eh....... what about all the private property in america? All the inequalities?
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Note: I am not a Communist or a Libertarian. I am sure not a Democrat or Republican. I am simply a Revolutionary.
The other day I had the Joy of meeting Michael Badnarik (U.S. Libertarian Party Candidate for 2004). He was a very smart man and as a Former Libertarian I did the stupid ass "Kids Vote" and voted for him.
Anyways I bought his book (Shoot me), and I can agree with a lot of what he said. But the problem I have with Libertarianism is that it does not keep people from poverty and other crappy things.
In Chapter 6 of his book "Good to be King", He talk about the Communist Manifesto and how Amerika relates to it.
Lets see what it says...:
1. Abolition of Private Property
America's war on drugs has prompted government agencies to establish asset forfeiture laws which allow the arresting agency to take all of the property belonging to someone suspected of being involved with drugs. Frequently the arresting agency is acting on an anonymous tip or phone call. The property is then sold at auction for a fraction of the cost, and the arresting agency keeps the money.
Whenever our government invokes eminent domain to take someone's property, they are demonstrating their lack of respect for private property and acting just like any other communist regime.
2. Heavy progressive income tax
A progressive income tax means the more money you make, the higher your percentage of tax. In the United States the IRS determines the percentage of our progressive income tax. Those percentages are included as a table with the instructions that come with your 1040 form. If you make enough money, you may be lucky enough to fall in the 50% tax bracket. The strongest slaves are lucky enough to carry the heaviest rocks.
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance
If your parents die without a will the government may take half of everything your parents owned before you and your siblings are allowed to divide what's left. Even with a will the government can take a percentage. This prevents future generations within a family from accumulating a significant amount of wealth. What justifies this tax on dying?
4. Confiscation of property of all emigrants and Rebels
Anyone who travels internationally must declare whether he or she is carrying more then $10,000 in money, stocks, or bank notes. Friends of mine who intend to relocate to New Zealand have been told that they cannot take their money with them.
5. Central Bank
The Federal Reserve Bank is a private company and not a part of the U.S. Post Office. You can prove this for yourself by searching the blue government pages in the phone book. When you fail to find it there, try looking in the white business pages. When you control the printing of money, it doesn’t matter who controls the government. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 is completely, totally, and unquestionably unconstitutional.
6. Government control of communication and transportation
The Federal Communications Commission controls all radio and television signals in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety board, and every state department of transportation and motor vehicles control every aspect of transportation in this country. You cannot travel, ship, or broadcast anywhere in the United States without getting government approval.
7. Government ownership of factories and agriculture
Government doesn't actually own factories, but it also has no business bailing out Chrysler and savings and loan associations when they get into financial trouble. The recent collapse of Enron and WorldCom have suggested inappropriate connections with the government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture controls and regulates nearly every aspect of the food chain, from farm to table.
8. Government Control of labor
Innumerable government agencies within the United States regulate nearly every facet of every kind of business. Although there is no formal government agency that directly controls unions, they are strongly influenced by federal agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
9. Corporate farms, Regional planning
In the not-too- distant past, most farms were owned by small families. Now they are owned by large corporations and merely leased to the original tenants.
Every large city in the United States has a regional planning office. Austin, Texas, has a Planning Design Office, a Planning/Environmental and Conservation Services Department, and a planning and economic Development office. Check your phone book to find similar agencies where you live.
10. Government Control of Education
There is no point in arguing whether or not the government controls education in this country. The Democrats and Republicans are falling all over themselves claiming to be the ones who control it best.
I just posted this to see what Communists/Left Wing people think of this.
/,,/
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eh....... what about all the private property in america? All the inequalities?
In what relations do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working class parties. They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole. They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement.
-Karl Marx
It is only by strengthening ourselves ideologically, inculcating in ourselves the values and ideals of the struggle and building up the ranks of the revolutionary party that we will make it.
- Ta Power
amerika? COMMUNIST!?!
NO government in Communism. There is obviously a government in the u$.
NO money in Communism. There is obviously money used in the u$.
NO SOCIAL CLASSES in Communism. There are obviously rich and poor in the u$.
There is obviously exploitation in the u$, and the u$ is imperialistic, and u$ corporations exploit people around the world.
[FONT=Georgia]Abajo y a la izquierda esta el coraz[/FONT][FONT=Georgia]ón.[/FONT]
I think this sort of thing has been mentioned before, whena capitalist country would disguise the 10 planks of communism and use them so that communists wouldnt get any support.
Besides, aren't these 10 planks outdated? I mean, no one really takes them seriously anymore, right? I mean Communism is government-less, so who would still say that there would be government control of factories and agriculture, or education, etc.? State Socialism perhaps, but Communism? At least, I remember reading a debate about these 10 planks, and hearing the argument that they are outdated and not paid attention anymore.
[FONT=Georgia]Abajo y a la izquierda esta el coraz[/FONT][FONT=Georgia]ón.[/FONT]
well i suppose that there is governmnet in socialism or the dictatorship of the protoletariat, but america isn't these either.
In what relations do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working class parties. They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole. They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement.
-Karl Marx
It is only by strengthening ourselves ideologically, inculcating in ourselves the values and ideals of the struggle and building up the ranks of the revolutionary party that we will make it.
- Ta Power
This is the most outlandish claim I ever heard that the U.S. is communist---please!
Oh yeah? Then how are you to be labelling yourself Revolutionary then, huh? Do you do alot of "revolution", of what you are to speak? Show me what makes you worthy of that title..."Comrade" Closet-Commie <_<
America is the most anti-communist nation ever! Why do you think they invade communist countries? They see it as a threat to their capitalist country.
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yeah.. that's a fallacious argument to the highest degree. The United States is peculiarly absent of social programs amongst fully industrialized nation.. and saying that America is "communist" because there are obvious connections between business and government bodies is foolish.. the particular setup between business and state resembles the basic principles of fascist doctrine more than anything.
<span style=\'color:red\'>The man who has got everything he wants is all in favor of peace and order.</span> - Jawaharlal Nehru
<span style=\'color:red\'>The distinguishing sign of slavery is to have a price, and to be bought for it.</span> - John Ruskin
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The "10 Planks" had to do with what Communists should advocate in bourgeois revolutions, not what we should "be happy with" in capitalism and even less what "makes a place communist".
The internets are our Woodstock.
"Note: I am not a Communist or a Libertarian. I am sure not a Democrat or Republican. I am simply a Revolutionary."
A revolutionary for what?!
Anyway, Im not even going to get into how stupid Badnarik's statement is!
He is very out of touch with the way america is then, and he does not know what communism is.
You tell Moses to make bricks without straw,
Now he tells you to make cities without bricks!
Alot of U.S. Libertarians are Nazis, like there's a forum called Liberty Forum, which I think is supposed to be a "libertarian" forum, and it's full of nazi bastards. Go see for yourself if you don't believe me.
phhh, talking to libetarians is useless.. they love their theory, I dont care about the theory.. people in todays society and esspecially in the Us dont have a chance to develope theirselves as persons because of their politics, they dont get good eduacation, they dont have any free time to do what they want.. and people are starving..
and they call it freedom?
That theory doesnt belong any place, politics is practical..and you got to be blind to see that there isnt any freedom for most people in the Us, and certanly not communism..
The main problem with such labels is that the ones who are making these claims do not know what they are talking about. Most right wing conservatives will be quick to label anything outside of their belif system as communist. If you were against the war in Iraq, you are now a commie. If you are not in line with their way of thought, you are a commie. It is a title that is seen as anti-american, and is used in such loose terms, that the labeler is actually dis-crediting it as a political way of life.
hes a damn idiot, just like all libertarians, they are just capitalist scum
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<span style=\'color:red\'>"Only that which prepares the complete and final overthrow of imperialist bestiality is moral, and nothing else. The welfare of the revolution- that is the supreme law!"
-Leon Trotsky</span>
"The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e., the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at the same time its ruling intellectual force."
Karl Marx
Why does everyone need to suscribe to an "ism" some people just want to work for change, they might not suscribe to one thing but combinations of things, or maybe has a new thing. As long as the thing works towards the betterment of the people and the liberty of the oppressed they should be welcomed as revolutionaries.
As for the Communist America: The guy is obviously just trying to draw attention to his cause. I would call America's most recent policies closer to fascism or nationalism not communism.
<span style=\'color:red\'>Any power must be the enemy of mankind which enslaves the individual by terror and force, whether it arises under a Fascist or Communist flag. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded to the individual.
- Albert Einstein </span>
<span style=\'color:red\'>
Lenin was one of the greatest enemies of Socialism...
Noam Chomsky</span>
I am a bit surprised no one has actually decided to dismantle Badnarik point by point. I realize that I am as infuriated as his nonsense as the rest of you, but I will take one for the team and take this bullshit seriously.
Abolition of Private Property
Badnarik has misinterpreted Marx's definition of private property. He interprets "abolition of private property" to be the confiscation of all personal belongings. But Marx, when talking of private property, was referring to the means of production. Communists make a distinction between someone owning a toothbrush and owning another human being's livelihood.
The other observation I have over the passage is that Badnarik makes the all-too-typical mistake of confusing communism with totalitarianism. U.S. drug policy is surely totalitarian, but is not remotely communist.
Heavy progressive income tax
Badnarik speaks of a 50% income tax bracket. It does not exist. Bill Gates, and the other richest of the super-rich, pay 38%. Or is it 35% now? It will be if Bush's tax cuts are made permanent.
Badnarik condemns progressive taxation with the following phrase: "The strongest slaves are lucky enough to carry the heaviest rocks." Absurd. Those paying 38% today are not the slaves. They are the guys with the whips behind the slaves.
Abolition of all rights of inheritance
Badnarik notes in horror how an estate tax can "[prevent] future generations within a family from accumulating a significant amount of wealth." "Libertarians" believe that one is entitled to any wealth he or she can earn. Tell me, though, how being born to a wealthy monopolist can be considered work. How does being born into wealth make it earned? How is it meritocratic that a failed businessman can be a millionaire as long as his father was Bill Gates or Warren Buffett?
"What justifies this tax on dying?"
More "death tax" nonsense...
We must not be bamboozled by all the talk of rural families losing farms to the estate tax. The people who are behind this political offensive are millionaires and billionaires who already have way too much, but still believe they need more.
Confiscation of property of all emigrants and Rebels
Badnarik's "evidence" of this is anecdotal, at best. There are plenty of capitalists who are able to shelter their wealth from the IRS using private banks in Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, etc.
Central Bank
"When you control the printing of money, it doesn’t matter who controls the government."
True, on some levels.
Yet, this argument is pitifully unrelated and even contradictory to his thesis. He notes the central bank is privately owned and unaccountable, though this is something that Marx would have loathed. Until Badnarik finds an example of Marx praising large, private, unaccountable tyrannies like corporations or banks his argument is worthless in this discussion.
Government control of communication and transportation
Somehow, our very weak exertion of public ownership of the airwaves and the understanding that our roads are built and maintained with public funds is evidence of communism?
So, democratically controlled (and barely that) airwaves is communism? As it is, our airwaves are auctioned off to the highest bidders. The private users are more powerful than the government that is supposedly the landlord. His argument falls flat here.
Our roads are built by the government, with public (tax) funds. Is that socialistic? Yes. Somehow, Badnarik does not seem especially troubled with socialism when it benefits the auto corporations.
Badnarik notes the potential for abuse, and seems hysterically frightened that this may come to pass. Again, Badnarik's comprehension of various totalitarian systems seems muddled. The corporate supremacy he seems blinded to is greater to the authoritarian government he rails against in every paragraph. This is more in line with the fascist model than the authoritarian socialist one (which he believes is communism).
Government ownership of factories and agriculture
Badnarik may be at his most misguided here. His examples grossly miss the point, targeting a moronic, over-powerful government instead of the corporations which so clearly have the government subservient.
At his most disconnected, he blames the collapse of Enron and WorldCom on "inappropriate connections with the government." Yes, Enron and WorldCom were connected to the government. They were connected in the same way a dog is connected to his master when they go on walks. On a leash. Who held the leash? Enron and WorldCom, not the government.
Government Control of labor
"Innumerable government agencies within the United States regulate nearly every facet of every kind of business."
I find this hard to believe, even in theory. In practice, nearly every government check on business has been gutted. Some were never given a chance. Often, business leaders get to decide how their business will be regulated. Governmental regulation is a joke, laughable if so many people did not consider this idea of Badnarik's credible.
Corporate farms, Regional planning
This is another interesting point. He is actually condemning the corporations, not government. This strong point actually serves as another contradiction to this ridiculous thesis.
Government Control of Education
Again, a matter of totalitarianism and not communism.
There is such a body of work, spanning the political spectrum, documenting how the U.S. is the least socialistic nation in the First World. It is a mark of incredible ideological devotion that Badnarik ignored all of that to bombard us with this nonsense.
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