Why Isn't Communism Viewed As Negatively as Nazism?

[pErvinalia]

Yebbut that's not real capitalism. If only it was freed from government distortion...

[JimC]

Surely the difference is simple. Nazism entails eugenics and ethnic cleansing. It's written into its doctrine. In the writings of Hitler.

There's nothing in any tracts by Marx which promote killing people. Lots of people were killed because of it, but it didn't necessarily follow from the doctrine. Same with capitalism. Millions have died, been enslaved, had their countries taken over by proxy governments and their resources robbed, been displaced, had their water and air poisoned, and as capitalism continues to ignore the environment and seek infinite growth in a finite space for the benefit of the few, we can expect climate catastrophe, possibly leading to extinction.

So the real question is why capitalism viewed as negatively as Communism, or any other failed doctrine which started with good intentions?

It may not have been part of the doctrine, but putting it into practice has always depended on a ruthless application of "the ends justifying the means", and so I would say that the deaths were not just incidental...

[Animavore]

Surely the difference is simple. Nazism entails eugenics and ethnic cleansing. It's written into its doctrine. In the writings of Hitler.

There's nothing in any tracts by Marx which promote killing people. Lots of people were killed because of it, but it didn't necessarily follow from the doctrine. Same with capitalism. Millions have died, been enslaved, had their countries taken over by proxy governments and their resources robbed, been displaced, had their water and air poisoned, and as capitalism continues to ignore the environment and seek infinite growth in a finite space for the benefit of the few, we can expect climate catastrophe, possibly leading to extinction.

So the real question is why capitalism viewed as negatively as Communism, or any other failed doctrine which started with good intentions?

It may not have been part of the doctrine, but putting it into practice has always depended on a ruthless application of "the ends justifying the means", and so I would say that the deaths were not just incidental...

Are we talking about Communism or capitalism here?

[JimC]

Surely the difference is simple. Nazism entails eugenics and ethnic cleansing. It's written into its doctrine. In the writings of Hitler.

There's nothing in any tracts by Marx which promote killing people. Lots of people were killed because of it, but it didn't necessarily follow from the doctrine. Same with capitalism. Millions have died, been enslaved, had their countries taken over by proxy governments and their resources robbed, been displaced, had their water and air poisoned, and as capitalism continues to ignore the environment and seek infinite growth in a finite space for the benefit of the few, we can expect climate catastrophe, possibly leading to extinction.

So the real question is why capitalism viewed as negatively as Communism, or any other failed doctrine which started with good intentions?

It may not have been part of the doctrine, but putting it into practice has always depended on a ruthless application of "the ends justifying the means", and so I would say that the deaths were not just incidental...

Are we talking about Communism or capitalism here?

Communism, at least as it was applied in the 20th century. And yes, I take your point about the human cost of capitalism in a variety of ways...

[Scot Dutchy]

Capitalism never had good intentions. It was a name for pure greed at all cost.

[laklak]

Greed is good.

But only the right kind of greed. Greed for he Love and Forgiveness of Our Lord and Savior.

[Scot Dutchy]

Yes lak

[JimC]

You are greedy, I am quite appropriately looking after my own interests...

[pErvinalia]

I'm being altruistic, because my greed is good for everyone!

[Svartalf]

I am the altruistic one, because I'm such a big spender that my greed trickles down as soon as money comes in

[Brian Peacock]

Whenever a rich man spends a penny it trickles down onto the poor.

[laklak]

I used to be altruistic, untill I realized there wasn't anything in it for me.

[Forty Two]

Capitalism never had good intentions. It was a name for pure greed at all cost.

Capitalism is the name for an economic system in which property and the means of productions are largely held in private hands - like, by you, me, and other people who are allowed to own stuff and to sell that stuff and/or our services for prices we are willing accept to people who are willing to buy it. It's not "greed" to have a room or house and not be willing to rent it. It's also not "greed" to have a room or house and not be willing to rent it unless it is at a price one finds agreeable.

Capitalism recognizes the dignity and moral goodness of humans by the fact that it allows people to largely self-organize, rather than be wholly subject to the dictates of others. It recognizes the preferable nature of voluntary transactions.

[pErvinalia]

The profit motive is pretty much definitionally greed.

[Forty Two]

Not in the least. I mean, the profit motive recognizes your right to be paid for your time and effort in doing something. If you buy a barn full of widgets, and you have to go through the trouble of marketing them, and selling and shipping, and managing a business to handle those widgets, don't you get to make money for doing that? Or do you just have to break even, so after all your trouble, you have nothing?