Preparing for discussion/debate, important things to know?

[CatTrap]

I've been invited to participate in a discussion and debate with other people. What are some of the most common objections to socialism and communism, and what are their counters. What are some good materials I can use and cite that are good for discussions and debates with other people.

There will be another socialist, and a few 'Libertarians' there so I am told.

I don't know the time yet.

[Hermes]

Could you give us a little more context on who's organizing the debate/why, and what exactly the debate is supposed to be about?

You've probably already looked at these, but there's a stickied post in the Learning forum which lists a couple of the more common, ideological, objections to socialism/communism, and possible rebuttals:
http://www.revleft.com/vb/threads/22370-High-School-Commie's-Guide

It might also be useful to look at the Anarchist FAQ, particularly the section titled "What are the myths of capitalist economics?":
http://www.infoshop.org/AnarchistFAQSectionC

There have also been several threads throughout this forum dealing with the same topic, that you might find helpful:
www.revleft.com/vb/threads/189658-The-human-nature-argument
www.revleft.com/vb/threads/180701-Typical-arguments-I-hear-against-communism-and-how-I-reply-Suggestions
www.revleft.com/vb/threads/174208-Best-counter-argument-to-communism

Depending, again, on the context of the debate, as well as how much time you have to prepare, you would obviously gain more credibility if you examined other sources.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I recommend peeping the currently "hot" threads on "Why not capitalism?" which addresses the (insufferably stupid and ahistorical) "human nature" argument, as well as the thread on "Do machines create value?"

I think the latter thread is particular important in that in gets at the commodity form and therefore the primary vector of capitalist mystification: the appearance of human (power-)relations as apolitical "economic" relations between things. If there's a single most useful concept that communists can bring to debate, I believe it is which really cuts to the core of various theoretical notions underpinning capitalist ideology.

The other big thing is bringing a historical perspective on capitalism - ie a knowledge of its concrete material genesis (in colonialism and slavery, confining women to the "domestic" sphere, the enclosure of the commons, etc.) Often, capital's ideological proponents will try to present capital as a transhistorical concept, rather than a definite system with a concrete (and horrifically blood-soaked) past.

[Sewer Socialist]

I guess if you're talking about communism in a mixed group, you're probably going to end up talking about the soviet union.

so i guess, whatever your analysis of it is, have it pretty well laid out. was it socialist, a workers' state, state capitalist? what do those things mean, and why? they'll probably expect you to think it was socialist (or, also likely, they don't understand the leninist or stalinist distinction between the two, and would call it communist)

at any rate, there will probably be a lot of trying to explain concepts to the uninitiated.

[CatTrap]

As of today, I haven't received any more concrete information. Maybe, it's not happening after all? I suppose I'll update this post if/when I get any more information.

[CatTrap]

Sept. 22nd. It seems like it's more of a discussion forum rather than a debate. Apparently, an 'anarcho-capitalist' 'libertarian' Republican, a liberal, a "Democratic socialist" (Socdem?) and me will be in this discussion forum.

So, there you have it. I'll put together some notes before this discussion forum.