Originally posted by
[email protected] 9 2006, 07:42 PM
I am an ignorant fool who deserves to be publicly flogged and then executed. Can someone enlighten me as to the differences of communism and socialism? I know they are both systems of gov't (duh) but I don't know much about either. (is not knowing this gunna get me banned from the site?)(hope not, it's actually pretty cool:)) Thanx!
You're not a fool, you don't deserve to be publicly flogged, nor executed. You won't be banned for not knowing (however, this thread will probably get moved to Learning).
Socialism is seen as the transition stage between Capitalism and Communism. Marxists believe that to move in the direction towards communism, there must be a stage between them with a worker's state (aka Dictatorship of the Proletariat* aka Socialism).
Communism is the end goal, socialism is just the means.
*Don't let the word "dictatorship" throw you off. By dictatorship, Marx was simply referring to which class had control of the state. Today's society could be called "Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie" if that makes you feel better.