communism QUESTIONS

[1917]

hey this is my first post and i just want to ask some questions about communism sorry if they seem stupid

1. if communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)
2. in a communist country can you listen to music from a capatalist country
3. do you pay bills
4. who tells you what job you have to do
5. what if you are unable to work
6. do you receive money to buy food and goods
7. how long must you work each day
8. when do you have the time for personnal hobbies
thanks for any help

[Dyst]

1. First of, abolishing classes is not the same as abolishing hierarchy. However, if there is a military (which most likely will not be needed) it will not work for the state (as there is no state) but work for the people, and by the people.

2. Why not, listen to whatever you like. However, the quality of music will most likely improve alot in a communist society, considering there is no need for capital behind the production. But freedom to listen to any music you like, and download it however you like is important, and would be allowed freely in communism of course.

3. Not in communism.

4. Yourself.

5. You will get what you need, if you are medically unable to work.

6. Money will be non existant... That's like the whole idea. Anyways, if you produce you will recieve.

7. As long as you need/want in order to get what you need/want.

8. Your job and hobby will be much more the same than what it is now. However, if you have any other hobbies then you will get time for them whenever you are not doing something else.

[Martin Blank]

1. If there is ever such a time that a military would be necessary under communism, "rank" would be replaced by "task", with military commanders at various levels (company, regiment, brigade, etc.) elected by the soldiers themselves.

2. Sure, but why would you want to? I mean, given a choice between a communist artist like The Coup or the old Rage Against the Machine, on one side, and a capitalist artist like T.I. or Nickelback, who would you rather listen to?

3. No. A communist society would be able to provide whatever people wanted or needed.

4. You do. You also would have the option of becoming proficient in multiple jobs and performing them in proportion (e.g., doctor in the morning, gardener in the afternoon).

5. If you are disabled, you would be cared for and all needs provided.

6. No. Again, a communist society would be able to provide what is wanted or needed. And, yes, Keiza is right: money would not exist. It would not be needed.

7. There may be some kind of minimum and maximum hours set, but they would be drastically less than today -- e.g., a minimum two and maximum four hours a day.

8. Because the workday and workweek would be greatly reduced, and administrative tasks would become a matter of routine, "free time" would actually be the bulk of the time you had.

Miles

[Lamanov]

1. Armed working class, people, militia.

2. Of course, and it's free! Remember kids: when you download for free, you support Communism!! :laughs:

3. No, your socially needed work takes care of everything.

4. You do, of course, within the frame of social needs and possibilities. You can choose between what society offers you.

5. If you are physical and mentally unable, you will be supported by the community.

6. Not money, but "designated" exchange vouchers.

7. Well, you should work for social "needs" (which should not be very long, considering the level of productivity), and after that for you "wishes" and "desires".

[Lord Testicles]

1. Because under communism there will be no nations, there will be no military like we see today, the most likely scenario of organized violence will come for skirmishes will fascists and such and im which case the workers militia will take care of them.

2. Yes, you will be able to listen to music from the past, although there will be no capitalist countries because for communism to work you need the majority of the world to be communist, and under that scenario capitalism will fade away rather quickly because for capitalism to work you also need the majority of the world to be capitalist.

3. No, there will be no monetary system it will be a gift economy.

4. As CommunistLeague and Keiza have already said you will pick your own profession.

5. If you are unable to work you will receive all the things you need.

6. No you will receive all your needs and wants.

7. You will have to work hardly any time at all, as CommunistLeague has said it will probably about a minimum of 2 hours and if you want to work more its totally up to you.

8. When you work a minimum of 2 hours a day I think you will have plenty of time for hobbies.

[norwegian commie]

keep in mind that theese conditions will only provail, and function under a world revolution. Then you abolish countries, state ect.
and then there would be no need for a military.

But in marxism, in the socialist step after the revolution the communist countrie will arm itself and protect itself from capitalist influense,. then normal milirary rank is common, but choosen by the troops... AFter the communist victory, military alsoe is abolshed.

Dont confuce these conditions with previus communist countries, where this did not exist. in those countris these condition where impossible to forfill since there was and is a capitalist superpower. And then the sabotage of communism would have been impossible to avoid. when the revoluton is complete, you will have thi word my comrades is talking about

By the way in a communist countrie you can make your hobbie your job. Insted of putting it aside to a better paid job.

[More Fire for the People]

1. if communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)
There is no military under communism. During the dictarorship of the proletariat — the prelude to communism — the workers are armed and the formal military is dissolved. The functions of the military and the police are replaced by citizen's militias.


2. in a communist country can you listen to music from a capatalist country
"Communist" countries don't exist. But in the transition to communism — i.e. the dictatorship of the proletariat — the music industries would flourish with real artists who sing real music without the capitalist bullshit. This would be the biggest opposition to music from capitalist countries — they promote capitalism.


3. do you pay bills
No, under communism money would cease to exist. During the transition to communism, money will be used but bills for electricity, water, rent, etc. would either be incredibly low or non-existant.


4. who tells you what job you have to do
You do!


5. what if you are unable to work
Depends on what you mean by "work". People with long-term disabilities could contribute to the community on their own terms. For instance, under capitalism a lot of disabled persons are willing to work but are unable because they have to work straight eight hour shifts. Under communism, the disabled worker will decide how and when he or she will work.


6. do you receive money to buy food and goods
Under socialism, yes. But you receive the full value of the product you construct. Without surplus-value being extracted from your wage you will most likely either work less or earn more.


7. how long must you work each day
My bet is somewhere between five and seven hours.


8. when do you have the time for personnal hobbies
Of course, and over time work will become a hobby. You won't need to work because society needs it but because you want to work. :)

[violencia.Proletariat]

1. if communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)

Worker's militias. They will be voluntary (always), the workers will elect their own officers (but there will be no saluting, or any other signs of rank or priveledges for officers) and they can recall those officers whenever they feel its needed.


6. do you receive money to buy food and goods

In communism there will be no money. However, during the tranistion period this depends on your idealogy. Socialists think there will still be wages, while most anarchists want to abolish wages and go moneyless right away.


7. how long must you work each day

The anarchist-communist Peter Kropotkin suggested a 4 hour work day. That was over 100 years ago! With the advances in production since then, it might even be less! What is guaranteed is that the 8 hour work day will not exist anymore!


The other comrades have answered the other questions sufficiently.

[Cult of Reason]

7. This depends on the geographical area. It was estimated that in 1930s North America, if capitalism was abolished, then the technology then was sufficient to reduce work to 4 hours per day for 4 days per week, plus 78 day holiday (or some similar, cannot remember the exact number of days for holidays). 52 weeks - 11 weeks = 41 weeks. Make that 40. 16 hours a week for 40 weeks = 640 hours of work per year per person necessary to keep things ticking over. 640 +/- 16 hours.

The time necessary has probably substantially decreased over the last 70 odd years.

[RebelDog]

There is no such thing as communist countries. We will have a communist 'world' only. With this in mind I have taylored my answers for this.

1 There will be no military as there shall be no states. Without states and the market fascism will not exist. There in a communist world will exist no citizens malitias either as the fighting will be over. There will also be no production of arms. Resources will be socialy distributed to all people in the world with the aim being greater and greater living standards and so what do you need an army for, also there would exist no state structure to raise an army and arm it. World communism would be the end of war and the need to kill or it is not world communism. There would be no upper class forcing the working class to do its killing.

2 No. Capitalism will not exist and thus cannot produce anything, let alone music. What a relief that would be.

3 No bills. All goods and services will be socialy produced and socialy consumed. All will be free and nobody shall suffer for want.

4 A communist world would be the manifestation of true opportunity. Instead of being held down by who you are, where you live, bank balance or prejudice you would be encouraged to learn, choose what you would like to achieve and do your bit to futher society and the human race.

5 We look after people who can't work (to varying degrees today) so communism could look after them even better. If you would work today to make someone else rich, then you could work tomorrow to look after the welfare of those who are unfortunate not to be able to?

6 No money. All goods and services would be free so there is no need for money. You would access these goods simply by taking them when you need them. Ill informed people always jump up and say that would lead to theft. Why would you want to steal when you get it for nothing, everyone else gets it for nothing, there exists no demand to 'sell' your booty and most importantly you already own the goods anyway.

7 Technological advances in the hands of the proletariat would mean the constant attacks on the size of the working week. I do 40 hours per week in the job I do now, technology has only threatened my job, not shortened my week. I have heard it quoted that if everyone capable in the world today spread out the work the global average working week would be 10-15hours each. Communism will use the weapon of technology to improve our lives. We could cut the working week time after time to a level that frees up time for leisure and learning in all out lives never seen before by so many. The cultural rewards of this would be massive. This is a reminder that communism is ultra-modern in its structure. The more advanced we get, the better communism will work and the more it will be capable of.

8 Answer 7 will go some way to expaining that. Communism is born out of the injustice of inequality. Some people live in 20 bedroom mansions and have billions in the bank, whilst others starve to death and have nowhere to live. Communism exists to destroy this madness and bring a much, much better world where all the good things in life are for everyone. All the things associated with enjoying life will be available for all to persue when they want, there can be no other way.






hey this is my first post and i just want to ask some questions about communism sorry if they seem stupid

1. if communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)
2. in a communist country can you listen to music from a capatalist country
3. do you pay bills
4. who tells you what job you have to do
5. what if you are unable to work
6. do you receive money to buy food and goods
7. how long must you work each day
8. when do you have the time for personnal hobbies
thanks for any help

[piet11111]

1. if communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)
you have officers that are elected in position by the soldiers but during conflict the officers positions are frozen.
during combat an officer needs to send his soldiers to fight and it would be rather inefective if they would immediatly strip the officer of his rank and exchange him with someone who wants to run away.

2. in a communist country can you listen to music from a capatalist country.
certainly i expect gigantic databanks that offer all sorts of stuff and individuals can add their findings to those databanks aswell.

3. do you pay bills
no billing and money are a thing of the past

4. who tells you what job you have to do
you decide what job best suits your ability's (i have had a piece of bone removed from my arm so i wont be a heavy lifter)

5. what if you are unable to work
then the community will look after you.

6. do you receive money to buy food and goods
no but i do expect some form of rationing in the first decade of communism

7. how long must you work each day
4 hours on a workday minimum i think but since its highly possible you enjoy your job nobody will stop you if you want to keep going.

8. when do you have the time for personnal hobbies
every moment you are not working if your job is not your hobby already.

this is ofcourse my assumption of a communist revolution in western europe not globally.

[Everyday Anarchy]

Please allow me to throw one more question into this:

How are 'luxuries' such as gaming consoles, computers, etc going to be disitributed? Would they have to be given to everyone, which would be impossible?

[Zingu]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2006, 05:54 AM

How are 'luxuries' such as gaming consoles, computers, etc going to be disitributed? Would they have to be given to everyone, which would be impossible?


How is it distributed? Its a rather obvious question; no-one decides who gets what, the decision is made individually by the people who wish for one or not,.

[Dyst]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2006, 12:38 PM
How is it distributed? Its a rather obvious question; no-one decides who gets what, the decision is made individually by the people who wish for one or not,.
And technological advancement, as Haraldur pointed out, will allow us to produce alot of such "luxuries", even if it is not "needed".

And the system will not be about everyone getting exactly the same things... It will be about everyone having an equal opportunity to get what they want.

[Floyce White]

1. If communism is classless then how does a military work (ie. rank)?

There is no military.

2. In a communist country can you listen to music from a capitalist country?

No such thing as a country anymore.

3. Do you pay bills?

No such thing as money, nobody sends bills anymore.

4. Who tells you what job you have to do?

The woman--just like now.

5. What if you are unable to work?

The woman leaves you--same as now.

6. Do you receive money to buy food and goods?

No such thing as money anymore, no selling or buying.

7. How long must you work each day?

Until the woman says I can stop.

8. When do you have the time for personnal hobbies?

When the woman lets me--same as today.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

I just want to ask a question. I am new here and like alot of what Marx says except one thing is a little foggy to me. The economy. Precisly, how would generate capital in order to keep living standards high, and be able to compete with othe more capitalistic nations that could potentially take us over?

[Enragé]

@lefty

1) by working, producing

2) world revolution