Communism=Answer?

[Ash]

Consider me a newb to everything.

I'm currently reading Jon Lee Anderson's book, Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, but have only gotten to where they're harassing Santa Clara and have derailed the train. I've seen the Motorcycle Diaries, and in school have gone through the whole Democracy-is-the-best-Communism-sucks thing.

My main questions:
1) How is Communism good? What are the pros and cons?
When I first learned what Communism was, I recall thinking "Well, that's not so bad." (Learned from The Giver by Lois Lowry). But everything just in me says, how can a country that doesn't let you own your own store be fair? I read in a book on Cuba, that janitors and waiters at a tourist resort, paid in U.S. dollars, are actually paid better than doctors in cities who are paid in pesos, because dollars are worth/valued more.
The USSR collapsed, Cuba isn't doing so good itself, and I really don't know that much about China, but it seems Communism isn't working.
One of my friends had stated "Communism would work if everyone worked." If no one's willing to work that hard, how can it function?

2) Why is Che revered so?
He was a fighter and officer, but so were thousands of other men in the course of history and it's wars. I've heard how brilliant he was, and how he believed in a cause, but this also relates to my above question in that if the cause he believed in was flawed, wasn't he also? He worked to end poverty, but is Cuba really that better off now? I also heard that he once ordered the death of a boy, who, starving, had stolen bread. That's jsut cold-hearted.

I'd write more but I must go, I'll be checking back. Please reply!

[Zingu]

I'm glad you have an open mind to read such things; but you have some severe misunderstandings of Communism. :)


But everything just in me says, how can a country that doesn't let you own your own store be fair?

There are no countries, governments, nations, or borders in Communism. Communism is the final stage of human development, after the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is set up by the working class (Socialism- where Cuba is right now-"sort of"). Since the state is a tool of class opression, and the working class must use it as such, once class antagonisms dissaper, the state will no longer be nessecary and dissaper.

Communism is a different economic system; with no more capital being produced, everything relys on labor power; therefore "stores", much rather the means of production and distribution centers would be run in a democractic, mutual and co-operative basis of all the workers, no bosses.



I read in a book on Cuba, that janitors and waiters at a tourist resort, paid in U.S. dollars, are actually paid better than doctors in cities who are paid in pesos, because dollars are worth/valued more.

One reason why people call Cuba "state capitalist" not being truely Socialist; in Communist society, there would be no "currency" in the sense we know of today.

2) Why is Che revered so?

Beats me; I've never felt much admiration for revolutionary figures, especially Che; I don't hate them, but I'm not obessed by them,


I've seen the Motorcycle Diaries, and in school have gone through the whole Democracy-is-the-best-Communism-sucks thing.

Communism is democracy, real democracy.

[NovelGentry]

1) How is Communism good? What are the pros and cons?

Communism is the teachings of our lord Jesu Christ, if you accept him as your personal savior you must accept communism as the social savior. That was a sick joke, if anyone else ever tells you this, kill them!

It's not really as simple as pros and cons. Communism is a classless sociiety. Everyone is equal. It's founded through democracy, and democracy is the only way to achieve the equality we look for in communism. What is so bad about not being able to own your own shop?


2) Why is Che revered so?

Che was a brilliant man who had a very strong love for the American (not to be confused with US) people and for that matter, all people who were oppressed and under the grip of capitalism and imperialism. He died for his cause, and died in such a way that made the US oppression and blatant opposition to revolutionaries apparent. He was a leader amongst the guerilla forces, and an example which others could only hope to be like. Personally I find him to be one of the most selfless men who ever existed, and I find that quality admirable.

[OleMarxco]

It's not like you probably owned your own store in the first place, now did you? Here's another argument for Communism: If resources are a bit low at a time of the year, the scale will not tilt to one side of society getting "the more" and the other part "the lesser", it will decrease on society as whole - everyone being in the same boat. Oh, and don't get confused about the "proletarian dictatorship" - it is just the same as saying "the people's dictatorship" but is it a dictatorship then, huh? It will be direct democracy, NO parties, but the people having DIRECT power over issues, just like in Switzerland. And Cuba is mostly failing because of US's trading blockades, and Castro's unwilling to take a stance and make a real socialism/communistic land! And to what use is money, but a way to complicate matters of bartering? BAH! But in the end, we will succeed, I am sure of it;)

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

I read in a book on Cuba, that janitors and waiters at a tourist resort, paid in U.S. dollars, are actually paid better than doctors in cities who are paid in pesos, because dollars are worth/valued more.

Yes, well, Cuba isn't really socialist - but it is the closest thing to socialism. Castro would be closer to a benelovent dictator if you choose. For what I can tell by his regime, he don't want to give the people ultimate power in fear that capitalism will return.

Anyways, people like doctors and scientists would be exactly the kind of people that would be "rich" in a socialist society. Now, since socialism is not communism, money would probably still be around. But it will be the people who contribute most to society who will be "rich" - and by rich I don't mean today's Bill Gates who are billions upon billions of times richer than the average human.

Rather, these doctors and scientists would "have more" since they require both one of the most advanced teachings and because they are required by any society (how else would we make progress and help people with wounds and deceases?).

But the logic also follows other people as well. It all depends on how much you are willing to contribute for the society.


The USSR collapsed, Cuba isn't doing so good itself, and I really don't know that much about China, but it seems Communism isn't working.

Well, there are reasons for this. As others have said, communism has never been tried. The revolution in Russia was a socialist revolution, and after Stalin took office he turned it into a dictatorship - what most of us call "Stalinism". That is the usual image of communism that are portrayed by most Western media - a strong state with a weak people.

Revolutions that followed the Russian revolution have been formed after it. With time, these countries made their own decisions, so to speak. North Korea turned away from socialism alltogether and re-invented it alongside their own ideas into what they call "Juche".

China, Vietnam and Laos followed Stalinism into the modern world - where they slowly and literally turned into dictatorships - they still have a strong state but capitalism (market economy) replaced the planned economy - and I believe that China is the wet dream of every corporate head out there - a strong, profit-based state and free enterprises. That is - do whatever you like as long as you're rich and powerful. You'll even get better by if you have contacts within the government.

Cuba is the one country that still follows the original socialist theory - but they do also have a strong state. Cuba isn't as "bad" as Western media portrays it to be - an example of that is that Cubans who flee or get out of the country often goes to nearby countries like Jamaica.


One of my friends had stated "Communism would work if everyone worked." If no one's willing to work that hard, how can it function?

Communism and socialism isn't only about working. It is built by those who runs the society - namely us. We work the machines, we drive the cars, we carry the garbage, and so on, but it is our company that gets the biggest paycheck. If we all wanted we could just do nothing tomorrow, and they wouldn't be able to say anything.

It is this theory that communism is built on. We maintain society - thus we should be the ones making the choice about society, not a corporation or a government.

Now, people often believe that communism is all about working their ass off. It isn't. Since so many people are without jobs, and many who have jobs often do unnecessary jobs for the community or the environment.

Now imagine if everybody without a job would get one - and a job that was really needed by society. Imagine if the people who drill the oceanic floor or the Iraqi desert after oil instead made solar-cells (for solar power), or constructed buildings for people to live in, or made food for those without. We would all have a job, and not only that, our workdays would be reduced significantly, since so many people worked.

And because we don't want to end up with another Stalin or like the movie "1984" we require democracy, freedom of the press, and freedom of speach, along with other freedoms. Our society is not based on the Church - since many people have many different faiths and believe in different things - thus separation of Church and State.

Our society is based on the will of the people inhabiting it. To force people into anything, even if it somehow in the end is justified, is just as bad as the next dictatorship.


He worked to end poverty, but is Cuba really that better off now?

Believe it or not, but Cuba is actually much better of now than when Batista ruled the country. The only question is probably how long it is going to last. Will the US invade Cuba? Will someone in the country get an opportunity and turn it into another North Korea?

That will be the real test for the people of Cuba.