How do you motivate workers in a socialism?

[God Emperor]

Hello, I'm writing a lot on Socialism today and how it relates to the war on terror.. My question is, and I keep coming against this is conversations with conservatives, how to motivate workers in a socialism.. I even got them proclaim that Capitalism was darwinistic, and it wasn't the best thing since sliced-bread, but as long as I can't explain this no one will ever be convince... These are some ideas I've had...

a. Militarism and Violence or strict punishment.
b. Ethical/Religious ideas that teach people to work for the good of humanity.
c. Teach (thru media, example) workers to focus on other goals, such as sex, curiosity, the good of human kind, etc.
d. Allow some financial gain for workers to strive for.


I'm afraid, however, that none of those seem apealing or would work completely.. are there any writigns by marx or anyone else on these subjects?

[elbolao23]

there isn't any way because in a communism you cannot superate your self thats why you might motivate workers for a while but after a while when they see no difference after years of work and they are still the same as whn they satarted they'll just stop working as hard. there is a thing in human nature called greed and everybody has it , these is what makes you have nice things and instead of going backwards go forward with new tuff like cars and technololy, in a communist country since every body is the same you CAN"T have nice things or else they'll get taken away by the goverment, trust me , they did it to my family in cuba, my dad sended them money to buy a car to make some money to feed their family and after buying the car the local goverment came and took it. thats the only reason why i think communism does not work because you cannot be something in life, you have no future , you are gonna be stuck there for the rest of your life , is like me telling a student that he will never pass a grade no matter what he does, what do you think he is gonna do, stop trying. thats what happens with workers in a communist nation like cuba where supposily everybody is the same except the people that work for fidel

[Pawn Power]

i am sorry but all of these ways to make workers work are horrible
under a pure communist society workers will have less restrictions on their work not to mention less working hours.
people would work because they and society are getting the full benefit from their labor, not the bosses like in capitalism. they will work out of their love for labor


a. Militarism and Violence or strict punishment.
a. this would just motivate another revolution

b. Ethical/Religious ideas that teach people to work for the good of humanity.
b.their would not be religion under communism so that could not play a factor

c. Teach (thru media, example) workers to focus on other goals, such as sex, curiosity, the good of human kind, etc.c. this one is the only partially logical suggestion, their work would not be their life they would have other desires and goals and work would be just as a means to run society

d. Allow some financial gain for workers to strive for.
d. this goes AGAINST EVERYTHING communism STANDS FOR!!! "from each according to his need to each according to his ability" and their would be no financial reward NO MONEY under communism

Marx wrote “for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have in mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd, or critic.”
Labor performed out of economic necessity would give way to truly voluntary activity.

[DaCuBaN]

I believe it comes back to the revolution of the mind - Personally I have always worked to the best of my abilities, especially in regards to other people and I believe that this self determination is what is required, not an incentive. Bear in mind the idea is that you are no longer working to someone elses gain, but to the gain of all - no man is your 'boss' nor are you to any other. Everything you do effects you as equally as it does the next man.

It's a matter of learning the meaning of responsibility

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

2 reasons:

first. People are more motivated when they know that their work benefits the community and not some prick called boss. People are communityminded. Maybe it explains why there are so many volunteers in the US, people gain nothing, they loose time, energy and sometimes money. Sometimes volunteers don't even like the job appointed, jet they keep coming and work happy, thus motivated.

Second. Everyone is as wealthy as the other in Communism. So people will not be bothered by the paycheck, thus leaving them a wider choice in jobs. Quite some people decide not to become teacher (par example), only because the low wage. Such a problem wouldn't exist in Communism. How broader the choice, the more chance that you get to choose your "perfect" job, how more you enjoy it, how harder you work.

In Communism/Socialism we strive to abolish the classes. Giving higher wages to some would work against our ideals.

[God Emperor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2004, 01:24 AM
i am sorry but all of these ways to make workers work are horrible
under a pure communist society workers will have less restrictions on their work not to mention less working hours.
people would work because they and society are getting the full benefit from their labor, not the bosses like in capitalism. they will work out of their love for labor


a. Militarism and Violence or strict punishment.
a. this would just motivate another revolution

b. Ethical/Religious ideas that teach people to work for the good of humanity.
b.their would not be religion under communism so that could not play a factor

c. Teach (thru media, example) workers to focus on other goals, such as sex, curiosity, the good of human kind, etc.c. this one is the only partially logical suggestion, their work would not be their life they would have other desires and goals and work would be just as a means to run society

d. Allow some financial gain for workers to strive for.
d. this goes AGAINST EVERYTHING communism STANDS FOR!!! "from each according to his need to each according to his ability" and their would be no financial reward NO MONEY under communism

Marx wrote “for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have in mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd, or critic.”
Labor performed out of economic necessity would give way to truly voluntary activity.
So basically people recieve the fruits of their labor... hmm. .well i guess that makes sense.. but how is this enforced? by having everyone do his/her work in his/her own enviorment? how do you stop people from joining together to work, and capitalism all over again? more can be produced in groups..

[ComradeRed]

My question is, and I keep coming against this is conversations with conservatives, how to motivate workers in a socialism.. I even got them proclaim that Capitalism was darwinistic, and it wasn't the best thing since sliced-bread, but as long as I can't explain this no one will ever be convince... Well, laissez-faire (which cons want) uses social darwinism for justification - please note: darwinism competitors reproduce, social darwinism competition does not. As soon as a company merges with another, they won't mate and have offsprings ---- this leads to a downward spiral in the number of competitors leading to an oligopoly, which can "kill off" the new cometitors.


a. Militarism and Violence or strict punishment. <_< It&#39;s called stalinism, where you rule through fear; or fascism if there are classes.

b. Ethical/Religious ideas that teach people to work for the good of humanity. This kinda works, but not in all cases

c. Teach (thru media, example) workers to focus on other goals, such as sex, curiosity, the good of human kind, etc. see above

d. Allow some financial gain for workers to strive for. No. This creates classes. The solution, imho, is to create rivalries between factories ----- factory a and b are "competitors" in a communist society, convince each factory to rival the other and not be outdone by the other factory. When all else fails, there is titoism.



I&#39;m afraid, however, that none of those seem apealing or would work completely.. are there any writigns by marx or anyone else on these subjects? :) Titoism (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=6&t=16086&hl=tito&s=)

[The Feral Underclass]

Beat them...beat them really hard.....

Only joking of course. Motivation has to come from a desire to make society work. You can not coerce them, or bribe people. They are not children. People must want this new society, and then they will make sure it works.

[redstar2000]

Perhaps this may be helpful...

Who Will Clean the Sewers? (September 12, 2003) (http://redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net/theory.php?subaction=showfull&id=1083202823&archive=&cnshow=headlines&start_from=&ucat=&)

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[Subversive Pessimist]

As far as my memory goes, you said one of the solutions was to make it mandatory. Do you propose making work mandatory?

[ComradeRed]

I believe what he said was a rotation of jobs as a part time gig; e.g. redstar2000 is a doctor (or whatever other proffesion he does) and works 40 hours a week, but that leaves 118 hours of free-time (of course this is more like 62 hours due to sleeping eating and drinking), he is randomly selected to work 15 hours of whatever work is needed. That is my take on it.

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by God [email protected] 21 2004, 04:04 AM

So basically people recieve the fruits of their labor... hmm. .well i guess that makes sense.. but how is this enforced? by having everyone do his/her work in his/her own enviorment? how do you stop people from joining together to work, and capitalism all over again? more can be produced in groups..
red redstar2000&#39;s writting it does an excellent job of explaining this situation, he knows his stuff ;)

i dont understand what you mean when you say it will be capitalism all over again. Their would be no money or wages or bosses. if you could explain it a litttle better maybe i might be able to understand your point and giver you a more specific answer

[Invader Zim]

The answer is simple; tell the people the truth.

If people work harder, the society is more productive, in a socialist society, the produce of society goes directly into the hands of the the people. By working hrder then they and all society can expect a higher standard of living.

[Bolshevist]

As the material alienation is destroyed, people will not need to be motivated. Rather, they work to keep their soceity on its feed, not to make any capitalist richer. Also, 5-6 hours of work each day isnt something that you need to be motivated to do, unless you&#39;re some super-lazy person.

Whipping the proletariat to work is just as bad as capitalism.

[Hawker]

I would use the Media to motivate workers for example if I was the leader of a communist country I would go on air and say something inspirational to the people:

"Our society is one big machine,and the people are the parts that make it work,just like in all machine every part has a purpose as should all of our people too. The machine cannot work without the parts,neither can the country,without any of it&#39;s people doing their role"

In order to motivate the people willingly they must also work for something,not money for that is what we are trying to destroy,but a condition,or thing.The Greater Good.

[Subversive Pessimist]

if I was the leader of a communist country I would go on air and say something inspirational to the people:

Leader in a communist country? How&#39;s that communism? That&#39;s more like monarchy.


he is randomly selected to work 15 hours of whatever work is needed.

What if he is not qualified to do the job?

[scrap metal]

then he learns ^_^

[Hawker]

Leader in a communist country? How&#39;s that communism? That&#39;s more like monarchy.

No country can exist without a leader.In a communist country it would be a leader that would be a puppet of the people.

[Essential Insignificance]

No country can exist without a leader.In a communist country it would be a leader that would be a puppet of the people

You really have no idea.

[DaCuBaN]

You really have no idea.

very helpful comment there :rolleyes: :lol:


No country can exist without a leader.In a communist country it would be a leader that would be a puppet of the people

Although having a true &#39;puppet of the people&#39; probably wouldn&#39;t be that bad, it is not communism.

I advise reading some of the texts on http://redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net/theory.php

There&#39;s a lot of his own work, and quotes from many members on that site. It&#39;s remarkably informative - but more importantly - it&#39;s not just the same old crap regurgitated. There are new ideas expressed in amongst the old as well.

[Essential Insignificance]

Although having a true &#39;puppet of the people&#39; probably wouldn&#39;t be that bad, it is not communism.

And I suppose, that was more enlightening. :lol:

[Hawker]

I still find it hard to believe that a country can run without a leader.

[Essential Insignificance]

I still find it hard to believe that a country can run without a leader.

Why…what does one specific "leader" do exactly…absolutely nothing; except be the "figure head" of an organization that is ruling and controlling you and the faculties of suppressing an uprising.

Leaders don’t run countries, but instead, control them. The masses run countries, as they are the substance producers and without material production and regulation of thus; civil society ceases to exist as it is.

[Rasta Sapian]

give out red star stickers as a reward for hard work&#33; :lol:

which can be later used for relaxation time, or to be used as a factor when moving up the ranks of a particular work place. ;)

skilled artisans, and builders would most likely live in some of the most well constructed building&#33;

an agricultural worker would always eat the freshest fruit and vegtiables :)

economists and banker/merchants would be the first to export and import new products and the sceintists would be the first to develop and test some of these new products :)

on and on and on...................................

if you dig it, you will find potatos, if you mix it you will have vodka, if you mix it further you will have a cocktail, if you drink it you may just find utopia my friends

peace yall

[DaCuBaN]

Dude... I get the feeling you need to lay of the weed for a while :lol: :D


if you dig it, you will find potatos, if you mix it you will have vodka, if you mix it further you will have a cocktail, if you drink it you may just find utopia my friends

[themessiah]

motivate them for what?

its a communism

there is no need to motivate. you are still stuck in a capitalist frame of mind. in capitalism you need to motivate workers to generate capital. in communism, there is no need.

except in the cold war where the need was to defend against and combat capitalism. which is why, supposedly, communism lost. it isn&#39;t really meant to motivate people to perform meanial and demeaning tasks for others.

[pandora]

I recently read my friends pocket guide to Communism in which some capitalist thinker summarized that the Communist workers were bought out with unemployment insurance, decent wages, and health insurance... :D

Well well well,
We don&#39;t have to worry about those three nasty things any more in the U.S.
In my state employers can fire you with no cause, and if you are fired you are banned point blank from collecting.
It is considered a "gift" by the employer, not to the employee, but to the local economy to keep it from being affected by massive layoffs :lol:
I&#39;m quoting the Unemployment booklet directly.

Before leaving the workers at the unemployment office asked me to fight for their rights as they are facing being DOWNSIZED FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Of course there is no health benefits in the US that&#39;s an option, and more companies are optioning out. As it&#39;s gotten astronomically expensive, wages are going down in real terms frozen wages in the face of inflation, jobs being exported.

So all of those "safety nets" against socialism are down because they think we can&#39;t organize Lets kick their ass :P