A Question About Socialism...

[Huelguista]

Hypethetically speaking, the entire world is socialist...everyone just decided it was a good idea.

Now that this is in motion, heres a few things I wanna do during the day...
1.I would like a new car...how would I obtain it?
2.Hey theres a new videogame out, how would I get it?
3.You know what, I would like some food. Where is it going to come from?
4.I want ____. Where is it going to come from?

[Labor Shall Rule]

You would go to the store and simply buy what you want. The only difference is that the store would be managed by the workers themselves, and the food and goods within them would of been produced based on a a plan layed out democratically by the workers themselves.

[BobKKKindle$]

I actually think that there would be different systems of distribution for different kinds of goods. For goods such as basic foodstuffs which are in plentiful supply, it may be possible to have a communal stockpile system whereby everyone is free to take what they need free from any kind of monetary transaction system. For other goods, such as luxuries, it may be necessary to create a system of rationing, which prevents someone from taking more than what would be considered necessary or sufficient, or even, as suggested by the previous poster, an exchange system, whereby goods are exchanged for some kind of unit of value.

It is really not necessary to develop detailed plans of how a socialist economy would be organised - society as a whole will be able to come to a decision through collectivr discussion, and the forms of organisation that do emerge will always depend on material conditions, possibly specific to individual geographical localities, which cannot be predicted in advance.

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27, 2007 10:35 am
Hypethetically speaking, the entire world is socialist...everyone just decided it was a good idea.

Now that this is in motion, heres a few things I wanna do during the day...
1.I would like a new car...how would I obtain it?
2.Hey theres a new videogame out, how would I get it?
3.You know what, I would like some food. Where is it going to come from?
4.I want ____. Where is it going to come from?
It depends what you mean by 'how would I get it?'

Just because its a socialist system it doesnt mean that you can sit around all day like a lazy asshole.
The means of production would only be appropriated to those who contribute a practical, creative or socially positive impact for the community (unless they have a legitimate extenuating circumstance for not being able to do so ie. mental or physical disability, old age etc) The difference is you would have an equal portion to everyone else, unlike now when your spending power is limited by the amount of wages that your boss can get away without paying you.

[Red Scare]

Heulgista, you are from VT? do you know any good organizations/parties?

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27, 2007 02:32 pm
Heulgista, you are from VT? do you know any good organizations/parties?
TBH I suspect hes a covert cappie troll trying not to set off the restriction alarm.

Anyone knowledgeable enough to call themselves a communist would already know the replies to such basic questions.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Socialism is simply collective ownership. Market socialists would give a similar answer to Red's. Parecon advocates would say something different. In the end, it will come down to what the workers and communities think is the best. And if you're a Marxist there are different developmental stages until the state and money are completely abolished, items are plentiful, and unwanted labor is limited, if not completely removed.

I would guess market socialism, with local communities making the decision through democratic means, is the most likely to happen.

[Dr Mindbender]

i would suggest you do some more reading before you apply the word 'commie' to your custom title (unless you really are trying to wind us up that is).

The arguments and blueprints for post socialism are in the literature of all the great marxist authors. Its simply a case of picking up the books and reading them. You may even find out that you find communism repugnant, and are a conservative in denial.

[praxicoide]

Considering that this is the "learning section" we might have to be a little more tolerant on what people "should know" before giving them labels.

[Huelguista]

Originally posted by Ulster [email protected] 27, 2007 11:08 pm
i would suggest you do some more reading before you apply the word 'commie' to your custom title (unless you really are trying to wind us up that is).

The arguments and blueprints for post socialism are in the literature of all the great marxist authors. Its simply a case of picking up the books and reading them. You may even find out that you find communism repugnant, and are a conservative in denial.
Well, someone had their wheaty's this morning. :D

Anywhoo, I do own the manifesto, and thumbed through it. I do consider myself more of a socialist than a communist...though if i say it some ignorant prick who knows what Nazi stands for starts screaming "ZOMG U R TEH NAZI THEN!?!" So I just say communist to save myself the trouble.

I know the basic idea of both ideals, I just wanted a real-world example is all. I'll read into them more just to make everyone happy.

Are you from VT, M-L1?

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27, 2007 11:24 pm
Considering that this is the "learning section" we might have to be a little more tolerant on what people "should know" before giving them labels.
good point, but I just feel its unwise of people to label themselves until theyve read more about the subject matter.
I Huelguista's case something along the lines of 'green mountain waverer' would perhaps be more apt.

[Janus]

How would one acquire needed materials in a socialist or communist society? I would imagine that it would be pretty similar to how it's done in capitalism just without the type of monetary/exchange system that we currently have.

[RNK]

Yes. Communism is about changing the relations of production -- ie, who controls production, ie, rather than a small strata of elite priviledged rich, production would be owned communally and democratically by the workers themselves as a whole. But production itself, and the reality of surviving on one's labour, will remain unchanged. Simply put, you will no longer be selling your labour in order to earn a living; you'll be utilizing your own labour, at its true value.