Anyone share my views and some questions.

[LeftAbove]

I'm a new user on this forum. I believe my views are relatively on the left but I'll let you guys decide.

1. Believe in equal rights regardless of gender, orientation, or race.
2. Equal opportunity hiring
3. I believe the revolution should be international
4. Higher wage for laborers as they're the source of the capital in the first place.
5. I don't think education should be mandatory.
6. Redistribution of wealth (very important)

I have questions however that have been lingering in my head since I was introduced to leftism.
1. What is the difference between Maoism, Trotskyism, Marxism, and Titoism?
2. Will there be currency in a socialist society?
3. Are most of you socialists or communists?
4. How would the criminal justice system work in an anarchist society?

I have may other questions but I'll post them when they come to mind.

[Prinskaj]

First of all. Welcome to the forum, it is always great to have people interested in these sorts of things.
But to the main topic. Your views are pretty typical of people arriving to the radical left for the first time, it's a good idea to first understand what we stand for, before starting to uphold views.
We, communist, are critically opposed to wage-labour as an idea, since it deprives the worker of the fruits of his labour. So "higher-wages" is by no means a long term goal of the people on this forum.
But we do however all stand for equality for all genders and skincolours.

[jookyle]

1. What is the difference between Maoism, Trotskyism, Marxism, and Titoism?
2. Will there be currency in a socialist society?
3. Are most of you socialists or communists?
4. How would the criminal justice system work in an anarchist society?

1.Well, Marxism is the analytical style and thought(and some consider a process or method) originating with Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels. Maoism, Trotskyism, and Titoism are generally considered to be different tendencies with in Marxism. You'll find though that some tendencies consider other tendencies not to be Marxist and argue and fight and blah blah.

Maoism originates with with Mao Zedong of China and were based on the situation in China at the time. His ideas have been used by the "new left" in the 60's with groups like the Black Panthers as a method of urban guerrilla tactics and method for revolution.

Troskyism is based off the writings of Leon Trotsky and generally are in opposition to Stalinism. Internationalism, Permanent Revolution, the Transitional Program, and Revolution Betrayed(Trotsky's assessment of the Soviet Union) are works which are core to Trotskyism.

Titoism is based on the actions of Josip Broz Tito. Basically, it was break from the marxism-leninism(Stalinism) being practiced in the Eastern Europe at the time. One of the biggest differences is the rejection of Stalins, "Socialism in One Country".

2. It really depends on what you mean by socialist. In a more traditional Marxist sense, socialism is the lowest stage of communism, what happens after the overthrow of capitalism and which takes over it's highest means of production. In this sense, money would still exist in this early stage. As Lenin says in The State and Revolution, during this time bourgeoisie law still exists somewhat in this early stage of transition and the inequalities of wealth won't be solved at this point.

3.I'd say the two most prominent ideologies on the forum are Communism and Anarchist.

4.I'll leave that to an anarchist.

[Aussie Trotskyist]

G'day Mate.

I'm new to the forum myself, but I've been a communist for a while (and have some knowledge).

In reply to your beliefs:

The World Revolution is a Trotskyist (such as myself) and Maoist thing.

Redistribution of resources and egalitarianism is a must to be a leftist of any sort.

Higher wages seems to indicate you don't want to completely overthrow capitalism (right now at least) that may change. It depends on how (and if) your ideologies develop.

And the education thing, to me, seems unique to yourself.

And the Questions (as far as I can answer)

1. All communist and socialists claim to be Marxists. Trotskyism, Maoism, Stalinism, Titoism, Luxembourgism, Castroism (do you want me to keep going?)... are all strands of Marxist thought. It's hard to give a simple (and completely accurate) explanation of the differences between them, so I'll try to explain some of the major ones.

There is a big debate between Trotskyists and Stalinists. Trotsky supported World Revolution, and believed that Stalin was totalitarian and a 'Betrayer of the Revolution". Stalin supported Socialism in one Country and denounced Trotsky.

Maoists have a great reverence of Stalin, but expand on Stalinist beliefs. Think china during Mao's leadership. However, the Sino-Soviet split in the 60s-90s caused China, under Mao, and the USSR, starting with Khrushchev, to engage in their own cold war. I'm not sure how this influences current Stalinist-Maoist relations.

I know that was long. And they get longer and longer.

2. Socialism is the transition phase from capitalism to communism (but I'm sure socialists don't go to communism). At the begining of socialism, it will be like capitalism, but the workers begin to rule. From a communist point of view, I think money starts to disappear toward the start of communism.

3. This form seems to consist of socialists, anarchists and even some social democrats (but they don't seem to stay for long).

4. Not being an Anarchist, I don't know. However, I'd take a good guess that because crime is the result of social inequality, anarchists would try to stop the problem at the source.

[Offbeat]

4. How would the criminal justice system work in an anarchist society?

Anarchy would eradicate many of the causes of crime, so there would be a lot less of it, and many things illegal today would not be considered crimes. There would still inevitably be disputes, and they would be dealt with by the community, probably at some sort of directly democratic council or court. If the need arose for an alternative police force, it would probably be a part time thing, or something which rotates between members of the community, so that the police are very much part of and not distinct from everyone else.

For more details, see http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/secI5.html#seci58

[Zukunftsmusik]

I believe my views are relatively on the left but I'll let you guys decide.

I don't think you should people on an internet forum decide what your views should be categorised as. I would follow what Prinskaj said on this:
it's a good idea to first understand what we stand for, before starting to uphold views.



2. Equal opportunity hiring

I'm not sure what you mean by this



5. I don't think education should be mandatory.

Why not?


I have questions however that have been lingering in my head since I was introduced to leftism. [...]
3. Are most of you socialists or communists?

Most people here will tell you there's no difference between the two. Marx and Engels used socialism and communism generally for the same thing. However, in mainstream politics and media, most people here would fit under the label communist or anarchist, as socialist usually is related to "democratic socialists" who actually are not much different from social democrats.


We, communist, are critically opposed to wage-labour as an idea, since it deprives the worker of the fruits of his labour. So "higher-wages" is by no means a long term goal of the people on this forum.

Not as a long-term goal, perhaps, but I definitely support higher wages as a short term goal, especially in countries where the wages are incredibly low. Increasing the standard of living for the working class is something the absolute majority of people who describes them as communists would support.


2. It really depends on what you mean by socialist. In a more traditional Marxist sense, socialism is the lowest stage of communism, what happens after the overthrow of capitalism and which takes over it's highest means of production. In this sense, money would still exist in this early stage. As Lenin says in The State and Revolution, during this time bourgeoisie law still exists somewhat in this early stage of transition and the inequalities of wealth won't be solved at this point.

Some would argue what you describe here is rather the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, as Marx and Engels never distinguished between socialism and communism (although they talked of lower and higher stages, which causes some confusion perhaps).


Just a general advice: Read, read, read. Read marxist theory, anarchist theory etc, ask questions, the more the better. Asking questions is the best way to learn. Engage in debate. You'll find your views, and they will change along with your learning.

[ellipsis]

welcome to the forum, I am glad to see other posters took time to answer your questions.

It sounds like you are trying to learn more, which is great! I encourage you to explore the forums, ask questions and contribute your own thoughts, etc.

[jookyle]

Some would argue what you describe here is rather the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, as Marx and Engels never distinguished between socialism and communism (although they talked of lower and higher stages, which causes some confusion perhaps).

That's correct. It's Lenin who references it as socialism in The State an Revolution. Which is where the idea stuck in my mind.


The State and Revolution

And so, in the first phase of communist society (usually called socialism) "bourgeois law" is not abolished in its entirety, but only in part, only in proportion to the economic revolution so far attained, i.e., only in respect of the means of production. "Bourgeois law" recognizes them as the private property of individuals. Socialism converts them into common property. To that extent--and to that extent alone--"bourgeois law" disappears.

[LeftAbove]

Why not?




Because some kids have no use as to knowing what a pro-noun is, sentence structure or the sciences around us. Some kids don't want to learn and don't care.They end up holding other kids who actually want to learn behind. How do I know this? My dad is a teacher, and he almost got fired for writing rowdy kids up to detention and sending them to deans. If it wasn't for the union, he would be fired. And when I say "kids," I'm not referring to elementary school youth. No, I'm referring to middle school age, 8th grade in my father's class.

[ellipsis]

4. How would the criminal justice system work in an anarchist society?

http://attackthesystem.com/dealing-with-crime-in-a-free-society/

[Terminator X]

Because some kids have no use as to knowing what a pro-noun is, sentence structure or the sciences around us. Some kids don't want to learn and don't care.They end up holding other kids who actually want to learn behind. How do I know this? My dad is a teacher, and he almost got fired for writing rowdy kids up to detention and sending them to deans. If it wasn't for the union, he would be fired. And when I say "kids," I'm not referring to elementary school youth. No, I'm referring to middle school age, 8th grade in my father's class.

I'm not sure I understand - formal classroom education isn't really mandatory, plenty of parents home-school their kids. However, I can get behind the idea that public school standardized tests and the like are bullshit across the board and should immediately be abolished, though.