Marx faq

[Mothman]

Hey, I'm trying to learn a bit more about Marxism, anyone know where I can get a good faq on Marxism?

[The Idler]

Isn't socialism what they had in Russia, or in China or Cuba, or in Sweden? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ6.html)

Wouldn't everyone have to be altruistic for socialism to work? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ7.html)

How will socialism be established? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ8.html)

What if one country establishes socialism and others don't? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ9.html)

What will socialism be like, how (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ10.html) (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ10.html)will it be administered? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ10.html)

The World Socialist Movement talks of a moneyless society; does that mean we'll use the barter system? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ11.html)

What about human nature? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ12.html)

But why will people work if they don't have to? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ13.html)

Does socialism mean equal shares for everyone? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ14.html)

What if people want too much? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ15.html)

What about the environment? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ16.html)

How will people who disagree be treated in socialism? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ17.html)

How will problems be handled in socialism? (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/FAQ18.html)

[Broletariat]

Why didn't you just link to the FAQ page of world socialism? >_>

To the OP though.

Marxism isn't something you should get from someone else. Many people try to read their ideas into Marx instead of just reading Marx. The best source for learning about Marx is Marx. So I'd recommend just reading Marx and ask questions if you have then and come to your own conclusions.

[Kamos]

Fun fact: I misread the title of this thread as "Marx fag".

[Volcanicity]

As Broletariat said above it's best to read Marx for yourself,as well as that try looking around for a decent biography of Marx.

This is a pretty useful starting point: http://marxists.org/subject/students/index.htm.

[Agent Ducky]

Fun fact: I misread the title of this thread as "Marx fag".

So did I. I blame the underline and 4chan people for adding "fag" to everything.

[AnonymousOne]

Fun fact: I misread the title of this thread as "Marx fag".

Know what you mean. Thought I was on 4Chan for a moment. :laugh:

EDIT: Damn. Ninja'd by Comrade Ducky. Wait, I also just got Duck Rolled. :cursing:

[Hebrew Hammer]

Fun fact: I misread the title of this thread as "Marx fag".

:lol:

Didn't realize how many people did, thought it'd be just me.

[Ocean Seal]

Hey, I'm trying to learn a bit more about Marxism, anyone know where I can get a good faq on Marxism?

http://marxists.org/ (http://marxists.org/)

http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/index.htm

http://marxists.org/archive/luxemburg/1900/reform-revolution/index.htm

Also the basics

Capitalism a system where property is privately owned.
Socialism is a system where property is collectively owned.

Thus:
Capitalism is a system where one person can earn another persons income millions of times over. Bill Gates earned 50 bil in one year and in that year the median family income in America was 40k. Bill Gates earns their salaries about 1.25 million times over.

Socialism you earn according to your contribution.

Capitalism you produce $50 worth of goods each hour; you get paid a wage of $10 hour and your boss keeps $40 in profits from the sale of the good.

Socialism you produce $50 worth of goods each hour; you keep the $50, you don't have a boss and you put a few dollars in to keep the workplace running.

[Broletariat]

(http://marxists.org/)Capitalism a system where property is privately owned.
Socialism is a system where property is collectively owned.

A read through of Capital will tell us that it is the alienation of labour that defines Capitalism. Alienated labour permits private property, but once they get going they both reproduce themselves in each other. To say that Socialism is a system where property is collectively owned allows us to define Mutualism as Socialist, when I really don't think it is. Alienated labour still exists under Mutualism and the crisis tendency would too.

[Mothman]

Thanks. Sorry if I don't contribute a lot at first on this forum, I'm still learning.

[Kamos]

Nobody demands you to contribute. In fact, we're happy to just help out.

[Ocean Seal]

A read through of Capital will tell us that it is the alienation of labour that defines Capitalism. Alienated labour permits private property, but once they get going they both reproduce themselves in each other. To say that Socialism is a system where property is collectively owned allows us to define Mutualism as Socialist, when I really don't think it is. Alienated labour still exists under Mutualism and the crisis tendency would too.
But I thought that in mutualism you have capitalism and socialism existing at the same time, thus someone could own property. However, I would recognize that it is foolish to believe that both socialism and capitalism could exist at the same time in a communal manner.

[Broletariat]

But I thought that in mutualism you have capitalism and socialism existing at the same time, thus someone could own property. However, I would recognize that it is foolish to believe that both socialism and capitalism could exist at the same time in a communal manner.

I was under the impression that Mutualism called for, essentially, worker's co-ops where they ran everything themselves, but were still isolated in production and needed to alienate their labour via the market.

[Ocean Seal]

I was under the impression that Mutualism called for, essentially, worker's co-ops where they ran everything themselves, but were still isolated in production and needed to alienate their labour via the market.
That's probably correct.

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

Fun fact: I misread the title of this thread as "Marx fag".

Really? That's pretty neat. I misread it for Marx flag
Thanks for the links

[Tim Cornelis]

Here's an interesting FAQ: http://www.newyouth.com/content/view/129/64/