What would a true communist society/country look like?

[Coito ergo sum]

Communism can only, and will only, ever degenerate in to fascism.

capitalism is more likely to develop into fascism than communism ever would, A fascists worst enemy is a communist.

Huh - and some pro-communists I've talked to have tried to tell me that Stalinist Russia really wasn't communist, but fascist....lol. All depends who one talks to, I guess.

[Coito ergo sum]

The idea of communism is great, it just fails to account for people.

Here it is again.... "the idea of communism is great..."

What's so "great" about the idea?

It sounds completely horrible to me. I mean, "from each according to his ability, and to each according to his need?" That's a wretched concept. It doesn't matter what you WANT to do, it just matters what you are ABLE to do and what the collective tells you to do. We don't need anymore computer programmers, so you will make bricks. We don't need any more actors or writers, so you will work farm machinery. You will do what you are "able" to do, and what you are able to do is not determined by you the individual, but by the State. And, what is your need? The State will tell you what you "need," and it may not include the foods you like, the consumer goods you feel are reasonable. What you "need" to survive and produce according to your "ability" is far less than what you likely have available to you now.

And, if you work harder and are more capable than your neighbor - doesn't matter. You only get what you need. So, you may not even get the same as someone else. Someone else may be less able and more needy, and they get more for doing less. And, you have to sit there and take it, and you have no right to make a better life for yourself.

That's the "idea" that's so "great?"

[Trolldor]

Nonsense.

[Coito ergo sum]

Nonsense.

Really? How is "need" and "ability" determined, if not by someone other than the individual?

Are you suggesting that everyone can freely choose, in a communist society, to accept everything they "need" and only give back what they WANT to give back?

The basic concept - as stated by Marx - is "from each according to his ability" and "to each according to his need." Right?

Does that mean "from each according to his willingness to give," and "to each according his reasonable desires," does it?

Please - elaborate. Can you tell me something more than "nonsense?" What is so great about it?

[Trolldor]

..you really don't think do you?

It doesn't work because someone always, inevitably, takes control.

But, if you could avoid that little bit of latent fascism, why would anybody be incapable of doing what they wanted if they have the ability to do so?

[Coito ergo sum]

..you really don't think do you?

It doesn't work because someone always, inevitably, takes control.

But, if you could avoid that little bit of latent fascism, why would anybody be incapable of doing what they wanted if they have the ability to do so?

You're missing it.

"why would anybody be INCAPABLE of doing what they wanted if they have the ability to do so?"

They wouldn't be INCAPABLE. They wouldn't be PERMITTED.

Answer me this: what if someone doesn't want to work at all? Some guy is just damn lazy. Wants to stay home. Can he? After all, why not? He is going to get what he "needs" no matter what, right? Well, you may say that he only gets what he needs "if" he contributes to his ability. Fair enough. What's his "ability?" What if he says he's not "able" to do anything? Does he get to decide that? If not, who does decide what he's able to do?

When you answer the question of who decides whether that guy is "able" to anything, and what he is "able" to do, it should be clear to you why the "idea" of communism is not at all "great."

[Coito ergo sum]

..you really don't think do you?

This kind of personal attack is unnecessary. Frankly, you don't come across very bright at all.

See how productive that is?

[Trolldor]

Once again, why would anybody be incapable of doing what they wanted?

You seem to completely miss the fact that there would be no dictatorial authority.
Permission has nothing to do with it.

[Trolldor]

..you really don't think do you?

This kind of personal attack is unnecessary. Frankly, you don't come across very bright at all.

See how productive that is?

I happen to think it's rather productive, if only because it evokes hilarious self-defeating replies like yours.

[Coito ergo sum]

Once again, why would anybody be incapable of doing what they wanted?

You seem to completely miss the fact that there would be no dictatorial authority.
Permission has nothing to do with it.

Then who decides what an individual's "ability" is?

Who decides what an individual's "need" is?

[Trolldor]

Who decides it now?

[Coito ergo sum]

..you really don't think do you?

This kind of personal attack is unnecessary. Frankly, you don't come across very bright at all.

See how productive that is?

I happen to think it's rather productive, if only because it evokes hilarious self-defeating replies like yours.

You would, since you have a limited ability to think beyond the surface of an issue. If your posts are an indication of your chess-playing ability, you think zero moves ahead.

[PsychoSerenity]

Answer me this: what if someone doesn't want to work at all? Some guy is just damn lazy. Wants to stay home. Can he?

Why would he want to? He wouldn't be making very many friends that way.

[Trolldor]

Hah.
How deep it goes...

[Coito ergo sum]

Who decides it now?

Why do you evade the question?

I'll be happy to answer you: the individual decides.

Care to answer now?