communist confused - difference

[Radikkal Rebel]

i have been a leftist thinker for quite some time, and i consider myself a communist, but i am a littl confused is there a difference between being communist and socialist,if so what is it? I hope i dont sound to ignorant im just a little confused.

[revolutionary spirit]

socialism kinda prepares the working class for communism.It softens them up a bit.Socialism will tax the rich alot more and the state won't control the country as much.I hope u understand wat i'm saying and i hope i'm right.It's just mini communism.Erm socialism is the bud and communism is what blossoms from it.Ye,boy.

[Reuben]

socialism describes a broad movement of egalitarian ideas.

Communism refers to a specific type of socialist thought. One that calls for an abolition of all private property (private ownership of the means of production_, IE factories) and unlike "parliamentary socialism" which RS gave a beautiful description of, communism sees the different classes in inreconcilable conflict. In other words there interests are necessarily in conflict and cannot be resolved completely through parliament.

So i would cll mysef a communist and a socialist in the broader sense.

[revolutionary spirit]

i did my best seeing i was toking


but yeah,what reuben said. ;)

[Radikkal Rebel]

thanks that helped me i think , so if i consider myself a commuinst would i also consider myself a socialist?

[ArgueEverything]

Quote: from Radikkal Rebel on 3:37 am on July 20, 2002
thanks that helped me i think , so if i consider myself a commuinst would i also consider myself a socialist?

technically, yes.

but youve got to be careful, because different ppl have very different understandings of the term 'socialism'. some ppl think sweden, for example, is socialist. its not. its a social democracy, which is very different.

[Revolution Hero]

Actually socialism and communism can be used as the synonyms. As the first includes the second. Socialism will be always evolved into communism. And socialism is defined as the first level of communism( which is the highest level of the state development).
Socialism exist, while the state exists. When the state "dies", communism starts. The same as when communism starts, the state "dies".

[suffianr]

Uh, and also remember that most communists are socialists, but not every socialist is a communist! :)

[Nateddi]

it depends on your definition of "communism". if you consider communism to be a process of acheiving a stateless and classless society (socialism, democratic centralism, dictatorship of the proletariat, etc), as well as the society itself; in this case communism is the same as socialism.

i frankly cannot see a type of uncapitalistic socialism which does not evolve or have the general tendancy to evolve into communism. remember, this takes many decades.

[man in the red suit]

Quote: from Revolution Hero on 5:00 pm on July 20, 2002
Actually socialism and communism can be used as the synonyms. As the first includes the second. Socialism will be always evolved into communism. And socialism is defined as the first level of communism( which is the highest level of the state development).
Socialism exist, while the state exists. When the state "dies", communism starts. The same as when communism starts, the state "dies".


socialism does not always evolve into communism.

communism IS a form of socialism though. There are also many kinds of socialism. there is democratic socialism. authoritarian socialism (communism). There is feudal socialism, burgoisie socialism, and all sorts of other kinds. It is true that socialism CAN evolve into communism but this is not nescesarily always true.

There are many minor differences. I see socialism as communism diluted with capitalism. that is one of the reasons as to why the cappies don't fear it as much.

In communism, as Reuben said, under Marx's first "law," is stated, "abolition of property in land and the application of rents of land for public purposes."

In democratic socialism (Norway, Finland, Sweden, and other European countries), you may own land but you are still taxed according to how large you estate is.

another difference is inheritance. law 3 in the mannifesto says, "abolition of all rights of inheritance"
In socialism inheritance is permited.

another difference would be busnisses. In communism, the state owns all means of production. In socialism, private business ownership is permited.

I don't mean to ramble on, but I am trying to show you that socialism simply consists of minor differences as those I mentioned. There are also many similarities like "a heavy progressive income tax" and other similarities. socialism is more appealing to the capitalists and the working class while communism is more appealing to the farmers. It is sometimes true to say that communism evolves from socialism, in many cases it does. But this is not 100% true. I also see communism as more of a agricultural based economy while socialism relies on an industrial economy.

I think they both have their advantages for the people but i think I am more of a socialist. Communism is in many ways, a step backward in human evolution. I simply like it because it is the opposite of capitalism which is 50 steps backward in human evolution.

That's my interpretation. these other guys might think differently but that is what I think. so there ya go.

[Revolution Hero]

Quote: from suffianr on 5:04 pm on July 21, 2002
Uh, and also remember that most communists are socialists, but not every socialist is a communist! :)


Those so called "socialists" are the servants of capitalism.

"i frankly cannot see a type of uncapitalistic socialism which does not evolve or have the general tendancy to evolve into communism. remember, this takes many decades. "

Nateddi, and it is possible that these decades will make a century.

[stick person]

The health insurance mnemonic for economic theory:

"pure" capitalism: you provide your health insurance

fascism: the corporation provides your health insurance

socialism: the state provides your health insurance

communism: the workers' cooperative provides your health insurance