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[–] 3 points 11 months ago (9 children)

In a naive attempt to "meet everyone’s basic needs" sure, but in practice it would almost certainly end up enriching and entrenching a new ruling class, or collapsing under external pressure even if there are some early wins.

Many things sound simple from the outset. But tearing down and rebuilding an entire society isn’t something you do without significant (and often lethal) force and with plenty of intended and unintended casualties along the way (and there’s still a very good chance we'd screw it up).

If it's not "the good guys" wielding overwhelming force, it’ll be "the bad guys" stepping in. Every political system ultimately rests on the realistic threat/application of force; the only question is who controls it and how accountable they are.

I'm not inclined to trust anyone waving guns in my face, nor encourage situations that make that more likely. So, things would have to get a lot worse for me (and I'd venture most people) to want violent overthrow of my current (far from perfect) political and social system. That said ... at some point, for many people in many countries, it may be too late. Apathy isn't appropriate either.

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  • [–] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    You guys are talking about basic capitalism, right? You all understand that, don't you?

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  • [+] 2 points 11 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Are you trying to say that communism leads to a failed authoritarian state resembling the US in terms of income inequality? Do you have the same stats for wealth inequality too?

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  • [+] 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    I'd love to see a utopia, but I don't see communism making any sustainable inroads anywhere in the world... that is, unless things get much much worse, to the point that your average man is willing to pick up a pitchfork (or other weapon of choice) and participate in overthrowing ruling class by force.... but nowadays the masses are so divided and confused that they'll probably start killing each other for scraps of food rather than the billionaires for a life of dignity. Even then, it's just temporary until capitalism and/or authoritarianism takes hold again.

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  • [+] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    The USSR is dead and cold, replaced by an authoritarian warmongering machine. It had its moment in the spotlight, but it failed, and it failed its russian and former citizens.

    China promotes many good principles (in many ways so did the USA, cough cough), but it is heading in the wrong direction under Xi. It's Communism with a human exploitative flavour, with the occasional public fig leaf of justice. That said, it could offer an umbrella of security for some more interesting experiments in the years to come. Watch this space, I guess.

    Circling back to my original point, I maintain that communism isn't going to gain popular support so long as the only viable way to achieve it is through violence and oppression, and so long as it buckles so easily under the pressure of outside forces.

    I will continue voting and protesting for sensible left-leaning policies that promote fairness and well being for all, while steering clear of the extremists and simpletons who promote hate or explicitly or tacitly support genocides, wars of aggression, etc. The scales may tip enough one day to justify radical action, but not today - the risks of it going terribly wrong are too high.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (2 children)

    You always have this problem if you have people with concentrated power aka a “ruling class”

    Only way to prevent this is transparency and tools that the people of country can control the ruling class

    Very important for such a setup is, that politics, media, law enforcement and courts are separated and controlling each other

    And that private companies are not allowed to fuck with the system

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    I couldn't agree more. Although I'll add that education and basic health/social support is also needed for long term stability, or large swathes of the population will be manipulated by fear and dis/misinformation, and will likely end up voting against their own interests. Social cohesion is important, which is why it is used as a weapon by nation states and other political actors.

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