What is communism?

Points to note about communism:

1. One Party dictatorship is not communism.
2. communism is international and cannot survive in a single country.
3. communism is there to benefit normal working people (AKA the working class or those who sell their labour/ skills in order to survive), the poor, the aged, the youth, the underfunded students, the homeless, the sick and stressed etcetera...
4. communism is only democratic and should be administered through democratic votes.
5. There is no central government within communism. Governmental structures, as they exist today, are only oppressive and must be smashed in order for communism to survive.
6. Freedom to practice Religion must be catered for within communism.
7. Freedom of speech is essential within communism.
8. There is no place for Racism, sectarianism, homophobia, fascism or elitism within communism and communists must fight against the these.
9. Free Markets, such as those practiced in China, are not communist as they only benefit the wealthy.
10. communism is not anti-American but no communist would support the oppressive actions of the US Government.

Communism is only international. It is an economic system based on co-operation of the community rather than competition of each other which we have in many countries today and which leads to blistering wars in certain parts of the world. The needs of the people would be looked after over that of business as business would only be there to necessitate the majority (AKA the working class/ the working people).

Countries would exist in name but there would be no need for any central economic controlling class or Government as we would know it today.  The borders of countries would be opened up and the world would be one economy.

Within communism the instruments of production and distribution, which are currently in the hands of ruling Governments, would be in the hands of the working people. They would control these instruments through democratic voting.

To achieve communism certain conditions have to be put in place and the process of achieving said conditions is known as socialism.

Communism is international and cannot be contained in one country. Those who work towards communism by revolutionary means would be known as communists. Socialism is seen as the road to the liberation of working people, or communism, as certain conditions have to be in place for the achievement of communism.

States such as China and North Korea are often referred to as communist but all of these countries have a ruling Government which is an anti-communist practice. How are people supposed to determine their own future when there is a ruling power determining the future of all?

Read more about communism -

http://www.marxists.org/glossary/orgs/c/o.htm#communists (opens in new window)

http://www.learnhistory.org.uk/communism.ppt#256,1,What is Communism? (opens in new window)

Read the communist Manifesto

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm (opens in new window)

Please also read 'the Soviet Union versus Socialism'

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/1986----.htm (opens in new window)

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