11 Questions For Communists [Archive]

View Full Version : 11 Questions For Communists

Capitalist Lawyer

24th August 2004, 02:58

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

Is success a point or is it a path?

Is poverty a virtue?

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

Can communism co-exist with small business?

Individual

24th August 2004, 03:02

12. If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?

Capitalist Lawyer

24th August 2004, 03:22

If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?

I am not Noam Chomsky.

synthesis

24th August 2004, 04:11

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

What is and what should be are often two entirely different phenomena.

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Well, let's define our terms for a second. We understand, of course, that by "to be successful", you really mean "to get rich." Success can be measured in multiple ways, as some would define it as having a loving relationship with a life partner, or simply "being happy". No communist would begrudge anyone for achieving that kind of success.

So, what your question amounts to is asking us why we think that most rich people are in their position due to luck.

That's pretty simple to answer. More often than not, you're born into your future economic class. People born into fabulous wealth can hire trained professionals to invest their money to create even more capital. Class movement is defined primarily by who is born to parents who are willing to at least take care of the costs of living, or education, or both, so that the enterprising student doesn't have to juggle both at once.

Then there are the... other cases. Some people simply use dirty tricks to get to their "top dog" status; and their dirty tricks are generally only used when someone sees a "window of opportunity"... which doesn't necessarily exist for everyone, or even very many people at all. Bill Gates is a great example. Microsoft Corporation only paid $50,000 for the rights of Windows's predecessor before they turned right back around and licensed it to IBM and worked with computer distributors to have a version of it (MS-DOS) included with almost every computer produced. It hearkens back to Jay Gould's story in the later half of the 1800's, who simply bought land and sold it again, creating more capital to become an even larger social parasite... in essence, all their "hard work" really amounted to was that of seeing an opportunity and grabbing it - and the presence of that opportunity, contrary to many popular idioms, is nothing but pure luck.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Probably because they have a desire - real or manufactured - to see real competition, and not simply one group dominating all the others. Capitalist mythology tries to trick people into thinking that the free market creates this kind of competition, whereas history shows that capitalism, allowed to develop on its own, simply devolves into monopolies.

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

I'd venture to guess it's because of the fact that the technological level of every country which has attempted socialism naturally tends toward the maintenance (or only slight improvement) of previously existing standards of poverty. Of course, Marxists have known for over 150 years that the primary prerequisite for the creation of a working, stateless communist society is a level of technology that is capable of supporting it. Leninists (what you call "communists") haven't made this discovery yet.

Is success a point or is it a path?

Well, we've already established that your sense of "success" is "massive accumulation of wealth."

For that definition? I'd say it's a combination of both. Massive wealth is a fragile reality, both a point and a path, growing ever more brittle, directly in proportion to the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Is poverty a virtue?

Of course not. Only loony religious mendicants would claim such a thing.

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

I think this is an invalid assertion. Right now, we don't value goods more than money. In a capitalist society, money is first and foremost valuable as capital: money that can be spent in order to make more money in the future. Goods come afterwards.

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

I'll tell you who: everyone else who has ever exploited art for commercial gain. Hip-hop that once had the power to change our perceptions of reality (and some still does, though lurking underground) now simply reinforces institutions of the old order, such as sexism, homophobia, black-on-black violence, and greed.

When I turn on MTV and see Nelly and Chingy and J-Kwon, I see simple soulless capitalism and old-fashioned alienation of labor. Mainstream rappers are seperated from their aesthetics - they do what their labels tell them, which will always be for a profit, not to make an artistic or political statement or even for that personal sense of satisfaction one gains from an expression of human creativity. Only capitalist parasites would see the invention of hip-hop as another means of gaining money; it takes people like Talib Kweli, the Coup, and Cannibal Ox to see what can really be done with that particular brand of poetry set to music.

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

One motive we will be sure to see is personal convenience. Under communism, where all previously owned technology which was once owned for personal benefit but is now turned to the public good takes care of most of the labor, people are going to have a lot of free time - an understatement, certainly. In that sense, there will certainly be some who will devote their free time to developing the technology to make their own lives easier.

But what of the products that don't necessarily assist in the automation of labor? To this, I say that social status would be an ample enough motivation for anyone. The men and women who make things that people want are going to receive a lot of praise for what they do - and such prestige has always proven to be a good motivation for a lot of things.

Can communism co-exist with small business?

No. Generally, the concept of "small business" is almost purely theoretical, and any "small business" that does exist is seen simply as a brief snapshot in time. At some point or another, nearly every "small business" either becomes a "big business"... or it just dies. Generally, it's the latter.

"Small business" is on its way to being destroyed as a viable method of employment as a natural process of capitalism: the big guys either eat up the small ones or destroy them entirely.

Urban Rubble

24th August 2004, 04:27

You should've put leftists, we're not all Communists.

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

I don't think anyone said the poor want to be "rich", and I don't think people necessarilly believe rich people are "evil".

I think most people simply want to have the basic things in life. Of course, it gets confusing with this super consumerism we see in Western nations, then people start to want much more than they need. Anyway, I think most people are happy with having what they need and living a comfortable life. When people see millionaires with enough money to feed a small continent, they start to want a piece of that.

I don't think all rich people are evil (some undoubtedly are). I just think most of them do not deserve their wealth. I also think that alot of money tends to turn a good person bad.

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

I don't think it's the only way, but I think alot of the time rich people are just that, lucky.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Simple human jealousy. They want their team to win. Now, when teams like the Yankees are winning solely because they have 10 times the cash of another club, I see that as unfair.

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

Good Lord, I think you can do better than this. This question requires far too much of a discussion. Some simple reasons: Socialist nations are often de-stabilized by Capitalist agression. Case in point: The Vietnam War, the 40 year de-stabilization campaign on Cuba, embargos, things like that. Sometimes it's just that the leaders were tyrants. Sometimes it's that the country was a shithole before Socialism and remained so afterwards (and sometimes that is, again, the fault of Capitalist nations raping the smaller nations).

Is success a point or is it a path?

Depends on what you mean by success. To me, success is living a modest, comfortable life doing a job I like, or can at least tolerate. To others, success is nothing short of a mansion in the Hamptons, 5 Bentleys, a gold ring for every apendage and one of those toilets that squirts water into your hole.

Is poverty a virtue?

Of course not. I just think that a rich person has a harder time seeing why the system is unfair. "I've got my Hummer, seems fair to me !".

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

That didn't make sense to me at all.

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

I don't know what "Americans should have no point when they are on their own"
means, at all. Can you explain ? And what do the values that I was taught as a kid have to do with anything ?

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

Me and my buddy Slippery Eddie. That's who.

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

Well, think about it like this. Say you have a guy who is really interested in Biology and wants to be a doctor, however, he has no money for medical school and ends up as a construction worker. Then, you have a rich kid who has an interest in fucking hot women and making a ton of money, so his parents put him through medical school and he passes, to further prove my point let's just say he barely squeeked by. =) Who is going to be the better doctor ?

My point is this, most great Scientists, Inventors, Doctors, weren't great because they wanted to make money. Most of them were great because it's what they love and are interested in. In my ideal Socialist society, people would have the oppurtunity to become what they want, regardless of class and the ability to pay for knowledge. That way, everyone gets a fair chance, everyone gets where they are on their own hard work and nothing else. If you have professionals that do what they love to do, I don't think productivity will lack at all.

Can communism co-exist with small business?

Depends on who you ask and what structure this communist society is in. I would like to think that in some way, small business wil survive. I don't think anyone knows how a communist society would be structured, so that can't be answered.

ComradeRed

24th August 2004, 05:53

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil? Who said the poor view the rich as evil? I am poor and I view the rich as evil but I don't speak for every poor person!

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky? No such thing as luck nor success, but there is such a thing as theft!

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?I dunno, why do people take away freedom in its name?

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?What are you maundering about?

Is success a point or is it a path?Neither

Is poverty a virtue?Hell no

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful? WTF? No, the money in goods is of equal value, that is the purpose of the exchange system with money!

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?No one taught me anything, I taught myself.

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry? Not me, who cares? Who would have thought you'd ask so many stupid questions?

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods? How doesn't it?

Can communism co-exist with small business? Only if you believe it can, grasshopper.

Individual

24th August 2004, 06:16

Nobody can answer that question? I thought it was hard myself, makes you think.

DaCuBaN

24th August 2004, 18:14

All the questions that bemused Urban Rubble do likewise with me - any chance they could be rephrased?

In the interim:

If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?

Altruism, despite it's dictionary meaning has never meant pure self-sacrifice to me: It's a simple matter of not devaluing others by placing yourself above them; it's a matter of being 'for' other people as much as you are for yourself

New Tolerance

24th August 2004, 18:43

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

Because they don't necassarily view it as something "evil".

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Because it has been scientifically proven to be true in social pyschological experiments.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Sorry, I have no idea, I don't watch sports.

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

If you are talking about the USSR, I can tell you that I do not define it as a communist country.

Is success a point or is it a path?

It is whatever you want it to be.

Is poverty a virtue?

hardly.

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

clearify.

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

No, I am not American.

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

Who would indeed. (is there a point to this?)

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

By telling them the practical truth: that if something causes you problems, then invent something that solves the problem, in practice you personally will be immediate benefiary. (the invention will then propagate to others who need it)

Can communism co-exist with small business?

Sure, but it depends on what you mean by small business.

Dr. Rosenpenis

24th August 2004, 20:12

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

They probably shouldn’t aspire to be rich because it's unfortunately impossible for them.

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Because it is.
Most people work very hard their entire lives, and nearly all of them do not become rich. It has little to do with hard work.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Why don't you ask those people instead of asking me what they think?

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

What the fuck does that mean?

Is success a point or is it a path?

That's a question you should ask yourself.
What is success to you? Is it monetary wealth? Is it intellectual knowledge? Is it personal accomplishment?

It depends upon what you call success.

Is poverty a virtue?

No. It's an unfortunate product of class society.

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

Hmm... not really.
Capitalism is successful for the capitalist class, because they own capital, something set forth by all members of society, and since people need those goods, they buy them. Even if people didn't value these good as much as they do, they would still need to buy stuff and give money to the capitalists.

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

No.
I hardly even understand that phrase, but I don't think so. :unsure:

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

I don't know.
It really doesn't matter.

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

People living in communism will still want more and better goods. If I had a great idea for an invention, I would try to make that invention even if it wasn't gonna yield millions.

I would much rather invent something that would improve my society, than to invent something that would be used to improve some wealthy investor's wealth.

Can communism co-exist with small business?

No.

Micah EL Layl

25th August 2004, 04:41

peace....

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

"Son....your generalizing....not all poor people want to be rich......poor people just want to escape the minimum wage slave labor.....and poor people don't view the rich as evil.....only the rich people who use murder and theivery to maintain their position are viewed as evil"

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

"because they worship a mystery God that cannot do anything for them"

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

"that keeps sports interesting.....if im watching a game i generally route for the team
that is down"

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

"Once again you over generalize....i know plenty of people who are leaving the USA because the constitution is no longer existant...but the reason people come to the USA is simple......we are living in the POST COLONIAL world.......and COlonializm is nothing but white supremacy......and the USA is the beloved son of the white power structure......all the raping stealing and pillaging that the white man does ALLL goes back to the USA.....the USA is the wealthiest nation because it steals from everyone else.....so simple mathmatics tells us that the USA will have the highest standard of living"

Is success a point or is it a path?

"a path"

Is poverty a virtue?

"it can be a virtue in certain ways......alot of times riches can destroy you"

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

"capitalism in the USA is not successfull....so the question is moot.....murder and theft is not success"

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

"it would depend on the parents"

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

"Well.....Tonal music had exhausted itself"

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

"Study the history of CUba.....they sure did try to improve on goods"

Can communism co-exist with small business?

"depends on what you mean by small business"

RevolucioN NoW

25th August 2004, 12:01

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

Wouldnt you want to live the "high life" while doing little to no work?

The "poor" see their "social betters" doing this every day and understandably want in.

Wouldnt you?

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Because its the truth.

As many people on this board have stated previously, the vast majority of capitalists inherit their money, they had the "luck" of being born into the right family.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Because they support the teams that always lose.

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

You guys never learn do you

there has never been a communist state, as it is a contradiction in terms, the states these people were fleeing from were a failed attempt at "state socialism", one which wont happen again.

Is success a point or is it a path?

Neither, it is an illusion.

Many dream of becoming "successes", which in capitalist terms means earning a little bit more than any other wage slave, while being just as unhappy and alienated.

Some success ey?

Is poverty a virtue?

Is this supposed to make sense?

poverty is reserved for the "lowest rungs" of society, it is used to scare workers out of striking or demanding their rights, as they will be fired and end up in the gutter.

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

If one truly values and enjoys their work, then no material incentive would be required in order for them to "invent and improve", people would do this simply as they enjoy it.

Can communism co-exist with small business?

No.

Small business's should be taken over and run by their workers as co-operatives, like any other element of the means of production.

understand?

gaf

25th August 2004, 13:20

Free Spirit

25th August 2004, 14:49

Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?I think there view of being rich is just to take them away from the poor life, from no food, no nothing while some part of the ones that are rich have the obsession with things that they don't need (some of them, not all) And they know that they can help if they won't...that's evil, it's evil when you make "money rain" and know that the others don't have anything, and have no thoughts about helping when money that would be given is nothing to the rich one and a change of life for the poor...or maybe have so much that they don't know what to do with it "why not give something to the poor?"
Or it's just the way of handling the money that makes it evil

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?
Maybe don't have the belief that things can be in the way you desire them to be, instead you say..."oh I wish I could do this, I wish to have this luck", lack of belief in yourself and your desires...or maybe the chance is very little to get it in your way then its just matter of luck.

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?
Do they? I have no idea on this one but maybe, just maybe when you like a team that's winning all the time its pretty obvious that you would not dislike them so you make more of a "personal" choice and pick a team that is something to "cheer" for as "your team"...so you get to be against the winners!.....O_o?? (stupid hate!)

Why do we have a problem-keeping people out while communists have a problem-keeping people in? I guess people always find new things to be part of, they just have it easier to believe in something ells then communism...why they see it like that its just a way of the mind and how it becomes though the influence of places around you. What there is in the place is rarely a belief of communism that does relate their thoughts...(this might not be true but its just a thought)

Is success a point or is it a path? If it's more of a wish from what your life means to you I thing its more a point in a path of your life...but I'm only saying this from what I see success to be and it doesn't have anything to do with money!

Is poverty a virtue? They're a lot ways to see this in, both positive and negative... when I see people today as one nation, as humans we are just very bad with dealing with money...poverty makes us more awake specially for those that don't have the obsession for money...It makes people less selfish; a desire of becoming more of a good person through helping another one because poverty is such a big thing that no one really want to be in... :unsure:

:mellow:

Free Spirit

25th August 2004, 14:57

And they know that they can help if they won't I mean they know that they can help if they want but some won't...

cormacobear

25th August 2004, 16:47

Originally posted by Capitalist [email protected] 24 2004, 02:58 AM
Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

Is success a point or is it a path?

Is poverty a virtue?

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?
Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

Is success a point or is it a path?

Is poverty a virtue?

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

Can communism co-exist with small business?
Why would the poor aspire to be rich if they view the rich as something evil?

[COLOR=blue]The poor are rarely told how exxescive wealth corrupts the the soul.

Why do some people believe the only way to be successful is to get lucky?

The capitalist system is designed in such a way that only a very small few in each generation may dramatically improve their station in life, therefore the odds are stacked in such a way that it greatly relies on chance to be successfull in a capitalist country

Why do some people hate sports teams because "they win too much"?

That's stupid I've never even heard of that, and fail to see what it has to do with
economics or politics.

Why do we have a problem keeping people out while communists have a problem keeping people in?

Because capitalism is elitist and tries to keep people out unless they are willing to corrupt themselves and serve the masters of industry like serfs.
Changing the psychological, and economic beleifs of millions of people is an epic endeavor it seem s likely that those who leave behind their left wing beleifs are afraid to commit themselves to such a daunting task.

Is success a point or is it a path?

Success is when all people are fed clothed housed educated, and rewarded for their contribution to society equally. Anything else is a victory tainted by having been at another's expense.

Is poverty a virtue?

Only if it is chosen as a sacrifice.

Does capitalism requiring you to value the goods you buy more than the money you spend what makes it successful?

No many of lifes necessities are overpriced, yet we must buy them anyway, therefore the money is worth more than the purchased object.

Does the phrase "Americans should have no point when they are on their own" contradict what your parents taught you as children?

" No man is an island unto himself" is hardly a new statement. But as U.S. leaders continue to alienate themselves. The average American will find he is alone more and more often and in many more places.

Who would have thought that when Joseph Sadler (Grandmaster Flash) realized he could put a switch between two turntables that he would invent a multibillion dollar industry?

Techno- crap has become another pit of money for the middle and lower class to pour their money into making the wealthy wealthier.

How does communism encourage people to invent and improve on goods?

Personal pretige, the admiration of your peers, the knowledge that you have helped your fellow man improve his life greatly

Can communism co-exist with small business?

no not within true absolute communism, however hummanity is capable of moving dramatically leftwards, while even the far degrees of socialism allow for some small personal enterprise.