What reform would you propose?

[jmpeer]

What reform would you propose in countries like the US to facilitate the establishment of communism? ...like with the fiat monetary system, fractional reserve banking system, "federal" reserve banking system, social security, health care, etc...

[Catmatic Leftist]

Communism cannot be established through reformist measures. It must be established through armed revolution of the working class against the ruling class and seizing the means of production.

[ExUnoDisceOmnes]

I would definitely raise upper class taxes and lower working wage taxes. But I do think that reform is the wrong way to go about things. The workers need to seize the means of production for themselves and establish new leadership for the working class.

[hatzel]

I would propose a particular type of reform whereby the state dissolves itself. I consider this reform quite unlikely, though...

[jinx92]

How about no gun restriction laws whatsoever, so the working class can better arm itself for the revolution.

[red cat]

All kinds of reforms facilitating immigration may be.

[Rooster]

I think a better thing to do would be to completely discredit the capitalist system. So you'd want to raise taxes for the poor and lower them for the rich, lower the working wage significantly, restrict freedoms in an overt way and deny any semblance of political voice. Pretty soon the only choice after that would be a revolution.... Ha, I don't agree with doing that but I'm just saying... devil's advocate and that.

[Magón]

The legalization of all drugs. (I think that's a pretty big one!)

[tbasherizer]

I'd declare all companies and corporations to be the equal property of all of their respective employees with a yearly income below 75,000 USD. It would be rough at first, but I think it would solve lots of domestic problems in the long run, and destroy US global imperialism.

[El Rojo]

the abolition of private property, which is in fact not a reform because it totally turns society upon its head. aka, revolution

[Broletariat]

Force every high school to have a required class of reading and interpreting Das Kapital.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

If we're talking about merely reforms done in the capitalist system, these are at top of my list:
- Universal single-payer healthcare
- Increased progressive income tax
- No crackdowns on immigration

Those are probably my top 3, at top of my head. Definitely less obstacles to forming unions and repealing Taft-Hartley and such.

[ZeroNowhere]

The re-formation of the workers' movement.

[blake 3:17]

A complete overhaul of the electoral system. I don't believe in electoralism as a primary tactic or strategy, but the anti-democratic system of voter registration, extremely convoluted means of becoming a candidate, etc., means that political alternatives aren't even heard or considered.

[Blackscare]

I suppose this thread would be better called "hypothetical reforms that Marxists/whatever recognize would improve the situation in the US". Maybe something along those lines that's a little snappier, though.


I often think "wow, those idiots in office can't even recognize that they need to do X to save their system", or the like.

My top three would be:

1) Immediate public works campaigns to overhaul infrastructure in the US. This is desperately needed and could provide many jobs. In the short term, it would put people to work building rail systems/etc, and in the long term it would provide jobs maintaining/operating said infrastructure.

2) An end to so-called "right to work" laws and a more favorable disposition towards the formation of new unions, rather than simply pandering to old, bloated, and exclusionary unions as the Democrats do today.

3) TAX THE OIL COMPANIES. EXXON NEEDS TO BE TAXED. What are they going to do, pick up their oil wells and move elsewhere? They are totally untaxed today, while being the most profitable company in history.

[Blackscare]

I realize that #2 would not, in fact, help the current capitalist system, but of course would still like to see it happen. The other two would be vital to insure the long-term economic viability of the US and eliminate the crushing debt that it's faced by.

[Rooster]

This is all just "capitalism with a human face". It does not solve the fundamental problem of exploitation. It's a trap that we shouldn't fall in to.

[thriller]

I think a better thing to do would be to completely discredit the capitalist system. So you'd want to raise taxes for the poor and lower them for the rich, lower the working wage significantly, restrict freedoms in an overt way and deny any semblance of political voice. Pretty soon the only choice after that would be a revolution.... Ha, I don't agree with doing that but I'm just saying... devil's advocate and that.

Speaking from a Marxist perspective, the working class should hasten the revolution. This means doing what rooster said; turning the capitalist system into it's worst, most obvious, damaging form so that NO reforms work, and revolution is the only solution. That is why my dad always voted for Nixon :D

[Zanthorus]

"We have seen above, that the first step in the revolution by the working class is to raise the proletariat to the position of ruling class to win the battle of democracy."

[scarletghoul]

i would ban CSI, its so boring yet so many people like it
also ban italian food its disgusting

edit; woops just read the OP and realised this isnt chit chat. er,, something about empowering workers etc etc

[Rooster]

Speaking from a Marxist perspective, the working class should hasten the revolution. This means doing what rooster said; turning the capitalist system into it's worst, most obvious, damaging form so that NO reforms work, and revolution is the only solution. That is why my dad always voted for Nixon :D

Ha, I know this is all fun and games but this is a difficult question. Should we try to make capitalism better or should we really try to move forward beyond capitalism? I don't know if anyone here is familiar with the Scottish independence movement, but I think it's one worth going for from a Marxist perspective. I'm sure it would destablise western Europe to a large extent, most people in Scotland vote for leftist parties anyway but I have no idea how people will vote after independence. I doubt very much that a conservative (UK equivalent of the republican party) would get into power because of tradition but I'm not sure if that would still be the case. Jimmy Reid, the famous trade unionist, said that we should vote for the national party for independence but it's something I've always had second thoughts on. The only reason that the conservatives don't have a majority now is because Scotland has always voted for something else en masse since the 70s/80s.

[Turinbaar]

Abolish the private donor system and replace it with a uniform state subsidy for elections, universally applicable within constitutional rules. The bourgeoisie hold on the US government is their ability to buy congressmen and legislation (bail-outs, health-care "reform," etc.), but this reform would create a level playing field for the working class to compete in democratic politics.

[ZeroNowhere]

Speaking from a Marxist perspective, the working class should hasten the revolution. This means doing what rooster said; turning the capitalist system into it's worst, most obvious, damaging form so that NO reforms work, and revolution is the only solution. That is why my dad always voted for Nixon :DHigher wages lower the rate of profit, and make the economy more prone to crisis. I suppose that your view is that crises are too enjoyable? Really, all that this accomplishes is to make yourself look like a bit of an arsehole, and I'm probably not going to be a fan of somebody who attempts to make me suffer more, no matter how hopelessly.

[Rooster]

Higher wages lower the rate of profit, and make the economy more prone to crisis. I suppose that your view is that crises are too enjoyable? Really, all that this accomplishes is to make yourself look like a bit of an arsehole, and I'm probably not going to be a fan of somebody who attempts to make me suffer more, no matter how hopelessly.

Less profit in our western world will just mean industry will move overseas. It's hard enough as it is to form workers groups with this service industry we have. Are you forgetting that capital is now on a global scale? I also don't think calling each other an arsehole will accomplish much.

[Aesop]

I think a better thing to do would be to completely discredit the capitalist system. So you'd want to raise taxes for the poor and lower them for the rich, lower the working wage significantly, restrict freedoms in an overt way and deny any semblance of political voice. Pretty soon the only choice after that would be a revolution.... Ha, I don't agree with doing that but I'm just saying... devil's advocate and that.

To be honest there is very little reason that this would work. This kind of reminds me of the KPD saying of "After hitler, our turn".
Just because there is a worsen of conditions that does not mean people will become socialists/communists over night, for that to happen there needs to be groups that are willing to educate agitate and act as a vessel for organising.

[Rooster]

To be honest there is very little reason that this would work. This kind of reminds me of the KPD saying of "After hitler, our turn".
Just because there is a worsen of conditions that does not mean people will become socialists/communists over night, for that to happen there needs to be groups that are willing to educate agitate and act as a vessel for organising.

I know. Hindsight is great, isn't it?

[Aesop]

I know. Hindsight is great, isn't it?

How witty

[indya]

Let's face it, full out marxist revolution is not happening in the US anytime soon. To spend time not focusing on the little reforms here and there is silly. Every bit more progressive our system becomes means an improved quality of life for millions of people. I know too many leftists who refuse to participate in this democracy (I use that term loosely, of course) because there aren't any radical leftists to vote for or because they would rather spend their time discussing the coming revolution and Marxist dialectics in a dusty lecture room.

We should have small reforms here and there until one day the capitalists realize that they are in a communist society.

I don't care how long it takes, but everything that people are advocating for here is great and should be fought for!

[MarxSchmarx]

Let's face it, full out marxist revolution is not happening in the US anytime soon. To spend time not focusing on the little reforms here and there is silly. Every bit more progressive our system becomes means an improved quality of life for millions of people. I know too many leftists who refuse to participate in this democracy (I use that term loosely, of course) because there aren't any radical leftists to vote for or because they would rather spend their time discussing the coming revolution and Marxist dialectics in a dusty lecture room.

We should have small reforms here and there until one day the capitalists realize that they are in a communist society.

I don't care how long it takes, but everything that people are advocating for here is great and should be fought for!

I agree it is idiotic to oppose most reforms, but at the same time, it's important to remember that the frog being slowly boiled to death in the pot before it notices anything is not how we will transition out of capitalism.

Reforms rather should be seen as gradual steps build confidence for the working class. For example, guaranteed employment will give workers greater leverage to demand better working conditions and can lead to, for example, greater solidarity strikes.

At best, reforms and transition to socialism can happen analogously to the transition from feudalism to capitalism in England - it's not that we will awaken one morning finding ourselves under a completely different economic or political order, but at the same time, it will happen quite rapidly and won't take more than a generation.

[Fawkes]

All police have to carry guns that when fired shoot out a flag that says "BANG!"

[StalinFanboy]

This has nothing to do with the road to communism, but I would like to see absolutely free healthcare for everyone regardless of citizenship in America.