Just Need Someone To Clear This Up...

[Comrade J]

Ok, I'm still learning as much about communism and anarchism as I can, reading Chomky, Marx, Lenin etc... but there's still one question I've had lingering in my mind that I've yet to find a convincing answer to, much appreciated if someone could enlighten me :)

Am I right to assume, that in a communist society, everyone would take what they need, and work to produce goods or a service to society?
If so, doesn't that mean that what were once considered 'luxury goods' would now become available for all?
Take for example... a boat. A nice long yacht, it's what a lot of people would love to be able to use. However, they have only ever been available to the rich, so there are relatively few yachtmakers in the world, yet wouldn't the demand for yachts increase dramatically when suddenly people saw their opportunity to have one (even if the yachts were shared, a lot of yachts would still need to be produced). So if the demand for yachts has increased dramatically (and this just doesn't have to be yachts, it could be anything, huge TV's, swimming pools, ferraris, whatever) then wouldn't the people who make yachts need to work considerably longer and harder to produce these yachts, which goes against the belief that people already work too hard and long?
How do people decide which people get to have yachts, ferraris etc. as the no. people available to manufacture them would be far too low.

Also, how would housing be allocated? The difference in standard between the housing of the world is HUGE. You have a relatively small amount of 16 bedroomed mansions with 3 pools and 4 garages, and then you have thousands of small 2 bedroomed terraced house in London, how is it decided who gets what?
Surely building more nice houses cannot be the solution, as this would again mean not only longer working hours for construction workers (who wouldn't be happy with this new arduous life and may revolt), but also a huge number of construction workers would need to be employed to deal with the task.

The labour force necessary to supply enough goods to satisfy the new demand for them would be impossible to achieve, so what would be the solution?

[Janus]

If so, doesn't that mean that what were once considered 'luxury goods' would now become available for all?
Take for example... a boat. A nice long yacht, it's what a lot of people would love to be able to use. However, they have only ever been available to the rich, so there are relatively few yachtmakers in the world, yet wouldn't the demand for yachts increase dramatically when suddenly people saw their opportunity to have one (even if the yachts were shared, a lot of yachts would still need to be produced). So if the demand for yachts has increased dramatically (and this just doesn't have to be yachts, it could be anything, huge TV's, swimming pools, ferraris, whatever) then wouldn't the people who make yachts need to work considerably longer and harder to produce these yachts, which goes against the belief that people already work too hard and long?
How do people decide which people get to have yachts, ferraris etc. as the no. people available to manufacture them would be far too low.
Well owning a yacht would have to do with your geographic location. Secondly, it is also due to marketing and advertising techniques, some people want better and more luxurious things to either look better or because they want people to know that they're rich. This will change in a communist society because there would be no need for this type of "showing off".


Also, how would housing be allocated? The difference in standard between the housing of the world is HUGE
Best thing to do is to get rid of the suburban sprawl and have central housing back in the cities. This will make distributing housing more even and convenient.

[Comrade J]

Ok, but like I said, the yacht was just an example. And personally, I would love a yacht. Sitting on deck with a cold beer and the sun on my back in the ocean, fantastic, I'm sure thousands of other people would desire the exact same thing.
You say people wouldn't want to 'show off' but when only a select few have yachts (or whatever other luxury item you want to choose) perhaps they would want to show off. People like to beat the system, whatever the system may be. If they can show that unlike billions of other people, they have this yacht, then some people will probably try and acquire one.
People will not be happy with a society that distributes such things to only a few people, it won't appear a whole lot different from the previous way of life.

Also, you didn't really address my housing question. There is a rising population (and surely when financial support is no longer an issue, this will rise even more so!?) and not enough houses of a similar standard available.
The solution to the population/housing problem = lots and lots more builders, plumbers, electricians, power plant workers, sanitary workers, doctors, nurses, vehicle suppliers etc... all working for incredible periods of time to provide equal housing and items to people, before the people with crap houses/household items get seriously pissed off with the way things have changed.
If the proletariat have gained a revolutionary frame of mind, they're not gonna enjoy living in a little flat in Sheffield as a steel worker whilst their mate Steve has got himself a place on the South Coast with 4 bedrooms and a boat.

So far whilst learning about communism, I've always found an answer to a potential problem I've thought of. This is the first time I seriously cannot foresee a solution, and it's the one thing thats making me think it may not work.

[Janus]

You say people wouldn't want to 'show off' but when only a select few have yachts (or whatever other luxury item you want to choose) perhaps they would want to show off.
I think this kind of stuff would be looked down in a communist society. There's no need for everyone to own a yacht or a limo.


Also, you didn't really address my housing question
I said that people need to start moving back into the cities and that central housing plans need to be started up in order to avoid urban sprawl. This creates much more efficient and better housing. Since there is no longer the fear of nuclear warfare, the needs for surburbias will fall and better, integrated housing will be available. This is how it is in places like Havana, Manhattan, and Mexico City. Mansions and other extravagant homes need to be gotten rid of or at least shared between different families if there is a need.