Hey...

[Gaius]

Hello guys.

I guess you could call me a weak socialist. I'm weak in that I believe in a mixture of the free market (competition can be good) and regulation of the economy.

I'm super-Liberal in my views on all social matters and this is where my affinity with socialism comes in.

I've always regarded Communism as a wonderful theory but unfortunately has failed in practise. I have read The Communist Manifesto and am especially interested in Trotskyism. I genuinly believe Stalin destroyed the movement and had the Soviet Union went on to Trotsky then the whole thing could have been a whole lot different.

Also, one of my favourite books of all time is 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell. This is fantastic in that it portrays Stalinism for what it really is and Trotskyism as, in orwell's own words, 'The Lesser of two evils' (Although I stress I don't agree with that)

Really I want to hear some opinions from some of you. I'm not firebrand or anything, just a moderate socialist.

[anomaly]

I just have a question: why are you a reformist rather than a communist or anarchist?

[Gaius]

Basically because I'm not a very radical guy. I disagree with violence in a fundamental way.

I do feel for the suffering of the masses, but I don't support any kind of killing to alleviate that suffering. Thats probably the reason why I don't like Che Guevera, Castro or that ilk.

[Gaius]

I am a partial syndacilist, if thats any help :P

[anomaly]

Principle of communism (Engels) (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm)

redstar2000 papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.com)

Those are some good links concerning communism. Redstar's writing is pretty easy to understand, so maybe consult that one first. Engel's there is also pretty easy to understand, but it doesn't just come out and say 'communist society will look like this'.

I post these because I'm not sure if you know what communism is. Fidel and Che were not communists.

If you already know what it is, just tell me.

It's unfortunate that you are a pacifist, but you can still be 'pro-communist', even if not actually communist.

[Gaius]

Whoa whoa whoa. Who said anything about pacifism?

There was nothing passive about Gandhi.

I've read the Communist Manifesto, and a little bit of Trotskyism.

Is Socialism and communism not basically the same?

Complete equality of the masses. Everything is shared be it bread, food or luxury goods.

Thanks for the links.

[Jadan ja]

Is Socialism and communism not basically the same?

There were already several discussions explaining the difference in Learning forum.

[anomaly]

If you want to see the difference between socialism and communism, read Redstar's definitions.

I would, however, not agree with Redstar on what socialism is. He describes Leninism in his definition.

Marx said that socialism was the dictatorship of the proletariat. Now, this just means that the proletariat will hold power over the bourgeoisie. Beyond that, I'd say it's open to interpretation.

[Niall]

for me there comes a time when violent protest is the only way forward, sometimes it is the only way forward at all when dealing with capatilist dictators like the states or the british empire

[KC]

I've always regarded Communism as a wonderful theory but unfortunately has failed in practise.

Marxism-Leninism has been the only theory that has been implemented.


Basically because I'm not a very radical guy. I disagree with violence in a fundamental way.

So you don't believe that the proletariat should fight back against their oppressors because it would be violent? You are against people fighting against oppression? How does that make sense? If someone's punching someone else in the face, you don't think that person that's getting hit should fight back?



There was nothing passive about Gandhi.

Gandhi was involved in a movement much larger than himself. The liberation of India was due to others fighting for its liberation, not because of anything Gandhi did.



Is Socialism and communism not basically the same?

Socialism is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the time when the proletariat takes control of the state and uses it to its own means. Here (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?act=blog&id=10051&entry=301&action2=perma) is an outline of socialism.

[Abood]

Fidel and Che were not communists.
They weren't?! :unsure: Then what, exactly?!


Socialism is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the time when the proletariat takes control of the state and uses it to its own means.
There are many definitions of socialism. It can mean the dictatorship of the proletariat, or the reformism to socialism. Socialism is also the larger "tree" with anarchism and communism branches of it - in other words, socialism can be a synonym for leftism.

Socialism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism)

[anomaly]

Che and Fidel followed the Soviet guidelines once in power. They were Leninists.

True, some revere Che for what he thought and, to an extent, for what he did, but in the end he was just as Leninist as anyone else. And Che actually was quite fond of the Maoist variant of Leninism.


The definition of socialism is most certainly the dictatorship of the proletariat (although I do not think this neccesitates a 'state', although I suppose I disagree with Marx on that), atleast if one is a Marxist. If one is not a Marxist, then I suppose one must choose one of those other definitions.