Know The Enemy - Communism

[Gabriel Suarez]

Time for school.

Today boys and girls, we will discuss communism, and why it remains as the greatest threat to humanity.

First some history and definitions.Communism (from Latin "communis" - common) is a revolutionary movement that seeks to create a classless and moneyless social order structured upon common ownership of production, the means of production, as well as the profits from that production. The men most associated with communism are Marx, and Lenin.

Communism significantly influenced the history of the 20th century, which saw intense rivalry between the "socialist world" (socialist states ruled by communist parties) and the "western world" (countries with capitalist economies).

Communist philosophy holds that pure communism is a specific stage of historical development that inevitably emerges from the development of the productive forces that leads to a superabundance of material wealth. That allows for distribution based on need. "From each according to their ability and to each according to their need".

Communism has been always associated with the Soviet Union. Since the fall of the USSR, many Americans have erroneously believed that communism fell as well. But today, the communist philosophy remains, draped with the more acceptable and "less Russian" names of "socialism", "liberalism", and now "progressivism".

It is interesting to note that Marxist theory contends that socialism is just a transitional stage on the road to communism. Leninism adds the notion of a vanguard party to lead the proletarian revolution and to secure all political power after the revolution for the working class. This usually means elimination of firearms in the hands of the public, confiscation of wealth, nationalization of industry, and indoctrination of the young...as well as executing any resistance. My family and I lived through this in Cuba.

If one examines any country that has been communist...or pseudo-communist, one will eventually see a failed state. The USSR failed, as has every other communist state. The current economic debacles in Europe are due to socialist (pseudo-communist) economic policies.

The reason why communism does not work are as follows.

1). Create a classless social order. That is not possible because even though it may sound harsh, we are not all equal. Some people are smarter than others. Some people are stronger than others. And some people are more clever than others. Those that are will naturally prosper more than the less prepared. As well, some people have a better work ethic than others.

What communism wants to do is to force "those who can" to carry "those who won't". Eventually "those who can" either get tired of being enslaved due to their talent and stop working, or simply leave to a non-communist region where they can profit from their abilities.

2). Create a moneyless social order. Money is what drives everything. It has been that way from the age of Mesopotamia and is that way today. It is why countries go to war (and you thought it was for "freedom" I will bet), it is why people get up in the morning and go to school or work. The hope for a better life and the creation of wealth is what drives a modern and prosperous society. Communism kills that hope by stifling creativity and drive so that the lazy will not feel overshadowed by the capable.

3). Common ownership of production, the means of production, as well as the profits from that production. They did that in Cuba. They made communist janitors in charge of state Agriculture. They made communist "academics" in charge of the banks. And they made communist housewives that were good friends with some general's wife, in charge of education.

The ignorant, the incapable, the untrained and the unskilled cannot succeed at anything, in spite of how much Marx, Castro, or any other communist leader wants them to.

Communism festered in Cuba and erupted into a revolution that was eventually successful. But communism is not always brought to power as a result of a violent Lenin-esque revolution. It is as often brought to power in a cancerous Marxist spread that may take several generations to be realized.

[Lawrence]

Well said, Gabe.

Today there are more socialists in California than in China. There are more "progressives" in Washington D.C. than in Moscow.

[ERN]

http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Still-Trust-Communists/dp/0936163194/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

Read it, know it. I understood communism more after this read than I ever learned in school. Gabe pretty much summarizes it very well.

[michael]

Excellent thoughts Gabe, and it is exactly where we are at today.

On a side note, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged part II is available on DVD now, and her book "Anthem" is free on Amazon.

[Invisible_Man]

Also important to understand is how Communism gains support. They appeal to ignorant fools with the promise of money and prosperity but get only chains and suffering instead.

This is a story as old as the Garden of Eden.

[temposhot]

All I can say is when I read Mig Pilot, about Victor Belenko's defection from the Soviet Union, it opened my 12 year old mind to the evil of communism. Belenko made a statement that has stuck with me for decades. He made the decision to defect and decided that if the United States was as bad as the Communists said it was, he could kill himself. That REALLY messed me up.

My wife was born under the old Communist regime, and my mother-in-law talks about having to fight the 'Battle of the Harvest' while pregnant because the People's mechanic was not keeping the People's tractor running. Nothing like finding that garbage out to make you excited about 'going to Socialism' as one of the guys I used to fence with gushed in 2008 when Dear Leader was elected.

It's going to be entertaining to see how happy people are when they find out just how 'good' things are when the state takes care of everything for them.

Scott

[Al Lipscomb]

I would encourage the study of Fascism as well. While there are differences in Communism and Fascism, in many ways they are two sides of the same coin. In days gone by the Fascists, Socialists and Communists would fight to the death over who was going get to "save the people." No matter which group ultimately gains control the people always lose.

[Gabriel Suarez]

Fascism is as bad, quite so. But Fascism is not as much a concern for us today, in America, in 2013. We don't see many fascists in power these days. Sadly the same cannot be said for communists.

[bmp_sbi]

I would encourage the study of Fascism as well. While there are differences in Communism and Fascism, in many ways they are two sides of the same coin. In days gone by the Fascists, Socialists and Communists would fight to the death over who was going get to "save the people." No matter which group ultimately gains control the people always lose.

Hitler portrayed the Nazis as Nationalist Socialist...but the were really Fascist.

What none of the communists can come to grips with is the fact that people want to feel like their labor or the product they produce is valued. If I have the same incentive to be an unskilled laborer as to be a doctor why would I ever become a doctor? Where is the incentive to develop new technology if not for profit motive? How many great inventions do you see coming out of communist countries versus capitalist countries?

Mao found out quick that when you take away the profit motive the only incentive is at the end of a club or the barrel of a gun. Read about china's famine from 1958-1962 and you will find out what communism can really do to you.....it can take EVERYTHING....including your life. The chinese confiscated doorknobs, pots and pans, hinges, hand tools, etc in order to be able to increase steel exports...think about that.... A cop coming door to door and beating you with a stick if you dont give up the doorknob on your door....thats communism. They beat people to death over stealing a sweet potato or a handful of rice out of the fields.

Everyone should read about Mao, Pol Pot, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Che, Tito etc. Its good to know about our past history, the founding fathers, the constitution etc....but if you want to see where we are headed you need to read the histories of the socialist and communist countries and their leaders. Our Constitution and Framers are used as a punchline by the left. If more people knew where the left came from there would be alot more for them to have to account for in the political arena.
They say if you dont know history you are doomed to repeat it. If you dont know the history of communism you are doomed to live it.

[Al Lipscomb]

In a way we do. Obamacare is a form of Fascism (as noted by Whole Foods CEO John Mackey). The government does not own the hospitals, they just "make the trains run on time" by regulating them. Not to nit-pick it as effectively the result will be the same.

The only reason I bring it up is that it represents a means to the end for those who would drag us down. The study of one helps to understand the other. Fascism, Leninist Communism, Stalinist Communism, Maoist Communism and all the "isms" are all attempts at bringing equal prosperity to all. Which ultimately means the lowest common denominator. Not all can earn a BMW so it is a Yugo for all.

[Liberty or Death]

Well said, Gabe.

Today there are more socialists in California than in China. There are more "progressives" in Washington D.C. than in Moscow.

:laugh:How ironic and true.

May I humbly suggest that everyone here read, or re-read, Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archeipelago.

It's not only a history lesson, it also reads like current event.

[TrojanSkyCop1]

All I can say is when I read Mig Pilot, about Victor Belenko's defection from the Soviet Union, it opened my 12 year old mind to the evil of communism. Belenko made a statement that has stuck with me for decades. He made the decision to defect and decided that if the United States was as bad as the Communists said it was, he could kill himself. That REALLY messed me up.

My wife was born under the old Communist regime, and my mother-in-law talks about having to fight the 'Battle of the Harvest' while pregnant because the People's mechanic was not keeping the People's tractor running. Nothing like finding that garbage out to make you excited about 'going to Socialism' as one of the guys I used to fence with gushed in 2008 when Dear Leader was elected.

It's going to be entertaining to see how happy people are when they find out just how 'good' things are when the state takes care of everything for them.

Scott

--Hey tempshot,

Remember this thread from the summer of 2011? I see that you posted a comment in it:

http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?89749-quot-MiG-Pilot-the-Final-Escape-of-Lieutenant-Belenko-quot-by-John-Barron&highlight=


And to re-iterate something I'd said in that original thread:




And thinking to the spirit of the Warrior Bon Vivant that Gabe and other fellow WTers talk about, it's worth noting that Lt. Belenko made his defection to the U.S. in 1976, a year of relative economic doldrums in this country (hell, that's the year Jimmy freakin' Carter was elected, for crying out loud), yet he still marvelled at our nation's prosperity, and at how ordinary middle- and working-class Americans could easily afford quality goods and services that would have been expensive luxuries to Soviet MiG pilots....something that the whiny-ass, ingrateful pampered-ass liberal bitches in our society would be well-advised to ponder.

[Netpackrat]

One thing I would add to the initial post in this thread, is that communists worldwide have killed well over 100 million people in the name of their ideology over the course of the last 100 years.

[paranoid]

Look around the globe at the communist socialist countries, even in their current failing or failed condition, the powers that be are still in power which is all they want to begin with. More control.
Cuba.. North Korea...the rulers don't care that their countries and people are in despair. Why should they? They have millions. A declining economy and a declining people doesn't matter.

[bmp_sbi]

I think Lenin coined the phrase "useful idiots".

The problem we have is that they want to grind down capitalism piece by piece. They wont come out and say that they want to institute communism overnight...that would be too drastic. They just grind away....a little at a time.... till you wake up one morning and you realize you are late for the bread line at the state sponsored canteen....

[Liberty or Death]

I think Lenin coined the phrase "useful idiots".

The problem we have is that they want to grind down capitalism piece by piece. They wont come out and say that they want to institute communism overnight...that would be too drastic. They just grind away....a little at a time.... till you wake up one morning and you realize you are late for the bread line at the state sponsored canteen....

Excellent observation.


How does one forestall this? Put Them on the defensive.

Make Them squander Their resources boxing at shadows and sow discord among their ranks.

Muslims, gays, ghetto homies, and white liberals have cultural faultlines. Exploit those and foment disorder within their ranks to buy us breathing space.

[jsheedy41]

Everyone should read about Mao, Pol Pot, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Che, Tito etc. Its good to know about our past history, the founding fathers, the constitution etc....but if you want to see where we are headed you need to read the histories of the socialist and communist countries and their leaders. Our Constitution and Framers are used as a punchline by the left. If more people knew where the left came from there would be alot more for them to have to account for in the political arena.
They say if you dont know history you are doomed to repeat it. If you dont know the history of communism you are doomed to live it.


I'm writing my senior thesis on the Cambodian Genocide as I type this. Seriously considering posting it to WT once I'm finished.

The stuff that went on in "Democratic Kampuchea" is considered by many historians to be the purest expression of communism and collectivist ideology. This also demonstrates why it is also the most horrifying. Not only due to body count, but also due to its paranoid, schizophrenic, ultra-nationalist characteristics.

Thankfully, Pol Pot and all the various lieutenants of the Khmer Rouge and the CPK currently occupy "the special Hell". Good riddance.

[Invisible_Man]

I'm writing my senior thesis on the Cambodian Genocide as I type this. Seriously considering posting it to WT once I'm finished.

The stuff that went on in "Democratic Kampuchea" is considered by many historians to be the purest expression of communism and collectivist ideology. This also demonstrates why it is also the most horrifying. Not only due to body count, but also due to its paranoid, schizophrenic, ultra-nationalist characteristics.

Thankfully, Pol Pot and all the various lieutenants of the Khmer Rouge and the CPK currently occupy "the special Hell". Good riddance.

I'd sure want to read it when you are finished.

[Dr_Dave]

L can hardly wait until the intellectuals find out they will be the first targets. Remember the red guard in China.

[Jesuvuah]

This reminds me of my past weekend. I had to spend time with my brother in law again. Useless idiot for the most part, and as long as he keeps his mouth shut I can tolerate him. But as usual he opened his mouth and complained about how conservatives call him a communists, then in his next sentence says "you know socialism is not a bad idea"........now you know why people call you a commie.

[Al Lipscomb]

One thing I would add to the initial post in this thread, is that communists worldwide have killed well over 100 million people in the name of their ideology over the course of the last 100 years.

In the Russian Church it is said that there were more Martyrs from Stalin than in all the years before.

Those SOBs may want to disarm us but they would have no issue paying thugs to do their dirty work. In these cases it is good to be feared.

[Gabriel Suarez]

Those SOBs may want to disarm us.

To them: "Get used to disappointment".

[Al Lipscomb]

To them: "Get used to disappointment".

Amen!

28889

[Liberty or Death]

Communists are evl but they are not stupid.

A quote from Machiavelli: "Therefore a wise prince will seek means by which his subjects
will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him."

What Nicolo did not elaborate was which socio-economic caste could be exploited as Useful Idiots for said stratagem. Well, we can fill in the blanks by profiling and noting the observable behavior of certain voting blocs, no?

[bmp_sbi]

Excellent observation.


How does one forestall this? Put Them on the defensive.

Make Them squander Their resources boxing at shadows and sow discord among their ranks.

Muslims, gays, ghetto homies, and white liberals have cultural faultlines. Exploit those and foment disorder within their ranks to buy us breathing space.

Thats a good strategy.

[P.D.]

About the only thing Gabe left off was that Communism is the most corrupt political system known to man.

It is also a Godless, atheistic system in which the State takes the place of God.