these two words don't aptly describe.

The second post briefly covered the basics. I would just add that eventually currency would be abolished as well, and to me this is the area of communist theory with the most possibilities for the future. The use of money won't just vanish overnight, and will be a lingering reminder to everybody of the worldwide system that failed us. Resources will eventually be distributed based on need, regardless of a persons' ability to produce goods. However, at first, I think a semi-capitalist black market may arise which would try and undermine the progress made, and I don't think it will only be counter-revolutionary groups trying to recreate the oppressive structures, though they obviously become counter-revolutionary in trying to revive the old structures. A lot more bartering will occur, as people who produce food will trade with those who have special skills, materials, or goods, or a combination of these. Anyhow, I'm sure somebody else could better answer your questions in depth.

[jmpeer]

I thought Marx advocated a centrally planned economy. Is a centrally planned economy used in the transitory state and worker councils in the final state, vice versa, or is a centrally planned economy not used at all?

How is communism stateless if it has worker councils, or a centrally planned economy depending on my previous question?

[Across The Street]

I believe the centrally planned economy is part of the socialist transitional phase, but I'm not too well-read when it comes to Marx. Do a search on the forum for centrally planned economy, or something similar, and see what you find.

As far as the workers' councils, how do you see regional forms of governance as a state? I guess in a theoretical, wishful-thinking sense, some people would wish it to be completely centralized, with policy being directed from the top-down, but that's not communism.

[jmpeer]

Why is successful centralized resource distribution wishful thinking?
It's necessary if you want to manage resources between regions.
They'll have more and less raw resources and be better or worse at developing those resources between the regions.