Comment on ¿How communism actually work in practice?
scallisto@retrofed.com 23 hours ago
The core idea of communism is the goal for a classless, stateless society where all are equal. Unfortunately for us, the Soviets have successfully made the concept associated with Bolshevism / Marxist-Leninism, which calls for a vanguard party to represent the working people, i.e. an authoritarian one-party state. Communism by itself is not the antithesis to democracy, but Marxist-Leninist states are usually very authoritarian. And once you have a dictatorship, you foster a cult of personality and policy is based on the decision of one person, and that never ends well for anybody but them and their inner circle.
Communism was born when capitalism was uncontrolled, working people did not have minimum wages with poor working conditions and, often times, no rights either if they were the wrong gender, background, religion, sexual orientation, or simply social class. Don’t get me wrong, capitalism now is still bad (for both people and the environment), but unions are stronger, restrictions on corporations is stronger, and society is more equal. Freedom of speech and the press is more prevalent, though certainly more can be done, and inequality of all kinds is still a global issue that must be tackled.
Is communism “dead” then? No, of course not. I respect all who work towards the goal of an equal, classless society freed from the shackles of capitalism. But those who want to stifle democracy and establish dictatorships, I do not respect.
chosensilence@pawb.social 19 hours ago
is this a goddamn joke? you aren’t serious are you?
scallisto@retrofed.com 18 hours ago
During the Industrial Revolution (think 1800s), working conditions were not regulated like they are now (and yes, it is not perfect, but it’s a lot better now!), unions have been successful in representing the worker’s needs (and yes, it is not perfect, and varied depending on where you are, but it’s a lot better now!), society is certainly more equal than in the 1800s era (women can vote, minorities can vote, acceptance of all beliefs, stronger democracies and less colonialism, prejudice is still a problem and imperialism is still a big issue, but far better now)
Lehmuusa@nord.pub 14 hours ago
I’m a little baffled here. Are you seriously saying that the society was more equal when 19th century turned to 20th than it is now? Or am I somehow misinterpreting you?
Back then there was still serfdom. Things are bad, but my understanding is they are a couple magnitudes better than in the end of 19th century.
BeelzebubEiNukuKoskaan@piefed.social 7 hours ago
Finland has very strong unions. For example, theres no national minimum wage as such, its all negotiated by unions. I’d also say that Finland has relatively equal society.
neidu4@piefed.social 18 hours ago
Seems pretty accurate to me as long as one doesn’t look at USA as a litmus test for the rest of the world
scallisto@retrofed.com 17 hours ago
Even in the U.S., women can vote, non-white people can vote, working conditions have vastly improved, press freedom is better, etc.. It is not perfect, far from it, with massive wealth inequality and still lots of racism and discrimination towards minorities. But it’s a hell of a lot better than the 1800s!
deleted@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
You don’t read news don’t you?
neidu4@piefed.social 11 hours ago
I do, and as long as you stay outside of readying the 24h outrage cycle it’s pretty easy to see that on average most things are better now than they were 50 years ago.