Communism.

[Froberg]

Why can't it work, in a simplified sense?

Make everything owned by the government.

That way various companies could run perfectly fine without making a profit, thus lowering the cost for the end-consumer.

There'd be no lay-offs because it's in the governments interest to keep as many people employed as possible, to increase the standard of living for everyone.

This way everyone benefits, but steps would be taken to avoid the basic flaws in communism.. E.g. people can prosper via. a government that has everyone's best interest at heart. The way things are now, corporations set the daily agenda.
Look at it this way. Oil companies owned by a private corporation, or by the government?

The government would be more worried about the environment, and they would only need to make so much profit that they could keep the company going.
There'd be more room for development in other areas of alternative energy, because there'd be no corporate pressure on the government.

Thoughts?

[Pingree]

The reason why Communism doesn't work properly is because some power hungry tosser always comes along and dictates to people what they can and cannot do, he elevates himself thus negating the point of eveyone being equal.

What WE need is a leader who is leader in title only, but just has equal as everyone else, no special treatment.

Bahness, it'll happen one day, Karl Marx predicted Prolitariat uprising of Capitalism, turning to Socialism and then PROPER communism, in which the world will be a better place.

[NukeTheEmus]

Why can't it work?

On a large scale it can't work because capitalism is going to implode upon itself before communism ever has the chance to ride capitalism to workability.

Mao and Lenin didn't create a communist state. They prematurely ejaculated, and possibly ruined the already infitismal chance for state-less communism.

[Rogue9]

The reason it can't work in large groups is that humans are naturally competative and it breaks down in the long run because people will tire of working without the chance of reward. Now communisim can work in certain, small groups. Take religious orders like nuns or a monistary. Communisim works there because their work is all directed to their faith.

[Froberg]

But if it's for the betterment of everyone??

Naturally jobs that are more stressful, or requires longer hours would pay a bit more than the garbage man, but all businesses would still be owned and run by the state.

That's fair wage for fair work.

If you risk stress, you get paid a wee bit more.

[Siege101]

It doesnt work because like Rogue said little chance of advancement and rewards. Even if its for the good of humanity to make it work you would have to brainwash people. I mean we woud essentually be living like ants and acting as drones. I mean it would be alot like the movie Antz.

[Ozafy]

Cuba's still doing it nicely. if the US would stop the damn embargo they would florish even more.

But it's a complete utopia to think it can work (over a longer period then a certain persons lifetime), because like pingree said, there's allways some bastard that fucks it up in the end (Stalin?).

Same will happen to Cuba once Fidel dies.

I still believe the best way to lead a country is with a good dictator, but there's allways the problem when he/she dies.

The only method that kind of works and gives equal chances to most of the population is democracy. But not the kind that the US uses (where 51% of votes = all power), but the kind most of europe uses (% votes = % power), Although the biggest problem of that system is when the power shifts, they change back everything the others did the few years before.

[Rogue9]

Problem is that I haven't seen a country run pure communisim even from the start. You really need people behind a centralized faith/belief/goal, and that never happens in large groups. It's not about someone coming along and fucking it up, it's the fact that it's doomed for failure from the start.

[Primate]

The reason why Communism doesn't work properly is because some power hungry tosser always comes along and dictates to people what they can and cannot do, he elevates himself thus negating the point of eveyone being equal.
Indeed.

Communism works perfectly, until some corrupt moron wants moer than everyone else. That's the great thing about capitalism, it thrives on corruption.

[Rogue9]

Again, you don't need someone come by and 'ruin' communisim. It's doomed to fail as soon as you try unless you have a strong religious belief among the people.

[Ozafy]

It's doomed to fail because people are selfish pricks (me included). we don't want to sacrifice our wealth for others (sure we donate 5$ a month to charity to feel good, but that's it).

[Pingree]

Heh.

The first step would be to abolish 'currency' as we know it.

:mad:

[Froberg]

Not sure about that.

But if everyone had a pretty nice salary, and higher requirement jobs paid just a bit more it would be fair for everyone.

Nobody would own a company, except the government, so everyone would be on the payroll.

[Siege101]

Nobody would own a company, except the government, so everyone would be on the payroll.
That sucks because they would own a monopoly on it. So much for looking elsewhere to find a cheaper product. For example some places sell DVDs for 25.95 and others 19.95. Others sell them for for cheaper.

[Pingree]

Not sure about that.

But if everyone had a pretty nice salary, and higher requirement jobs paid just a bit more it would be fair for everyone.

Nobody would own a company, except the government, so everyone would be on the payroll.

AS WE KNOW IT KOBE!

Not get rid of it!

:rock:

[Froberg]

Nobody would own a company, except the government, so everyone would be on the payroll.
That sucks because they would own a monopoly on it. So much for looking elsewhere to find a cheaper product. For example some places sell DVDs for 25.95 and others 19.95. Others sell them for for cheaper.

Yeah, but look at the benefits.

You'll get a higher salary because noone is out there skimming all the profits with a 2 billion a minute income.

Improved life-standards for everyone... except the ones who are filthy rich already.

[Pingree]

Companies shouldn't be allowed to make all the profit they do these days, it never gets spent, therefore whats the point of having it?

It's wasted money that could be distributed round the world and make everyones quality of life far better, it'll solve a hell of a lot of problems as well.

Stupid corporate tits.

[nightwalker83]

[quote="Pingree"]The reason why Communism doesn't work properly is because some power hungry tosser always comes along and dictates to people what they can and cannot do, he elevates himself thus negating the point of eveyone being equal.[quote]

Yeah But that could happen with anything not just communism. There are some good ideas for Communism though, like childcare, etc.