What type of communist am I? (New member)

[Hammer_Sickle_Revolution]

Hi everyone,

This is a thread for beginners and I have a question on the basics of communism, specifically: "What type of communist am I?"

Trotskyist, Marxist, Marxist-Leninist etc. - please ask me questions on my opinions and I'll answer them.

[Red October]

You should be able to figure this out on your own. How do you know you're a communist?

[Uncle Al]

As it's Christmas, we can indulge in some party games, I think. I shall start:

Do you think that the Soviet Union was

(a) the embodiment of what a socialist society should be

(b) the embodiment of what a socialist society should be under Stalin, but inevitably destroyed thanks to revisionism after Khrushchev's denouncement of Stalin

(c) originally a workers' state, but degenerated thanks to Stalin into a dictatorship

(d) originally a workers' state, but turned into state capitalism under Stalin

(e) never a true representation of socialism?

[Hammer_Sickle_Revolution]

Thanks for the (very) quick reply. I do not know much about the individual types, but here are some of my opinions:

I'm a communist because I think revolution is necessary - I find that parliament (the more centre-left way of supporting the working class) is slow and ineffective, in other words, what the ruling class wants. I think that capitalism needs to be completely destroyed - with a government of the people taking the place of the ruling class. In that way, the means of production come under the control of the working class.

As to what specific type of communist I am, I am not sure as I am new to this level of detail.

[Hammer_Sickle_Revolution]

As it's Christmas, we can indulge in some party games, I think. I shall start:

Do you think that the Soviet Union was

(a) the embodiment of what a socialist society should be

(b) the embodiment of what a socialist society should be under Stalin, but inevitably destroyed thanks to revisionism after Khrushchev's denouncement of Stalin

(c) originally a workers' state, but degenerated thanks to Stalin into a dictatorship

(d) originally a workers' state, but turned into state capitalism under Stalin

(e) never a true representation of socialism?
I suppose I would choose C or D, but I will go for D.

[Uncle Al]

Then you are a Trotskyist.

[Hammer_Sickle_Revolution]

Thanks.

[F9]

Then you are a Trotskyist.

Lol, its not so fucking simple!:lol:
You may not be one, dont get to the label so early, sit around here, forget what "type" of communist you are, read all of them, and then decide which "label" suits you better!
Read from here, post your questions and people will happily answer them, and dont forget to read books, its a lot better than having other peoples talking about ideologies that they may got wrong, or they try to make them wrong to your eyes to follow their "label"!Build your own ideology, and put your label on yourself alone, dont let others to do so!;)

Fuserg9:star:

[Hammer_Sickle_Revolution]

All I know are the basics on the "types" within Europe, yet I still need to read more on Maoism, Hekmatism etc.

I've only been a member for less than a day and already got some quick answers - thanks for your comments.

[Junius]

If you want to know what kind of communist you are, ask the following questions instead:

- Do I belong to any communist organisation?

- Am I active?

- Do I belong to any working class organisation?

- Do I speak, write, debate, organise people, on behalf of the emancipation of the working class?

Being a communist is not a matter of belief, but of action.

Luís Henrique Good advice.

[Q]

Lables are not very important in themselves. What matters is what set of ideas you agree with. I'd recommend reading the website of Socialist Alternative (http://socialistalternative.org/) if you're from the USA. Or look for one of the other national sections of the Committee for a Workers' International (http://www.socialistworld.net/).
If possible, I'd recommend contacting a local branch and going to a local meeting, get to discuss with comrades, be active.

This will all help you in forming your political identity.

[revolution inaction]

libcom (http://libcom.org) has lots of good stuff