Communism and Socialism

[oconner]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Communism and Socialism? I mean, I know the basic differences but I'm still not sure of all of them...

[TheDerminator]

oconner,

Marx and Engels differentiated between primitive communistic tribal socieities, and their vision of Communism, as the highest stage of Socialism.

If U want to be exact, that is all that was intended - the highest stage of Socialism.

Personally, I relate it to the concept of Freedom.
In my view whether or not society can reach a level of absolute Freedom, depends upon whether on Freedom itself, reaches some kind of historical scientific plateau or whether or not technology keeps on expanding our freedoms into infinite time, if humanity can exist that long. A big if.

Surely, if Communism, is to differ distinctively from Socialism, it must be in the realm of Freedom.

Many leftists differentiate on an economic basis. The see money as a necessary transitional phase of socialist societies, thus it is only with Communism, that we lose the necessity for capital.

However, I believe this is a deep error.

There is no mystique to money.

Money is only a regulator of commodities in relation to supply and demand.

Market research is used to predict supply and demand in BORG Management, and it can be easily applied to a socialist economy.

In a transitional phase, all that one would require is what one might call a "Free Card", which would give each individual limited access to products based upon either first come first served or upon prioritasation depending upon the availability and needs for the products and services.

All prioritisation, can be a matter of public record in a democratic society, and likewise the availability. Credit cards are used all the time, so why do we need money, and why cannot we link a purchase card to a large supply and demand database.

For those not wishing to contribute to the benefit of the community in order to sabotage the socialist economy, we just need to link the purchase card to their contribution to work as rated by those in charge of the industry or service.

It is easier to organise than the huge system which supports finance capital.

Primitive socialist societies required to maintain capital, but technology has overtaken the necessity for capital in order to regulate the supply and demand of commodities, as well as their distribution.

Socialism does not require money as its economic regulator, it requires a greater level of political and economic freedom.

May the Force be with U!

derminated.

[cullinane]

o'connor,
Socialism is a social system constructed by the working people, led by the working class, after their seizure of political power in a socialist revolution. It is a social system in which the exploitation of man by man has been abolished and in which production is centrally planned with the aim of maximising the welfare of the working people.
Means of production are own collectively, either by the state, representing the working people as a whole, or
by cooperatives, representing the working people of particular enterprises.
The taking over into the ownership of the socialist state (i.e., the machinery of force by which the working people rule over the rest of society) of an enterprise formerly owned by a capitalist or a capitalist firm is socialisation. It must be distinguished from nationalisation in a capitalist society, where a formerly private enterprise is taken into the ownership of the capitalist state, i.e., the machinery of rule of the capitalist class as a whole).

The bringing together of a number of small enterprises (which are economically inefficent individually) into a single large cooperative of peasants or artisans is collectivisation. In order to retain the petty bourgeoisie as allies of the working class during the building of socialism, collectivisation must always be voluntary.

Collectivisation is a step on the way to the socialisation of the enterprises, which transforms the rural and urban petty bourgeoisie into rural and urban members of the working class.
Since profit (the motive and regulator of production under capitalism) has been abolished, production is regulated under socialism by centralised state planning, based on maximum democratic consultation with consumers so as to secure the maximum possible satisfaction of the needs of the working people.

The distribution of consumer goods under socialism is related to the quantity and quality of work performed. This principle is embodied in the slogan of socialist society: 'FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORK'.
The basis of distribution is not competely fair. It is certainly fairer than the basis of distribution under capitalist society, which is based on the exploitation of the working people and on the amount of surplus- value-producing property which happens to be owned (often as a result of inheritance). But it is unfair to the extent that the quantity and quality of the work performed by a worker may depend on factors outside his control (e.g., he may have more dependents than his neighbour, he may have some physical disability). Although this unfairness may be mitigated by social services, it cannot be entirely eliminated as long as the socialist principle of distribution is maintained.
This unfairness will be eliminated by the replacement of socialism (defined as 'the first stage of communism') by true communism. Under communism, this unfairness is eliminated by the adoption of the principle of distribution according to need. This principle is embodied in the slogan of communist society: 'FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEEDS'.
Communist greetings,

[oconner]

thanx...I am very enlightened :)

[Lardlad95]

The differneces depend on who you talk to. Mainly because Communism is a form of socialism, and to some it is the final stage of Socialism.

However, I myself as a socialst don't think of it that way. Around Marx and Engels time Socialism and Communism were relatively they same, as Socialism lead ultematly to communsim. However modern socialsim is completely differnt due to to one aspect. Socialism uses capital, Communsim has no need for capital.

In my opinion this is why Socialism is a superior system. With the government owning everything, the need for capital is no more, this gives the government almost absolute power over peoples lives, thus leading to totalitarianism.

Socialism, gives the government enough power to over see they way people work, but the government doens't control everything, just industries.

For you see Capitalism and Communism, will both ultimatley fail because anytime you are too far to the left or the right you end up with totalitarianism

Not to offend any communist, just my two cents