honestly if communism could work, if we could get past our human greed, we do not need more than enough money to keep us, essentially we would be provided with what we needed, and there would be less war over money and property etc, communism is something i am very new to but i have been told about it from one of my best friends for years, it makes so much sense, i realise people say its been tried and it has failed but not really because it was tried before the world was ready for it as marx said there are the 4 stages and these had not been finished before it was tried, also communism was tried by people who werent the right people to spread it. sorry if this seems like a bit of a rant but come on people, why do we need ridiculous amounts of money, how can we sit around and watch poor people really struggle to survive? if everyone was equal we would be such a better world, less war, less hate, less jealousy...

Primary difference between socialism and communism...socialism allows for limited ownership of private property. Both are based on the Marxist philosophy: "From each according to his means; to each according to his needs".

A very old vision of the ideal society which goes all the way back to Plato and Jesus. Unfortunately, communism was never able to acknowledge the fact that it needed a strong and violent state to institute equality of property (ironically, that's the same problem with libertarian or "laissez-faire" philosophies, which always need violence to open trade). Instead of dealing with the problem of the state, communists invoked "the dictatorship of the proletariat," which meant that even as Stalin and Mao were committing bloody murder, they said that an imaginary idealized working class was really in charge--a horrific form of hypocrisy.

I have to agree to some of the things that have been said - it's an ideal system - just not for the human race.

Nice in theory, impossible to implement in practice.

The biggest problem with communism as an ideology is that it's a dead end street, with a bunch of bully-boys waiting at the end for you.

Economically, communism is good, people usually get an equal piece of the pizza. Politically, it is bad, as people have very few rights (communism advocates the abolition of religion) and many people suffered due to the problems of it's communist government.

Cruel Communism is only seen to be bad because of the way that Western governments portrayed it to be, the rich upper class were scared they were going to lose all their wealth. The idea is not helped by the way that Lenin and Stalin warped Karl Marx's ideologies. Marx believed in four stages in human society; Simple Communism (i.e. prehistoric nomads), Feudal System (Middle Ages), Capitalism (Western World today) and Higher Communism. He believed that in the furture there would be no famine, poverty or disease. Was that such a bad thing to want? Lenin made the mistake that he thought he could skip straight from a Feudal System (Led by the Tsar) to Higher Communism however Russia did not have the infrastructure or money to support it.

Anyone who thinks that communism is evil is just plain ignorant, it is the opposite of evil. Marx lived in poverty due to the evils of capitalism he hoped that the goodness of humanity would one day prevail and everyone would be treated as equal.

Capitalism led to the slave trade. Capitalism has led to two World wars. Capitalism is the cause of hunger and poverty in Africa. Communism, a state where there is no discrimination, no wars and no poverty is the way forward.

evil but the only thing that is worse is those nazis there government always fails too

It sounds like a good system but it always fails. That would be cool if it was perfected one day. good if your not rich.

This system can never be instituted without bloody violence. The reason is that it goes against the nature of man.

Nature ensures that everyone is inherently unequal. It is hard enough to ensure political equality. Think of all the bloodshed to bring that about.

Economic equality is impossible to obtain. Even when the authorities slaughter scores of millions a la the Commie countries of the 20th Century, Communism still doesn't work.

The description is wrong to begin with. Communism was first the name of Marxism (to distinguish it from Utopian socialism) and then also known as the final stage of Marxism (where there is no money, property and we all lived like in the John Lennon song “Imagen”). There are a few characteristics of communism that you have to look at if you are to see whether it is good, evil or stupid. First of all: why does it exist? Communism exists because some people - such as Freud, Marx, and Darwin – essentially said that the world is like a giant machine. They believe that humans are nothing more than animals. That believe can be reinforced by the history of countless wars, famine, and greed. but it is also an ideology that humans lack the ability to be anything more than smart animals. They think that we are an “accident”.

Now why would us being animals have any thing to do with an ideology that proposes it can stop hunger and save the environment? Well, the explanation – or at least mine – is that communists believe that, unless the power of individuals is controlled, they will act like animals; only with guns, biological weapons, and immense power. If you don't believe me that communism is based on the idea that humans are animals then listen to them talk about religion, morals, or just look at their support of Positive liberty. Communism is, in essence, the politics of atheism. Positive liberty, to its more extremes is communism. The communists believe that the means to harm others should be eliminated. Harming others goes further than to actually take a sword out and slash someone. These harm that they want to eliminate are: hunger, envy (make everyone as equal as possible) and its implications, and the inability of some to exist even at the bottom of Maslow's pyramid.

Elimination of envy is the characteristic that makes communism and positive liberty stress complete equality. But, unlike the equality of libertarians and negative liberty supporters, communist equality is through force since the communists, of course, feel that humans lack power over their own destiny. Communists feel that envy is something that needs to be eliminated since it forms social divisions and, if we are all animals, then there should be no divisions since divisions are harmful and pointless, right?

The problem is that it pushes the idea that humans are just animals and have no conscienceness that is independent of animal instincts (such as: we can think but we do it for the animal instincts). The reason why this is bad is because it tries to destroy our beliefs that we are special, chosen, that there is a God, and that we can shape the future.

Why are communists supposedly better for the environment than capitalists? It is because they put their ideas into the debate but no one knows the implications. They say that problems in the environment have not been solved and that human nature will not let the problems be solved. We agree since we feel that they are telling the truth based on the evidence. Also, there is rarely anyone that does not follow their ideology but is involved in issues such as the environment (how many times have you seen a capitalist holding up pro environment signs?).

You want proof that communism doesn't work: if we are mindless animals that live on instinct and we need communism to guide us then it begs the question “how did these animals create a totally non-instinctual system(communism)?” that is why communism is BS!

Too much Yin and not enough Yang.  The continued failure of communism throughout the world over the last 80 years speaks for itself.  This type of social organization is better suited for ants or bees than humans.

The very idea that people can, en masse, decide to share is naive *at best*. It is a lovely notion but not practical. Most human dealings are a more refined form of what can be observed on a daily basis in the average preschool. Any ideology that has a practical application whatsoever has to take into account the irrefutable fact that even the best human specimen, from time to time, will revert to the behavior of a toddler.

Pure altruism does not exist.

there will always be rich and poor even in communist states. in that way it a is a hipocracy. the single biggest problem with it is the lack of competition and ambition that people and firms have.

Would be a great system if done without totalitarianism.

Fails because of human nature- we don't have the capacity to parcel out things 'equally'. Although there are European nations with Socialist economies that have average to above-average track records, Communism doesn't hold water in the long run. At best, it might be a temporary band-aid, but ultimately you have to let people experience and enjoy their earning potential within the laws of reason.

It takes a sociopath to be a communist. Lenin-sociopath. Stalin- the ideal communist.

Communism does not inspire people to work for a living. And it is corrupt if you don't agree read "Animal Farm"

Karl Marx's brainchild had the same classic failing that many concepts from Jewish social thinkers do. In order for it to work, people would have to behave better than they do. It does not take into account ambition and greed, therefore, it fails in every society in which it is implemented.

Outcome: more than 50 millions dead. Just 5 times more than Hitler's. What amazes me is that nobody in the media ever (or very very rarely) talk about the gulags, pol pot, the red khmers, vietnam... to expose their communist crimes like as it was a taboo topic, but we are brainwashed about the WW2. Wake up !!! Without minimizing the importance of the WW2, i think that the media should play another CD in exposing the crimes in History

Like so many young people in search of a better world, Communism appealed to me as a youth. It wasn't until later that I realized what one can realistically best hope for is an enlightened form of capitalism...one concerned about the poor, the sick, the handicapped and the elderly. In any civilized society, safety nets must exist or else we veer dangerously towards feudalistic barbarism. I am not talking about a social democratic state per se, but one where individuals who fall through a systems cracks have a chance to get back up on their feet again. Although I do not agree with much that she states, Susan Sontag had an excellent quote that finally put everything into perspective for me: Communism is fascism with a human face. When I read this years ago it hit me like a ton of bricks and it has stayed me 'til this day.

3 stars, because it is a noble idea, but the realization of it has been terrible so far. All communist regimes have been badly badly flawed. I would think that Marx and Engels had hoped for some more worthy successors.

freedom, equality, justice and peace

Any form of government can work if the leaders genuinely care about the people. I mean, take the U.S., under good presidents, things are fine, but under bad presidents (George Bush), the people get srewed.

At least 'dis system cares about da welfare of its poor people, unlike capitalism.

Too bad I can't give it a zero.

Good idea, just doesn't work

An absolute disaster for any society saddled with this form of government. Under communism you get corruption, bribery, organised crime, unchecked pollution, low quality goods and services, mediocre medicine, morally corrupt citizens, high rates of addicion, inefficient beaurocracy, poor economy, low standard of living, shortages, indolent labor, and the worst cigarettes in human history.

It would be fine if it were a little less strict and militaristic. There would have to be some way to give incentive to work to the labor force though.

One of the worst governments out there. You're given probably 500-1000$ a year. My parents make more money than that a year. You have to follow the rules of the dictator or you're sent up the river. Here's another government to deny.

IDEA: GOOD (though unrealistic)EXECUTION: HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE

A plague on mankind. Truly the arch-enemy of free people and people who want to be free everywhere. I'd rather be a Jew in Nazi Germany than live under the Communist yoke!

Communism is the dumbest sytem ever thought of. Forcing everyone to give up everything and share with everyone. Since know one is allowed private ownership, there is know incentive to do anything. People do what is in their best interest not others this is why communism will never work on a large scale. Lets look at one example communist love to use. They all claim that the early christians lived like communist. First off since the Communist Manifesto calls for an elimination of religious instutions, I doubt early christians were communism. There is no mention of early christians forcefully taking property from others, but the early christian volunteerly gave up their own possesions to follow christ. This sounds more like capatalism where you are free to do with your property as you wish to. The people on this board that think communism is so great need to pull their resources together, and buy their own land were they can all live in LaLa land together and see how much they enjoy it then.

Nice concept but far from perfect. Can't compete with capitalism in an open market (the Cold War proved it) and breeds laziness among those content to be taken care of.

do you actualy know what communism is (not directed at anyone who has writtena more than one line answer). if you haqd a communist world it would be the best thing posible and i dont mean socialism (USSR) but pure communism i would work and be perfect!

Proven failure. Not much else to add to that, is there?

I think that communism sucks. You only get a little bit of money and you also don't get enough to eat. That's not my type. Kill this way of government and choose democracy.

Communism may sound good when having intellectual discussions but I have yet to see a Communist country that has flourished. The main flaw is that Communism does not take into account the human spirit. We freely give to other countries, even those who hate us because we are generous people and it is our money and we can do with it as we please. If I had to work knowing that a good portion of my efforts would be forcefully taken away and redistributed I would have no incentive to work hard, be innovative, or produce as much as I can..... and why should I? Anything I lack will be supplied by somebody else.......... provided they don't have the same idea as me.

A system we would all love to live under?Who are we?I know of no one personally who wants to be a communist!What is a shame are people with such warped and twisted minds.This is not China!Ask the people in China how lovely and enjoyable they have it, or the people in North Korea!Yeah it is a great system to be sure!Get a clue!!!

A system we'd all love to live under! Those who call Communism 'evil' clearly have no understanding of what it is all about. However, there is one small problem: My 'pragmatic' side tells me that humans in general are far too greedy, lazy, selfish and petty to ever achieve such a system - which is a shame.

Communism is essentially a deceitful system of international elite control. Not suppressed as it should have been during the McCarthy era, it morphed into the New Left, Counter Culture, Civil Rights, Anti War and Woman's Liberation Movements, and later into a plethora of elite-sponsored NGO's, and media, Democratic and Republican party factions, Liberal, Zionist, Labor, and Gay Rights groups. Communism is a plot designed to substitute a cabal of the rich for the rule of God. It is a utopian fraud hatched by the rich to thwart the dreams of ordinary people and stunt human progress.

To the genius below. Lots of us have researched and got our facts straight. Why is this topic on this board? How many tens or even hundreds of millions have to die before this system gets totally discredited. This system does more than just destroy ambition, it destroys whole societies.

Communism sounds ideal in theory, but in practice it is undeniably an evil system. Under an ideal system, the people would come together to further better society. However, in practice, corruption most always arises under a communist system, largely because the leaders of such a government are self-serving and put their needs before those of their country. One could argue that many of our democratic representatives have similar traits, but the difference is we have the freedom to vote them out. Under a communist system, the government usually makes rules that are virtually unamendable, and usually result in the people becoming slaves for the government. In practice, Communism is basically a form of human slavery. The system's subjects all sacrifice their own dreams and collaborate for the glorification of the state, rather than the progress and development of humanity, which supposedly is what Communism is all about.

Communism will never work on anything more than a small scale, and here's why: It completely obliterates any notion of ambition. If you're a doctor and you're getting paid just as much as the receptionist who takes your appointments, why bother? Do you want to own any land? Too bad! Also, a totalitarian government almost has to be established in order to ensure complete cooperation; otherwise, one of those ambitious pieces of crap might actually try to DO SOMETHING with their life. It's an ideologically sound idea, which is why I give it two stars. I would love to live in a truly Marxist nation. But it's never going to happen.

Communism is the end of the whole society. Our countries would be raped, dead without any rights for our traditions, customs...everything would be lost ...cos communists have lost their brains

Communism is THE best. WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! I think a perfect society which ENDS hunger, racism, sexism, homophobia,exploitation of labor,and the tyranny of rich white capitalists would be greatly appreciated!

One or two of the basic ideas behind Communism aren't that bad. I do like the idea of the state sharing the resources with the people and that all people are equal. But, I don't like the fact that you can't own things. I don't like the violent undertones, as well as many of the other ideas. A combination of socialism, democracy, a republic, and utopianism would be an ideal government to me.

Communism was a radical attempt at fairness, but it fostered a society in which justice was nearly impossible. Hardworking people were denied reward, while slothful people received more than they deserved. The fairness of communism proved to be a disincentive working against many of the natural desires that foster community.

Communism is still responsible for perpetuating more evil in the world than any other philosophy.