Why do people still believe in Communism?

Economics Political Theory
1

It’s shocking, really. To think that there are people who actually worship Marx, Stalin, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez et al. People who think that China, Cuba, and the Soviet empire were actually successful systems compared to the United States.

I can forgive the true-believing Utopian socialist who looks at the horrors of 20th-century communism and says “well, that is not true socialism!” But that some people can look at real, historical Communism–and think it is something to emulate–is worse than Hitler.*

I can only think of one reason why somebody would think communism works:

They’ve never lived under it.

*Just look at the history; Hitler’s death toll pales in comparison to that of Communist governments.

2

Ignorance.

3

I would say it’s very similar to asking why many of us still believe there will ever be a significant difference towards the better end of the spectrum of authoritarianism vs. libertarianism.

It’s a nice thing to believe in and having something to believe in is better than having nothing to believe in.

4

They’ve never lived with it is one thing, but there’s also another factor: if “it” will allow them to personally benefit in some way in the form of free handouts, government guarantees, and so on they don’t have a problem with it. (Of course they just think they’re getting something for free.)

They also have no problem starting off sentences “The government should force people to…”, so they are lacking in basic morals. [:P]

5

Some of them believe that they will be part of the new political class, others just don’t care to be slaves as long they have secured healthcare, education and food.

I know, I’ve met many of both.

6

What do you mean?

7

  1. They’re failures, and instead of blaming themselves, they blame the evil system. Kind of like, “Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.”

  2. Schumpeter was right when he said that the intellectual elite would grow jealous of the entrepreneurial elite.

  3. They believe that Earth can be forcefully turned into paradise.

  4. They feel that equal results is better than equal opportunity.

  5. It’s really easy to understand.

  6. They have the altruistic moral high ground.

  7. Politicians really like the idea of having complete control.

  8. Businessmen are always looking for government protection.

There are more reasons.

8

That they will be in charge of society and the rest of us… at least that’s what they think.

9

I see that in a lot of college students who voted for Obama. I’m not sure what is worst, someone who uses the state for his own benefit, or someone who uses the state for the supposed good of everyone.

10

What’s the difference?

11

One’s an egotist, one’s a utilitarian.

12

One’s egotists and the other’s altruistic; neither are truly utilitarian, since it means the complete destruction of society. But my point was that people decide what’s “best” for society by their own subjective understanding of the world, and as such, they believe that what’s best for them is best for everyone. So the only real difference would be that one has successfully lied to himself, while the other doesn’t bother.

13

There are many flavors of utilitarianism that are socially “destructive”.

While I don’t disagree that people are egoistically driven, putting other’s physical comfort before your as a show of alturism own is categorically different to simply persuing self-interest. Most Obamites are genuinely ignorant of the destructive nature their political preference has (as are most people obsessed in electoral politics) and believe they are establishing better circumstance for those less ‘fortunate’ than themselves. It’s a load of shit, but it’s a stretch to lable them as being self-centered or willfully ignorant of that fact.

14

There are people who still believe in the power of the Constitution. We all have our utopian beliefs.

15

Lots of fail in this thread.

I support Communism because it’s in my own self interest, beleive it or not. In a communist system I can work less and still maintain the same approximate standard of living because I won’t be working to enrich some fat bastard.

Fire away…

16

I support Communism because i am ignorant, beleive it or not. In a communist system I can work harder and not maintain anything close to the same approximate standard of living because I won’t have access to the structure of production or be able to benefit from the division of labour. I dont understand anything about economics so I dont even feel foolish.

17

Ama gi, it is only because they think they will be the dictatorial class, it has nothing to do EVER with what is good for people, they just fool pawns like jackie boy down there to be the “altruist” of communism, it is ALWAYS about the Dictatorship of the Party, not about the benefit on society…

18

Why? You just admitted that you’re jealous and want everything handed to you on a silver platter. You’ve done a bang-up job of firing on yourself.

19

True, because others will be forced to take up the slack for your lazy ass…

Funny, who will be paying you if it is not “some fat bastard”?

What happens, and this is key to remember Jackie-boy, is that the “communists” steal from EVERYONE, not the rich, everyone, and hand out benefits based on what they are willing to give, if you replace the “fat bastard” capitalist with the “Fat Bastard” communist, the only difference is the communist can imprison you, shoot you or legally punish you in a myriad of ways for not cooperating, the capitalist can only seek a new employee…

20

… Then you should practice communism together with some other people that think like you[Y].