Demographics. Who is a communist?

[ahhh_money_is_comfort]

Just wondering. This is far from a proper statistical survey, but the leftist people seem to be artist, theatre, and poets on campus. I don't see too many physics, engineering, computer scientist, and chemist on campus. I am pretty sure on this. I'm in the science and engineering dicipline. It is a very small group and I know everyone at least by face and they are not there at any leftist gatherings.

[cormacobear]

Most of the leftists on my campus are education, poly.sci., Agriculture, English, and most of the Computer faculty.

But no not a lot of engineers,

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Most of the members of the PCQ seem to be older men, primarily employed in old, unionized industry (Teamsters, assembly-line workers, etc.) and younger students, typically of history and social sciences. Not that I've done any sort of official survey, haha.
Actually, the most recent comrade I met was an old Iranian cobbler!

[ahhh_money_is_comfort]

Originally posted by Virgin Molotov [email protected] 14 2004, 02:37 AM
Most of the members of the PCQ seem to be older men, primarily employed in old, unionized industry (Teamsters, assembly-line workers, etc.) and younger students, typically of history and social sciences. Not that I've done any sort of official survey, haha.
Actually, the most recent comrade I met was an old Iranian cobbler!
I can see union men as communist, but in the USA the reality is quite different. Unions have a different persona, they are very for a lack of a better term 'pro-USA' which intern means stauch anti-communist. I was briefly a union member. My father owned the company, but to work for his company, I joined the union. Heaven forbid if you decleared youself a communist in an American union. I'm sure they will be waiting for you in the park lot for a little 'attitude adjustment'.

But I think your right and my very unscientific sample is corrent. Communist on campus tend to be history, arts, and social science.

Hey how about economics? Any communist on campus in economics?

[Pawn Power]

It is a very small group and I know everyone at least by face
must be a small school

I am a chemistry major as well as a communist.

[Zingu]

Well, I think I'm the only resolved "Communist" in my whole neighborhood, in my school its full of kids of rich parents, yes, there are leftists I know, but none of them are actually really Marxist at all. That Will be sure to change in time,

......time for some political subversion ;)

[NovelGentry]

I am a CIS (Computer Information Systems) graduate and am also a communist.

[Nordic Rebel]

I study mathematics as my major and I'm gonna take physics as a minor i all so know two other mathstudents who are leftists and also an leftist who studies ecenomics(he used to study mathematics).

[Forward Union]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2004, 01:48 AM
But no not a lot of engineers,
In my time I've met a few Anarchists who were brilliant at engineering. One of them is a member on the forum, though he rarely posts.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I am an amateur astronomer studying to become a professional with additional interests in cosmology and archeaology.

[Osman Ghazi]

Come September, I'm going to be a history and/or political science student.

[RedAnarchist]

From the sound of this thread, we are quite the diverse bunch, although many seem to be college/school students.

I'm doing a BTec in IT at college. I already have 10 GCSEs, 1 French GNVQ and an English A Level. :D

[Galatian 6:2]

I consider myself left and believe it or not I'm a business major. I hope to maybe start a co-op of some sort.

[RedAnarchist]

Good for you then. A distant relative of mine, something Scowcroft (i dunno his first name, i'll have to look it up) helped set up the first co-operative in Rochdale, Lancashire in the 19th Century.

[Abby Normal]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2004, 01:08 AM
Just wondering. This is far from a proper statistical survey, but the leftist people seem to be artist, theatre, and poets on campus. I don't see too many physics, engineering, computer scientist, and chemist on campus. I am pretty sure on this. I'm in the science and engineering dicipline. It is a very small group and I know everyone at least by face and they are not there at any leftist gatherings.
In my experience: 'angst-ridden' kids wearing clownish t-shirts and zealous amateur philosophers who have, as the saying goes, 'read one book and seen in it the true meaning of the entire world'.

[American_Trotskyist]

Yeah, there are some "socialists" at my school but none of them know the meaning and give it a bad name by resorting to Humanitarianism in all debates. I am starting a discussion group to clarify the problems with their ideology. Yeah people do read 3 pages of the Communist Manifesto and are ready to school Marx in communism. I know some "Anarchist" but that is probably because they are in that punk phase of their lives and like the Sex Pistols, nothing meant against Anarchists or the Sex Pistols. So yeah there is a hell of a lot to teach. By the way to the dude who was talking about Unions, just out of curiosity, are you opposed to Unions? Most people I find who are dedicated are those who actually study and understand the economic reasons for socialism, so they don't think we want to turn the world into one big giant hippie commune, once again nothing meant against hippies.

[Commie Rat]

im alone at mi school we got punks wigger kids and pop tarts 1 commie and a few anarchist who jus like to blow shit up

i think unions are good

[Rockfan]

Im probly the only one at my school with any particular political idealoige (sorry about the spelling). Its quite sad really when you compare my gengeration to those of the 60's and 70's who really cared about where were going. Oh well it will change, it will.

[Commie Rat]

hope so rockfan

[EneME]

I've mostly majored in the Social Sciences field...I'll grad. this spring under Sociology but I've been both a Psych and Anthro major before...
EDIT: oh and I suppose you can call me a communist

[Monty Cantsin]

Demographics, Who is a communist? Me!

[Maynard]

I'm an economics major and a Communist. I think Communists are a fairly diverse bunch, contrary to the stereotype. Of course, there are some who go through a rebellious phase, turn to communism and then away. That is also true of many political ideologies; however, it doesn't make it as any ideology any less valid.
Unions, I believe, can be good or bad. It depends. The Australian Council of Trade Unions was very weak, when the Keating and Howard governments intruded changes to Industrial Relations policy, for instance.

[Rockfan]

Yea i think that one day there just gona wake up and reilise there being scrwed but for now I'll keep on pissing off the prefects who think there badge gives them some sort of athority. I also want to organise a mass trunat day lol

[PRC-UTE]

I'm working class and communist. Don't have a degree. :P

[Juggernaught]

Communists around here have a really varied background. Students and factory workers are the most common. The "artistic" left around here is mostly anarchistic.

[RedAnarchist]

Why does it matter WHO is a Communist? It does matter HOW MANY people are, and how many others are waiting to be taught.

[ahhh_money_is_comfort]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 12:35 PM
Why does it matter WHO is a Communist? It does matter HOW MANY people are, and how many others are waiting to be taught.
While I have no doubt that OglachMcGlinchey is very intelligent and made an effort to study. I doubt if there are numbers people like him in the USA just waiting to get in line for that class. I mostly see kids filled with angst and fustration. You see communist has a big credibility problem in the USA. When people filled with angst and these people say 'follow me', I'd rather not go there.

[Palmares]

I'm studying philosophy and political science. Also a bit of art and other social sciences.

However, I do have a friend (an anarchist, and a poster here) who is studying social sciences and computing.

To be more broad, I also know leftists doing economics (not many, but they are there), sciences (epecially environmental), one that does mathematics, and who knows where else.

So, obviously as a generalisation most leftists could be categorised as those who pursue abstract subjects (as in, subjects that have no right or wrong answers - more opinionated) rather than logic subjects (straight forward answers, less opinionated, e.g. 2 + 2 = 4).

Face it. We think different. :)

[Wurkwurk]

I think I'm the only student in my whole high-school that knows what socialsim and communism are to a greater extent than what FOX news tells them. I tried to start a commie/socie club back in junior high...got 5 people on until I realized they knew diddly shit about it. Regardless, all six of us were in the more intellectual and artistic and worldly bunch of the student body, to be sure.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2004, 01:08 AM
Just wondering. This is far from a proper statistical survey, but the leftist people seem to be artist, theatre, and poets on campus. I don't see too many physics, engineering, computer scientist, and chemist on campus. I am pretty sure on this. I'm in the science and engineering dicipline. It is a very small group and I know everyone at least by face and they are not there at any leftist gatherings.
This may just mean that people who do physics, engineering, computer science and chemistry are less likely to be interested in politics.

I think that people who do social sciences are obviously more likely to be interested in politics. I am not sure whether those who do art related subjects are more likely to be left-wing though.

[STI]

It's a matter of cause and effect, methinks. I want to go into political science, but this happened after I started "being a communist" (or whatever the fuck you call it), and possibly as a result of it. I wanted to be a lawyer-bastard-wanker-sonofa***** before, but not anymore.

[colombiano]

I am a working Class Architectural Draftsman. Socialist , not a Commie.

[colombiano]

Cool I aspire to be a Lawyer who operates his law office out of a Bowling Alley! Not a Bowling Alley Lawyer but Simply a Lawyer who owns a Bowling Alley, Two Seperate Things!
Just Kidding but perhaps a few of you get it?!?

[STI]

Was that from Ed or something?

[Palmares]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 24 2004, 12:14 AM
I am not sure whether those who do art related subjects are more likely to be left-wing though.
I would contend that they are more likely to be left-wing. Not neccessarily intellectually left-wing, but usually left-wing as part of alternative culture. Like I said, it has to do with abstract subjects, and those that undertake those are usually more free-thinking.

Believe me, I know alot of dumb-fuck lefties who are arty. <_<

[colombiano]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2004, 02:01 AM
Was that from Ed or something?
Yeah I was just seeing if there were any other Ed Heads out there&#33; Awesome show&#33;

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Anarcho-syndicalist, working class - I am still in highschool intending to study political-sociology. I can be considerd artistic, even doubted for a while to go to artschool and I have a reasonable understanding of economics.

[Free Spirit]

I&#39;m an artist, a student with interest in poetry, music and philosophy; I’m the one whose friends say that I have two right brains instead of one left and one right. I don&#39;t take it harsh. It&#39;s a compliment that says that I&#39;m very artistic.
Even though most artists are anarchists as you considered it, I&#39;m not. I&#39;m just a leftist, a radical pacifist.

[thorgar]

Who is a communist? A communist is a person or persons who feel overwhelmed at the prospect of making their own way in the world. Generally through societal or personal emotional conditions they feel powerless and disconnected. Most own no property and have what appears to themselves to be an unreconcilable position at the bottom of the economic system. They seek to reverse their fortunes through revolution. What most never realize is that man is an heirarchal being . The leaders that any movement chooses will separate themselves from the people they represent and bring them under control by any means necessary. This is a natural law that is proven time and again throughout history. The absence of free thinking and adherence to political doctrine guarantee subjugation. The pigs of the farm traffic in the power of man and become indistinquishable from them.
A communist is a person fed up with the oppression of a heirarchal system, and rightly so, yet his energies are completely misdirected.

[Individual]

I am a bum .. So that would make me ...?

edit: thorgar -- You sir, you are a genius.

[synthesis]

I would fit pretty neatly into the &#39;lumpenproletarian&#39; model. No degree.

[babyface]

Nobody&#39;s a fucking Communist anymore. Fuck, people. We&#39;re living in the 21st century. Get used to it. They even have private enterprise in China and Vietnam. Communism is dead--unless you go to North Korea or Cuba. Deal with it, motherfuckers.

[PRC-UTE]

Nobody&#39;s a fucking Communist anymore. Fuck, people. We&#39;re living in the 21st century. Get used to it. They even have private enterprise in China and Vietnam. Communism is dead--unless you go to North Korea or Cuba. Deal with it, motherfuckers.

That is so beautifully contradictary&#33; :lol:

Of course if you knew anything of marxist theory, you&#39;d know that Marx actually predicted what&#39;s now called &#39;globalism&#39; and neo-liberal economics, and that&#39;s what will eventually unite the global proletariat.

[Individual]

Of course if you knew anything of marxist theory, you&#39;d know that Marx actually predicted what&#39;s now called &#39;globalism&#39; and neo-liberal economics, and that&#39;s what will eventually unite the global proletariat.

Mom is already baking the cookies&#33; :P

[babyface]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2004, 08:00 AM

Nobody&#39;s a fucking Communist anymore. Fuck, people. We&#39;re living in the 21st century. Get used to it. They even have private enterprise in China and Vietnam. Communism is dead--unless you go to North Korea or Cuba. Deal with it, motherfuckers.

That is so beautifully contradictary&#33; :lol:

Of course if you knew anything of marxist theory, you&#39;d know that Marx actually predicted what&#39;s now called &#39;globalism&#39; and neo-liberal economics, and that&#39;s what will eventually unite the global proletariat.
Thanks for showing us all the error of our ways, you little genius, you. You&#39;re such an enterprising young man that I&#39;ve decided to give you a reward. At dawn, you will be cornholed and shot. Now go and kiss your mother good-bye. And catch up on your sleep. You&#39;ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow&#33;

[Hiero]

Im going to be studying a Bachelor of arts at uni, the topics which i havent chosen are course in history, philosophy, society etc.

Im actually just doing it because i want to do it, im not really looking ahead about any job i can get out of it, but i dont tell anyone that then i will be labeled a bum.

[babyface]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2004, 10:41 AM
Im going to be studying a Bachelor of arts at uni, the topics which i havent chosen are course in history, philosophy, society etc.

Im actually just doing it because i want to do it, im not really looking ahead about any job i can get out of it, but i dont tell anyone that then i will be labeled a bum.
Son, you are a fucking bum. Nobody has to label you.

[Hiero]

Originally posted by babyface+Dec 25 2004, 09:44 PM--> (babyface @ Dec 25 2004, 09:44 PM)
[email protected] 25 2004, 10:41 AM
Im going to be studying a Bachelor of arts at uni, the topics which i havent chosen are course in history, philosophy, society etc.

Im actually just doing it because i want to do it, im not really looking ahead about any job i can get out of it, but i dont tell anyone that then i will be labeled a bum.
Son, you are a fucking bum. Nobody has to label you. [/b]
It not really im actually going to get some part time work and plan on working when i finish Uni.

[ahhh_money_is_comfort]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2004, 08:00 AM

Nobody&#39;s a fucking Communist anymore. Fuck, people. We&#39;re living in the 21st century. Get used to it. They even have private enterprise in China and Vietnam. Communism is dead--unless you go to North Korea or Cuba. Deal with it, motherfuckers.

That is so beautifully contradictary&#33; :lol:

Of course if you knew anything of marxist theory, you&#39;d know that Marx actually predicted what&#39;s now called &#39;globalism&#39; and neo-liberal economics, and that&#39;s what will eventually unite the global proletariat.
One problem with that thoery. Did he predict globalism, before or after a revolution was to take place?

[Elect Marx]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2004, 01:08 AM
Just wondering. This is far from a proper statistical survey, but the leftist people seem to be artist, theatre, and poets on campus. I don&#39;t see too many physics, engineering, computer scientist, and chemist on campus. I am pretty sure on this. I&#39;m in the science and engineering dicipline. It is a very small group and I know everyone at least by face and they are not there at any leftist gatherings.
It&#39;s hard to gather any reliable stat&#39;s as it may just be where you are or any other variables. I am sure communists prefer the careers in which personaly, they can help the most people but this thread wont help you determine this trend unless someone provdes reliable statistics. Since this is a specific kind of forum only available to people that have the ability any desire to paricipate, this would be a vary focused study with very little corelation to society in general.

[encephalon]

male, 24, working-class student going for B.A. English, B.A. History. I&#39;ll live afterwards in some manner.

The political science prof. at the campus I attend is a marxist, though he doesn&#39;t call himself communist.

Most of those "artsy" types I&#39;ve met and know are self-proclaimed anarchists. Unfortunately, I&#39;ve only met one who ever really knew what anarchism constituted and was able to craft any argument. I think, for the most part, a lot of the artsy kids are looking for something different along with a strong sense of human suffering and rejection of the status quo. I&#39;m sure more would be communists if it weren&#39;t such a dirty word in America. People like that, from what I&#39;ve seen, only rebel to a point that serves them (usually, their image), and rarely stick with it.

I&#39;ve met two comrades in the last few years in rural Ohio other than myself. One is in his mid-50s and a life-long gas station attendant, the other 20 or so and a student.

The one anarchist I know of that knew what he was talking about, strangely, was an engineering major for three years (with grades well above average) before he quite suddenly switched to english.

Those on the left are probably driven there by the conditions in which they live or have lived in the past, just as those on the right are. Which is why socialism has failed to enter the American conscious so far: who needs socialism when everyone in the country is standing on the backs of poorer countries? :)

Social conditions plant the seeds of revolution. If people don&#39;t experience what is wrong with capitalism, it isn&#39;t likely that they will oppose it. I don&#39;t think anyone denies that, or hopefully not, anyhow. I&#39;m not sure what that has to do with the validity of Marxism, however..

[thorgar]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2004, 03:49 AM
I am a bum .. So that would make me ...?

edit: thorgar -- You sir, you are a genius.
[QUOTE]

quite

[encephalon]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2004, 03:19 PM

One problem with that thoery. Did he predict globalism, before or after a revolution was to take place?
If you mean he predicted it would occur before revolution takes place, I think that would have to be a yes, at least if the revolution were to succeed: the proletarian revolution has to be international, or near-global, in order to succeed. Otherwise capitalists will use ownership of resources and production to starve socialist countries of their needs (as we have now, if one thinks a real socialist country exists..).

If you mean did he predict it before any revolutions took place, then yes, I believe so.. I&#39;m not sure about when he predicted it, or whether it was before or after the paris commune.. but I&#39;m guessing that he had much of his theory well thought out before having any of it written.