Difference between communism and socialism

Thoughts_Arrive

Could somebody please explain this to me?
I have looked online and am still confused.
My recent reading of Animal Farm has led me to look into communism vs capitalism vs socialism.

Leezestarr313

Socialism strives to get the greater good for everyone. According to Marx, it is the step that comes before communism.
I grew up in East Germany, and I have to say I do not really connote super cool experiences with life in a socialist country. However, living in a capitalist country is not the best either. It is weird and scary to see everything driven by greed.

The people who say people like Bernie Sanders are socialist in my opinion don't get it. Being social does not mean being a socialist. But that is just my understanding of things.
Be more social! It is fun and rewarding!

Thoughts_Arrive

Thanks Leezestar.
Yeah I see major flaws in capitalism as well as communism.
I was thinking I prefer a more democratic social way.
I just want to know where I stand and it's not with a capitalist and communist system.
I have read that socialism is communism light.

ldent42

FWIW, I think Bernie is a Democratic Socialist. But that's 4 too many syllables for a headline.

tempo_n_groove

Socialism for example is public schools, welfare and social security. This is all a goal towards the greater good.

Communism everyone is equal and makes the same. No one is better than each other. The Stock Markets are controlled by the government, unions make workers equal.

Capitalism is based on a free market. You get what you put in.

There will be better examples of this for sure but this will get the conversation going.

Thoughts_Arrive

tempo_n_groove said:

Socialism for example is public schools, welfare and social security. This is all a goal towards the greater good.

Communism everyone is equal and makes the same. No one is better than each other. The Stock Markets are controlled by the government, unions make workers equal.

Capitalism is based on a free market. You get what you put in.

There will be better examples of this for sure but this will get the conversation going.

Here in Australia we have public schools, welfare, social security so what is Australia? A capitalist country with socialist traits?

tempo_n_groove

Thoughts_Arrive said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Socialism for example is public schools, welfare and social security. This is all a goal towards the greater good.

Communism everyone is equal and makes the same. No one is better than each other. The Stock Markets are controlled by the government, unions make workers equal.

Capitalism is based on a free market. You get what you put in.

There will be better examples of this for sure but this will get the conversation going.

Here in Australia we have public schools, welfare, social security so what is Australia? A capitalist country with socialist traits?

America has them too which is funny when people start complaining about "socialism" and new candidates that promote them.

brianlux

ldent42 said:

FWIW, I think Bernie is a Democratic Socialist. But that's 4 too many syllables for a headline.

Exactly, and yet so many of us have tried to get that point across, but the media won't acknowledge it (drumming fingers on desk). It's like sticking you head in a mail box and yelling. All it does is make your ears ring more.

davidtrios

Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour.
Communism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then gives you some milk.

InHiding80

davidtrios said:

Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour.
Communism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then gives you some milk.

Sean Hannity is not a civics teacher. Regret your Brietbart U degree yet?

mookeywrench

davidtrios said:

Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour.
Communism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then gives you some milk.

Capitalism: You have two cows. You can keep the cows, you can give them to the government, you can give them to your neighbor, you can give milk to your neighbor, you can give the cows to a private business, you can start your own business using the cows.

brianlux

I don't digest cow dairy for crap. Anybody here got goats?

hedonist

brianlux said:

I don't digest cow dairy for crap. Anybody here got goats?

I do! In an inanimate, unusual yet utterly endearing form.

(please don't ask me to explain )

brianlux

hedonist said:

brianlux said:

I don't digest cow dairy for crap. Anybody here got goats?

I do! In an inanimate, unusual yet utterly endearing form.

(please don't ask me to explain )

I won't pry but I will admit to having a plastic goat that's about three of four inched high by about 6 inches long that lives on the top of the medicine cabinet. The inside of his ears are pink so I'm pretty sure he's a pinko communist (or has been messing around in the Pepto Bismol).

davidtrios

you dirty little goats
stop supporting failed economic theories!

brianlux

davidtrios said:

you dirty little goats
stop supporting failed economic theories!

Dirty, musty and randy as hell goats! I think I'll start a band and call it Dirty Goats!
"Ba-a-a-a-a-a-d to the bone!"

rgambs

davidtrios said:

you dirty little goats
stop supporting failed economic theories!

Trickle down economics??

When Trump says "Make America Great Again" he is talking about taking the country back to it's strongest days...when we had more democratic socialism. You know, the 50's and 60's, before warmongering, corporate tax cuts, and conservative dogma weakened unions and the economy.
History, facts, they really do make conservatism a struggle, don't they?

davidtrios

rgambs said:

davidtrios said:

you dirty little goats
stop supporting failed economic theories!

Trickle down economics??

When Trump says "Make America Great Again" he is talking about taking the country back to it's strongest days...when we had more democratic socialism. You know, the 50's and 60's, before warmongering, corporate tax cuts, and conservative dogma weakened unions and the economy.
History, facts, they really do make conservatism a struggle, don't they?

trickle down is just as flawed as socialism and communism
so just calm your tits!

what dreams

I recommend investing (capitalism) in copy of Marx's Communist Manifestoto answer your question, or go to the public library to check one out (socialism). None of the above answers accurately depict what Marx envisioned in his theory, nor has there ever been a communist system on this planet to date. In a truly Marxist system, there is no government. None of the governments we fought in the Cold War were communist governments -- the USSR itself was a socialist republic (government owned the means of production). In a purely communist system, there is no such thing as ownership at all, whether it's by the government or by individuals. In theory, people work, they freely share the results of their labor, and people only take what they need. Reading The Communist Manifestochanged the way I think about a lot of things people have lied to me about. It's also short and easy to read. You can get through it in a day.

brianlux

what dreams said:

I recommend investing (capitalism) in copy of Marx's Communist Manifestoto answer your question, or go to the public library to check one out (socialism). None of the above answers accurately depict what Marx envisioned in his theory, nor has there ever been a communist system on this planet to date. In a truly Marxist system, there is no government. None of the governments we fought in the Cold War were communist governments -- the USSR itself was a socialist republic (government owned the means of production). In a purely communist system, there is no such thing as ownership at all, whether it's by the government or by individuals. In theory, people work, they freely share the results of their labor, and people only take what they need. Reading The Communist Manifestochanged the way I think about a lot of things people have lied to me about. It's also short and easy to read. You can get through it in a day.

Great answer. Ignorance or misunderstand at best of what communism and socialism (and how that differs from Democratic Socialism) are rife in America. Philosophy and poli sci are dead in our schools.

jeffbr

what dreams said:

I recommend investing (capitalism) in copy of Marx's Communist Manifestoto answer your question, or go to the public library to check one out (socialism). None of the above answers accurately depict what Marx envisioned in his theory, nor has there ever been a communist system on this planet to date. In a truly Marxist system, there is no government. None of the governments we fought in the Cold War were communist governments -- the USSR itself was a socialist republic (government owned the means of production). In a purely communist system, there is no such thing as ownership at all, whether it's by the government or by individuals. In theory, people work, they freely share the results of their labor, and people only take what they need. Reading The Communist Manifestochanged the way I think about a lot of things people have lied to me about. It's also short and easy to read. You can get through it in a day.

Great explanation, What dreams. My biggest issue with communism is that I don't believe it will ever be a workable, viable system. This is probably due to my outlook on people in general. You rightly point out that there has never been a communist system on this planet, and I don't believe there will be because the theory relies on people acting for the good of the whole. I see people in general as selfish and short-sighted. As you stated above: "In theory, people work, they freely share the results of their labor, and people only take what they need." Therein lies the problem. I don't believe people as a whole can be motivated to work or bust ass for the benefit of others, and I don't believe they will take only what they need. There are always exceptions to rules, but people will generally act out of self-interest, and people have a desire to be recognized for their individual achievements. Human nature would have to somehow miraculously and radically change before any kind of workable example could be seen in practice.