NationStates Jolt Archive

Hello Everyone!

On the internet and at all the different Forums I discuss at(including this one), there seems to be a lot of Communists around.
However in everyday life you hardly see any Communists. I dont see you holding meetings in public or delivering leaflets in my local highstreet.
I have seen the British Socialist Workers Party in my high street about 2 times. They were just handing out leaflets but they didnt seem to want to talk to the public. They handed out some leaflets but they only talked between themselves and looked like a real clannish lot.
Is this true Communists do you keep yourselves to yourselves or are you regular activists?
Im not being sarcastic or anything I would just like to know.

I'm definately not a Communist, but I am a Socialist. There is a difference.

We're not really communists. Just liberals with dreamy ideals :D

I'm not a communist, but I play one on NS.

Communism has a horrible connotation here in America, I would surmise it does in most of Western Europe, too.

here OOC and IC

im 13 any OOC commies younger than me?

Internet forums attract disproportionately high numbers of communists, socialists, liberals, libertarians, fascists, Nazis, and anarchists.

Virtually the only political grouping underrepresented on message boards seems to be conservatives.

In the UK Communism is generally seen as a worthy ideal but people don't see it going anywhere so they join Labour (WTF?) and the Lib Dems instead.

I'm a general liberal type myself.

Virtually the only political grouping underrepresented on message boards seems to be conservatives.


Believe it or not, this is usually a good thing.

Liberal socialist. Close enough? I live in a very conservative state, so I don't always advertise my political affiliations. Except on my car. I have a ton of bumper stickers and I'm surprised no one has slashed my tires yet.

Liberal socialist. Close enough? I live in a very conservative state, so I don't always advertise my political affiliations. Except on my car. I have a ton of bumper stickers and I'm surprised no one has slashed my tires yet.

*Hides butcher knife behind back*

Uh...where's your car? :D

so I don't always advertise my political affiliations. Except on my car. I have a ton of bumper stickers and I'm surprised no one has slashed my tires yet.

i have badges and tops and stickers and flags, one more great thing about communism is the merchandise

Virtually the only political grouping underrepresented on message boards seems to be conservatives.

That's because conservatives are dumb.

Communism has a horrible connotation here in America, I would surmise it does in most of Western Europe, too.
In southern France and in Northern Spain there are a lot of these.
I'm from southern France. There are a lot of communist cities here.

In southern France and in Northern Spain there are a lot of these.
I'm from southern France. There are a lot of communist cities here.

Hooray for a politically open society.

Liberal socialist. Close enough? I live in a very conservative state, so I don't always advertise my political affiliations. Except on my car. I have a ton of bumper stickers and I'm surprised no one has slashed my tires yet.


My doctor is from Michigan, and she has John Kerry bumper stickers on her mini van. She told me that some jackass with a Confederate Flag bumper sticker pulled a gun on her at a traffic light. I wouldn't doubt it, either, because I've seen it happen.

Isn't Texas just wonderful?

I'm destined for greatness just you wait......

Believe it or not, this is usually a good thing.
Well I'm just curious why that is the case. Message boards bring out tons of radicals and uncommon political beliefs, but we don't see the hordes of so-called mainstream conservatives which dominate American politics.


As for myself, I score anywhere from a 0 to a -2 on the economic scale of politicalcompass.org. Firmly liberal and a believer in the welfare state, but not socialist.

That's because conservatives are dumb.

Borderline trolling there.

Every political organization has members that seemingly lack intelligence.

Thank you for the quick responces everyone!
Being Socialists then do you see Communism as too iron-fisted for you?
Countries like the USSR, ex-Eastern Bloc , Cuba, North Korea as too extreme and not properly following Marx's ideals?

Mh, well, I don't really consider myself a communist, but that is only because I live under a capitalist representative democracy, so for now I'm just a disgruntled capitalist who doesn't contribute very much to that system.

I am however an advocate of communist economics, direct democracy, and communal living, it's just that, paradoxically, I personally don't happen to like people very much...

(That is to say, I haven't got communist leanings because I love the idea, but for the same sort of reasons that I'm an atheist. The world works in certain ways, communism's one, and nobody has to like it anymore than they liked capitalism, so, in answer to your question, I'm at home, having a beer.)

I say it's usually a good thing, because many internet Conservatives are very obnoxious, very rude, and tend to put down the opinions of others.

This is from my experience, anyway (which is a lot, 8+ hours a day for the last seven years).

Thank you for the quick responces everyone!
Being Socialists then do you see Communism as too iron-fisted for you?
Countries like the USSR, ex-Eastern Bloc , Cuba, North Korea as too extreme and not properly following Marx's ideals?


Of course they're too harsh, but I was never a follower of his ideals, anyway.

Borderline trolling there.

Every political organization has members that seemingly lack intelligence.

Borderline? This forum must have a liberal slant to it.

I like to throw out a ridiculously obvious troll out there every once in a while to see if I can get any bites. From what I can tell it seems the liberals are much, much more reactionary to trolls, and the more ridiculous the comment, the more worked up they get.

Thank you for the quick responces everyone!
Being Socialists then do you see Communism as too iron-fisted for you?
Countries like the USSR, ex-Eastern Bloc , Cuba, North Korea as too extreme and not properly following Marx's ideals?

The USSR was originally Marxist in nature, but when Stalin took over, it became more authoritarian than anything else.

The same applied to the members of the Warsaw Pact. Their governments were not truly communist, just puppets of the Kremlin.

Cuba (and to some extent, China) have a lot of capitalism in their systems, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. Many Cubans living in the United States give extra money to their relatives living under Castro. The Bush administration only recently cut the amount of money you could send to the island nation. I'm guessing this is because Washington believes that Castro is going to sing his swan song very soon and wants the "communist regime" in Cuba to fall.

Of course they're too harsh, but I was never a follower of his ideals, anyway.

I actually like Cuban Ideals.....Although I am not to much of a fan of the Juche economic system

Well, im a democratic socialist (unfortunatly my country isnt) The ideas of Marx and engles are genious in my opinion, however certain events in history have made adulterated the original ideas. Communism has never in itself been succesfuly practiced in a national scale, socialism however has and is flourishing in europe and other areas. Most of europe follows some type of rudimentery socialism, the UK's Labour party is somewhat socialistic, Spains new government is socialist, and France, Norway, Sweden, and other european countries are making emense socialistic reforms. If a socialist president ever does come to america, i would be a happy man.

Lots of communist parties who don't want to be associated with Stalinism call themselves socialists. The objective conditions don't allow for a huge numbers of revolutionaries todayin the western hemisphere at least. We have a communist Member of parliement in Ireland and four councillers who are genuine communists but they are in a party called the socialist party for reasons mentioned earlier. Sri lanka has a big communist movement. but if you meant by communist parties those that supported the soviet ruling caste they are slowing receding.

If a socialist president ever does come to america, i would be a happy man.

I doubt that this will happen anytime soon. Unlike those that often post on the message boards, most Americans are pretty moderate. Socialism seems much too radical for the average Joe Smoe sitting on the couch and enjoying his beer. If a member of a socialist party were to take power, it would take another generation. (30+ years)

The USSR was originally Marxist in nature, but when Stalin took over, it became more authoritarian than anything else.

The same applied to the members of the Warsaw Pact. Their governments were not truly communist, just puppets of the Kremlin.

Cuba (and to some extent, China) have a lot of capitalism in their systems, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. Many Cubans living in the United States give extra money to their relatives living under Castro. The Bush administration only recently cut the amount of money you could send to the island nation. I'm guessing this is because Washington believes that Castro is going to sing his swan song very soon and wants the "communist regime" in Cuba to fall.

Yeah lol, any day now we will se "Soviet WMD's Suspectedly hidden in Cuba" on cnn or whatever news soarce you follow, then a few months to a year later we will hear the familiar "oops uh, we were wrong" from our government. However, Cuba is a much more formidibal oponent than Iraq was. lol, i cant wait *sarcasm*

Hello Everyone!

On the internet and at all the different Forums I discuss at(including this one), there seems to be a lot of Communists around.
However in everyday life you hardly see any Communists. I dont see you holding meetings in public or delivering leaflets in my local highstreet.
I have seen the British Socialist Workers Party in my high street about 2 times. They were just handing out leaflets but they didnt seem to want to talk to the public. They handed out some leaflets but they only talked between themselves and looked like a real clannish lot.
Is this true Communists do you keep yourselves to yourselves or are you regular activists?
Im not being sarcastic or anything I would just like to know.0

Hmmmm...What's a Communist look like? Maybe they're all camouflaged.

Come to London March 19th and we'll meet you...

I doubt that this will happen anytime soon. Unlike those that often post on the message boards, most Americans are pretty moderate. Socialism seems much too radical for the average Joe Smoe sitting on the couch and enjoying his beer. If a member of a socialist party were to take power, it would take another generation. (30+ years)

Actualy ive noticed a very high ammount of socialistic youth in my highschool, i think the MTV generation is the one that could put a Democratic Socialist/ Socialist into office.

Libertarian Communist, very outspoken, very politically active, tend to vote populist/progressive Democrat, Texas, U.S.

Texas? what area?

Texas? what area?

North Houston. :)

I hope you don't mean the Heights... George Foreman may live there, but it's still nasty.

I'm definately not a Communist, but I am a Socialist. There is a difference.
I hear that.

I hear that.


Good.

Not a commie, but I am a socialist. I don't like communism because I'm not a fan of totalitarianism. The dictatorship of the proletariat quickly becomes corrupt, defeating the purpose of communism.

I hope you don't mean the Heights... George Foreman may live there, but it's still nasty.

Heh ... no ... more like The Woodlands. :) I did live in the Heights about a decade ago, though.

The Woodlands is really nice. I live in Tomball, which is just becoming nice (a new Kroger Supermarket, plus some other stuff, w00t).

here OOC and IC

im 13 any OOC commies younger than me?

I'm sorry, but at your age you are most likely not well informed enough to say you are communist if you do not truly know the implicaitons of such a system. In trying to eliminate classes with large income disparities, you create two new classes with even greater income disparity. You lose worker produciton and innovation because there is nothing to work for. you will ge thte same amount of money anyway. there is not rhyme or reason to the communist system. what little "reason" there is is washed away once you dig deeper.

The Woodlands is really nice. I live in Tomball, which is just becoming nice (a new Kroger Supermarket, plus some other stuff, w00t).
TEH WOODLANDS w00t!!! noce houses, nice people for the most part. i have moved lots of people into there with my father. they gove big tips. ($50-100)

The Woodlands is really nice. I live in Tomball, which is just becoming nice (a new Kroger Supermarket, plus some other stuff, w00t).

Hey cool ... I'm probably within 10 minutes of you, then ...

Look out your window ... see me waving? :D

Heres what I think, all the communists would get their @$$ kicked if they opened their mouth in RL like they do on the forums.

No, but the weather is unusually nice. Damn concrete factory usually makes the air a soft, hazy yellow.

Heres what I think, all the communists would get their @$$ kicked if they opened their mouth in RL like they do on the forums.


Oh really? I sincerely doubt that.

Heres what I think, all the communists would get their @$$ kicked if they opened their mouth in RL like they do on the forums.

You don't wanna meet me, then.

No, but the weather is unusually nice. Damn concrete factory usually makes the air a soft, hazy yellow.

Yep ... gorgeous stuff. Tomorrow's supposed to be even nicer. Clear, low 70s, breezy ... perfect.

Yeah, I was riding my bike about two hours ago, and the wind was blowing like crazy. Needless to say, my leg muscles will probably expand in the morning.

Thank you for the quick responces everyone!
Being Socialists then do you see Communism as too iron-fisted for you?
Countries like the USSR, ex-Eastern Bloc , Cuba, North Korea as too extreme and not properly following Marx's ideals?
In my region, there are 4 main kind of communists.
The Trotskyists, the travaillistes (worker party), the revolutionary communists (LCR) and the socialist communists.

In my own opinion (I'm communist), the USSR was not extreme ; Stalin was, but that is because he run the country in time of war. Any regime is extreme in times of war or they loose the war. A bit like Saddam became mad after the war with Iran.
The ex-eastern bloc was the USSR.
Cuba is a success (despite all the efforts of the US to destabilize the country).
North Korea is at war.

The main communist newspaper in France are "Liberation" and "l'humanité". And they organize a big event called "l'international" every year in St-Denis, which is a big communist city near Paris. A lot of artists attend the event and many political debates happen there. There are hundred of thousands of people attending the event every year. You must know José Bové...

Yep ... gorgeous stuff. Tomorrow's supposed to be even nicer. Clear, low 70s, breezy ... perfect.

Screw you and Potaria(though he probably wouldn't be interested)
I'm freezing my ass off, and it's not that much farther north.

Screw you and Potaria(though he probably wouldn't be interested)
I'm freezing my ass off, and it's not that much farther north.


How so?

Anyway, the truth of the matter is that I'd still rather be far up North, in Pittsburgh. It's about 25 degrees, with a strong breeze. Even as cold as it is, I still like that region more.

I am a communist, both on NS and in real life, but I admit my poltcal persuasion is rather extreme and I'm pretty lonely as a result.

I'm a Democratic Socialist.

Screw you and Potaria(though he probably wouldn't be interested)
I'm freezing my ass off, and it's not that much farther north.

Ah but you'll be better off in July/August when me and Pot are sitting in 110 in the shade weather with 100% humidity and no end to it in sight.

Which is another reason I'd rather be up North in Pitt!

Here in Sweden there has been a McCarthy-like witchhunt on communists the past year, started by the neo-liberal/conservative parties in collaboration with the right-wing newspapers. The definition of what politically acceptable is moving to right, I'm afraid to say. I'm a democratic socialist.

It's because in the street, the communists don't want to be known, but on the Internet, you can't know who you are...

Social Democrat - YES
Communist - NO

When I was in Roma this past summer it was actually quite prominent. There was a meeting house and flyers posted up and everything. They certainly weren't trying to hide anything. Then again, the Italians tend to be a bit more lax about politics than other places...not so much that they don't care, but they treat it all with much suspicion and condescension.

Most people here are rabiate anti EU rightwingers, so it will be hard to find a communist. Perhaps some liberals or Christian democrats, but most of them will be labeled acommunist by extremist republican fascists.

Most people here are rabiate anti EU rightwingers, so it will be hard to find a communist. Perhaps some liberals or Christian democrats, but most of them will be labeled acommunist by extremist republican fascists.


The Fuck?

Many people I've seen on here wouldn't even qualify for Lax Republican.

Communism has a horrible connotation here in America, I would surmise it does in most of Western Europe, too.


I can't be a commie here b/c i live in florida too much republicans and too many cubans who are just pissed off that castro took thier "land" i just say "hey at least you know how the red man feels." I do argue with my friends many times trying to show how big bussness is bad and everything is just fake, and how we all should work for social revolutions and become truely =, (mostly here in the US i think we need that more then ever). but everytime i tell them that, they say "but dude I'm a rocker" then i just think to myself .... Shit we're all fucked....



* I myself am cuban, my folks left b/c my moms family was here and they said "hey why not" thats it. no other reason, no political or civil right reason A choice my dad wishes he NEVER WOULD O MADE*

Ah but you'll be better off in July/August when me and Pot are sitting in 110 in the shade weather with 100% humidity and no end to it in sight.

It's not much cooler here, though Houston is the only place I've ever been that could have 100% humidity and no rain.

Most people here are rabiate anti EU rightwingers, so it will be hard to find a communist. Perhaps some liberals or Christian democrats, but most of them will be labeled acommunist by extremist republican fascists.

I beg to differ. Most people I see on here are a bit to the left.

It's not much cooler here, though Houston is the only place I've ever been that could have 100% humidity and no rain.


I see that you've not been to Hong Kong.

Well, neither have I, but it's more humid than Houston is. I've heard that on some days, when you get out of your apartment, it's like you've been sweating for ten minutes. It's *that* humid.

Borderline? This forum must have a liberal slant to it.

I like to throw out a ridiculously obvious troll out there every once in a while to see if I can get any bites. From what I can tell it seems the liberals are much, much more reactionary to trolls, and the more ridiculous the comment, the more worked up they get.


Yes, read some of my great threads. (Which I believe I am no longer allowed to make).

Most people here are rabiate anti EU rightwingers, so it will be hard to find a communist. Perhaps some liberals or Christian democrats, but most of them will be labeled acommunist by extremist republican fascists.

so you are calling all republicans extremests? you sir, are out of your freakin mind.

so you are calling all republicans extremests? you sir, are out of your freakin mind.


I agree with this... Person.

I beg to differ. Most people I see on here are a bit to the left.
A BIT? how many people have you seen post that they were extreme left?

Socialists are communists. The only difference is in their pin heads.

I vary my politics between outward socialism to right-wing conservatism. Probably why I am not a member of a political party.

Socialists are communists. The only difference is in their pin heads.


I've seen better attempts at trolling. Much better attempts.

A BIT? how many people have you seen post that they were extreme left?
That's only by the US standards. The world is extreme left by US standards.

Me? Nope, I believe the system is untenable, and there are other problems, into which I delve in my paper for politcal theory (14 pages and a 97%, hellyah!)

I consider myself either a democratic socialist or a communist. I am from southwestern Manitoba,Canada, A pretty deverse region. Our legislative members (provincial members) are from the socialist NDP but our MP (federal member) is a conservative. It seems kind of weird to me that provincially we vote socialist but federally we vote conservative.

I guess that my communism comes from my atheist beliefs against religion. When I get to vote (im only 17 right now) I might vote either for the NDP or the liberal party. The liberals are probably the best bet up here since they take the most acceptable things from both socialism and conservatism and combine them together. That is what real liberalism is about.

I have extremely left wing views and consider myself to be a Libertarian Communist as I believe the entire economy should be under the democratic control of the working class while civil liberties must be strongly protected. Although in the UK we have never had as large a Communist Party as in other European countries we do have a long history of working class movements and government policies followed between 1945 and 1979 made Britain one of the most equal countries in the world before Thatcher was elected. Since 1979 all this progress has been destroyed due to failed free market policies which doubled the number of people in poverty and increased the rate of child poverty from 1 in 10 to 1 in 3.

The people of Britain however are fed up with these far right policies which have been continued by Blair and his New Labour cronies and I believe a revival for the left is likely over the coming years. Already in Scotland there has been a massive growth in the Scottish Socialist Party (which I support) and it now has 6 seats in the Scottish Parliament. The left is also growing in other countries, especially in Latin America which now has 5 new Socialist presidents (Venezuala, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay), and also in western Europe where Communists recently doubled their share of the vote in Portugal and are again gaining support in France.

Im here in Michigan.

I'm definately not a Communist, but I am a Socialist. There is a difference.
AMEN! Finally someone agrees!
Let Socialism Rise!

AMEN! Finally someone agrees!
Let Socialism Rise!

i second that motion and i am acting as a representative of america, i guess it's final

God bless em them Marxists in my Uni. They keep wanting to march on the Uni Presidents house and demand higher grants etc etc. Keepin the '68 spirit alive they say... we just couldn't give a toss as Uni if free for all anyway! :D

I'm a Socialist/Civil Libertarian/Neo-Hippie/Neo-Sexual revolutionary/Gay rights/Shambala/Green/Buddhist. I used to support the Socialist Workers Party here in the U.S but I am not sure that is wise right now. If I moved back to the UK I don't know who I'd vote for since Labour moved to the far-right and I don't know much about the Lib-Dems. On the Political Compass I'm between a -6/-6 and -7/-7 make me on far left.

My nation is deffiently far left and i have always tried to maintain a balance between good economic policy/Civil rights and Political rights.

Oh I forgot to to tell you what Shambala is if u all don't know It's related to the lost kingdom of Shangra-La: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambala

Internet forums attract disproportionately high numbers of communists, socialists, liberals, libertarians, fascists, Nazis, and anarchists.

Virtually the only political grouping underrepresented on message boards seems to be conservatives.

Yep, its sad.

Conservatives are not under-represented. They are very few in the world. Your view of the world is distorded by your local political map.

Hello Everyone!

On the internet and at all the different Forums I discuss at(including this one), there seems to be a lot of Communists around.
However in everyday life you hardly see any Communists. I dont see you holding meetings in public or delivering leaflets in my local highstreet.
I have seen the British Socialist Workers Party in my high street about 2 times. They were just handing out leaflets but they didnt seem to want to talk to the public. They handed out some leaflets but they only talked between themselves and looked like a real clannish lot.
Is this true Communists do you keep yourselves to yourselves or are you regular activists?
Im not being sarcastic or anything I would just like to know.

Well, the Political Compass pegs me as a communist, but I'm more of a liberal/progressive with mild socialist tendencies. And since most of my politicizing happens within this game, you probably won't see any leaflets from me any time soon. ;)

Hello Everyone!

On the internet and at all the different Forums I discuss at(including this one), there seems to be a lot of Communists around.
However in everyday life you hardly see any Communists. I dont see you holding meetings in public or delivering leaflets in my local highstreet.
I have seen the British Socialist Workers Party in my high street about 2 times. They were just handing out leaflets but they didnt seem to want to talk to the public. They handed out some leaflets but they only talked between themselves and looked like a real clannish lot.
Is this true Communists do you keep yourselves to yourselves or are you regular activists?
Im not being sarcastic or anything I would just like to know.


It seems that a lot of people haven't noticed that since the fall of the Soviet Union, a lot of the Communists have given up.

Here in the US, where we didn't even have a decent Left to begin with, Das Capital is a coffee table book in trendy apartments.

Hanging out in small, clannish groups, and discussing the moribund state of Communism around the world is about all that is left to them.

And no, I'm not being sarcastic.

It seems that a lot of people haven't noticed that since the fall of the Soviet Union, a lot of the Communists have given up.

Here in the US, where we didn't even have a decent Left to begin with, Das Capital is a coffee table book in trendy apartments.

Hanging out in small, clannish groups, and discussing the moribund state of Communism around the world is about all that is left to them.

And no, I'm not being sarcastic.
Yet the US uses a lot of the communist manifesto policies.

I can't be a commie here b/c i live in florida too much republicans and too many cubans who are just pissed off that castro took thier "land" i just say "hey at least you know how the red man feels." I do argue with my friends many times trying to show how big bussness is bad and everything is just fake, and how we all should work for social revolutions and become truely =, (mostly here in the US i think we need that more then ever). but everytime i tell them that, they say "but dude I'm a rocker" then i just think to myself .... Shit we're all fucked....



* I myself am cuban, my folks left b/c my moms family was here and they said "hey why not" thats it. no other reason, no political or civil right reason A choice my dad wishes he NEVER WOULD O MADE*

May I ask why your family doesn't go back? Sounds like you would be very happy in Cuba. Here's what you can look foward to http://therealcuba.com/ Yup, looks like Cuba is a real success!

How many communists have jobs?

Just noticed that every-one I know who is a communist doesn't work or is studying still.

How many communists have jobs?

Just noticed that every-one I know who is a communist doesn't work or is studying still.
I work as a software developper for the biggest financial institution in the world (CLS bank). I earn about €4000 per month.

I have extremely left wing views and consider myself to be a Libertarian Communist as I believe the entire economy should be under the democratic control of the working class while civil liberties must be strongly protected. Although in the UK we have never had as large a Communist Party as in other European countries we do have a long history of working class movements and government policies followed between 1945 and 1979 made Britain one of the most equal countries in the world before Thatcher was elected. Since 1979 all this progress has been destroyed due to failed free market policies which doubled the number of people in poverty and increased the rate of child poverty from 1 in 10 to 1 in 3.

The people of Britain however are fed up with these far right policies which have been continued by Blair and his New Labour cronies and I believe a revival for the left is likely over the coming years. Already in Scotland there has been a massive growth in the Scottish Socialist Party (which I support) and it now has 6 seats in the Scottish Parliament. The left is also growing in other countries, especially in Latin America which now has 5 new Socialist presidents (Venezuala, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay), and also in western Europe where Communists recently doubled their share of the vote in Portugal and are again gaining support in France.
I'd like to think you are right but I feel that most right wingers (from all countries) are very fearful that social progress may cost them something. They seem to feel that evryone receiving any handout is sponging drectly off them. They seem to lack empathy and never spot that in a right wing state equality of opportunity is missing and so they actually create a situation where poverty is inevitable for many (whilst a few prosper).
If we equalise opportunity and reward people fairly for what they do people are happier and more likely to be satisfied with higher taxes imposed to support those who have failed (for whatever reason).
I always felt my binman should be paid more than minimum wage. I sit at this computer and get paid a lot for thinking! while he shovels shit for nothing!
Unfortunately this is all a pipe dream I fear. very few people will give to benifit their immediate neighbours while they're happy to send millions to strangers in Indonesia. Human nature is selfish.

I'm socailst. I appriciate that people aren't born with equel ability and/or intelligence, but I don't see that as a reason why anyone should be treated like a meaningless pawn. I'm quite opposed to communism, firstly because it demands classical democracy, which is ineffective and you will undoubtably end up with no democracy at all if you use it. Secondly because it destroys independent thinking, which is crucial to stop the goverment from becoming currupt and also in my own personal moral beliefs.
I'd like to see political parties forming closer links with trade unions, encourage politicians to value people more in terms of what they do for society, and not just the financial or socail status they happen to hold in it.
Some say socailism is a flawed systems. They're right. But it's less flawed than capitalism and a hell of a lot fairer.

Thank you for the quick responces everyone!
Being Socialists then do you see Communism as too iron-fisted for you?
Countries like the USSR, ex-Eastern Bloc , Cuba, North Korea as too extreme and not properly following Marx's ideals?

Well, I think we should make something clear here. the USSR and The Eastern Bloc, North Korea and China stopped being communist and started being authoritarian the moment they went against their people, by this I mean jailings, executions of civil rights activists and political opposition.

The Chinese 'People's Liberation Army' stopped being 'The People's Liberation Army' the moment they turned their guns on their own people seeking liberation in 1989 in Tianemen Square.

Anyone who says China is communist is uninformed. It sold it's red flag and it's people down the river a long time ago, and is now a rabid, capitalist nation with huge labour resources.

North Korea, again, not communist, but authoritarian nationalists.

Stalin, not a communist, a genocidal murderer will do.

Communist, Communism comes from the word 'Commune' where the idea was for a group of people, or a country to live in equality.

Communism in theory has a government that works for the people, not people who work for the government.

One can not say that countries such as North Korea are too iron fisted as communists, because quite simply, they are not communist.

Nazi was short for National Socialist Worker's Party in German. It did not mean they were socialists. A name does not mean it is.

In the spanish civil war, 'communists' betrayed Socialists and anarchists by blaming them for allying with Franco to try and boost their own member numbers to recruit away from socialists and anarchists, and Franco gained from the split in the alliance that faced him, and crushed the alliance.

Those communists were not communists, but authoritarians.

It is these people who betray the people they claim to represent, perhaps worse than imperialists, and capitalists in the sense that they seek to exploit the people while claiming to save them from it, and are the betrayers of the people and any revolution the people may have and are not communists.

so you are calling all republicans extremests?

Your words, not mine.

How many communists have jobs?


I'm a full time teacher.

I'm a full time teacher.

So am I. And a member of the party since 1979.

WThe Chinese 'People's Liberation Army' stopped being 'The People's Liberation Army' the moment they turned their guns on their own people seeking liberation in 1989 in Tianemen Square.

Anyone who says China is communist is uninformed. It sold it's red flag and it's people down the river a long time ago, and is now a rabid, capitalist nation with huge labour resources.

i think it was possibly much earlier, maybe in early 50s when the hundred flowers was enforced. as for china being a rabid capitalist nation, it sure is, mostly. it certainly isn't communist.

i think it was possibly much earlier, maybe in early 50s when the hundred flowers was enforced. as for china being a rabid capitalist nation, it sure is, mostly. it certainly isn't communist.

Agreed. Totally.

That's because conservatives are dumb.
I can't believe you just said that. If anything it's because conservatives are old!

My doctor is from Michigan, and she has John Kerry bumper stickers on her mini van. She told me that some jackass with a Confederate Flag bumper sticker pulled a gun on her at a traffic light. I wouldn't doubt it, either, because I've seen it happen.

Isn't Texas just wonderful?
Sh!t! Hasn't the guy ever heard of "freedom of political thought"?

Lots of communist parties who don't want to be associated with Stalinism call themselves socialists. The objective conditions don't allow for a huge numbers of revolutionaries todayin the western hemisphere at least. We have a communist Member of parliement in Ireland and four councillers who are genuine communists but they are in a party called the socialist party for reasons mentioned earlier.
You're Irish? Cool, me too. I didn't know that Joe Higgins was a communist. I thought he was a democratic socialist (in that he wants socialism through democracy, rather than revolution).