How will motivation work - The answer would be nice

[Unrelenting Steve]

The only problem with communism that I have found is the motivation of poeple to work- what if no one wants to be a farmer in the new state where revolution has just taken place. In communism I get a house and food, why should I work.

There are many answers, but non which I like, you could use force, you could use not giving poeple their food coupons until a quote of work is done- but that all seems so wrong. Of course in the practicle world, if revolution and the new system was embraced by most peer pressure might be enought to keep everyone in line. But other than that, what is there?

[redstar2000]

...what if no one wants to be a farmer in the new state where revolution has just taken place?

I know the feeling.

I see two possibilities and I suspect both will be used.

Believe it or not, there are people who actually enjoy farming. We would arrange for such folks to form co-operatives that would operate some pretty large farms and reward their efforts with the products of urban industry and technology.

The other option, which the capitalist class is already implementing, is the "industrialization" of agriculture. Think of a farm as a "food factory" with hired workers like any other.

If such a "food factory" became public property in one form or another, it would still need to "hire" workers and "pay" them a "wage".

Of course, the "food factory" would be managed by the workers themselves...who would, no doubt, vote themselves a substantial increase in their pay from the sums that formerly went into the bosses' pockets. And, no doubt, they would likewise vote themselves a reduction in the number of hours worked per day.

Things would be rather messy and disorganized at first...it takes time to learn how to run things properly. Advice from technical experts will be available...but the workers always have the option of ignoring that advice if they wish.

Over time, the "food factories" that are well-run by the workers will be expanded (or possibly converted into co-operatives if the workers wish); the ones that are not will eventually be abandoned and shut-down...just as will likely take place in any other industry.

I know this all sounds kind of...prosaic, even dull. Where's the excitement here?

Well, there isn't any to speak of, really. As long as humanity is trapped in the realm of scarcity, some unpleasant labor must be done and the people who do it must be generously rewarded.

But there will be other compensations; the "muck of rural idiocy" that Marx condemned will be cleared away...we will certainly bring computers and the internet into the countryside in large numbers and we will teach people how to use them. We will crack down hard on racial, sexual, and religious bigotry that currently pollute the minds and behavior of some rural folk. And so on.

There will be difficulties, to be sure. But nothing that can't be overcome with patient, sustained effort. Rather like farming itself, come to think of it.

:cool:

[Iepilei]

it's always been my understanding that if you wish to be a part of a system you must contribute in some form or fashion.

therefor, if you wish to live in a communist society - and attain the benefits of such a society, you must contribute. unless, of course, you are physically incapable to do such.

[Yars]

of course, a contribution is practically a given. Though...actual motivation in a communist society is mainly based on the personal satisfaction you achieve in your finished product...a sense of "this is my work!" essentially is what it's all about. Not to mention the money you recieve whilst playing your role in society. Seeing as how everyone is payed equally, you would recieve a relatively decent lump of money as opposed to the corporate regulation we see in today's minimum wages <which, should that itself not exist in our society, you'd probably find yourself working for LESS>.

food for thought.

[anti machine]

exactly. Marx said "man is himself outside his work and outside himself IN his work" under capitalist rule. He works for the weekends, for monetary reward, aspiring to the unachievable, heinous "American dream".

Marxism wishes to place joy back in the workplace.

[革命者]

Quote: from redstar2000 on 3:15 pm on June 15, 2003
...what if no one wants to be a farmer in the new state where revolution has just taken place?

I know the feeling.

I see two possibilities and I suspect both will be used.

Believe it or not, there are people who actually enjoy farming. We would arrange for such folks to form co-operatives that would operate some pretty large farms and reward their efforts with the products of urban industry and technology.

The other option, which the capitalist class is already implementing, is the "industrialization" of agriculture. Think of a farm as a "food factory" with hired workers like any other.

If such a "food factory" became public property in one form or another, it would still need to "hire" workers and "pay" them a "wage".

Of course, the "food factory" would be managed by the workers themselves...who would, no doubt, vote themselves a substantial increase in their pay from the sums that formerly went into the bosses' pockets. And, no doubt, they would likewise vote themselves a reduction in the number of hours worked per day.

Things would be rather messy and disorganized at first...it takes time to learn how to run things properly. Advice from technical experts will be available...but the workers always have the option of ignoring that advice if they wish.

Over time, the "food factories" that are well-run by the workers will be expanded (or possibly converted into co-operatives if the workers wish); the ones that are not will eventually be abandoned and shut-down...just as will likely take place in any other industry.

I know this all sounds kind of...prosaic, even dull. Where's the excitement here?

Well, there isn't any to speak of, really. As long as humanity is trapped in the realm of scarcity, some unpleasant labor must be done and the people who do it must be generously rewarded.

But there will be other compensations; the "muck of rural idiocy" that Marx condemned will be cleared away...we will certainly bring computers and the internet into the countryside in large numbers and we will teach people how to use them. We will crack down hard on racial, sexual, and religious bigotry that currently pollute the minds and behavior of some rural folk. And so on.

There will be difficulties, to be sure. But nothing that can't be overcome with patient, sustained effort. Rather like farming itself, come to think of it.

:cool:
there are farmers who enjoy their work-- of course there are!!

[CubanFox]

Perhaps we could give the most productive farms little gifts. You know, maybe a new tractor on May Day for winning the "Best Collective Farm" prize or something. I mean, nothing to envy like cash prizes but something useful.