The great weakness in the communist system.

[icymist]

I just finished watching the movie 'Truman' when I heard these word uttered from the staring actor in portrayal of this great president when he was about to leave office. My question is... what is he talking about? What is the weakness in communist system? Is it corruption? (Like we don't know that here with B*SH!)

This is an HBO movie dated 1995. Any historians out there, how accurate is this movie?

[afdip]

1. i lived in zagreb for seven months in the early 70's and the

"hot" joke that year was "comrade, what is the difference between communism and capitalism?" answer: "under capitalism, man exploits man, but under communism it's the other way around."

spelling corrected in edit

[gordianot]

3. Good point.

Communism and Capitalism might work if you eliminate the human equation.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. I like the post-USSR joke: "Everything the Communists told us about

communism was a lie. Everything they told us about capitalism was true."

[zbird]

2. It seems to be from his farewell address.

"How will the Cold War end? It will end…someday…because of the great weakness of the Communist system. I have not a doubt in the world that a great change will occur. I have a deep and abiding faith in the destiny of free men. With strength and courage, we shall, someday, overcome."

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0900148.html

[proiowadem]

4. The weakness of the Communist system

is the imposed "equality" Men are at all times unequeal, Economicly, socialy, intelectualy, personality wise, we are all unequal.

[gordianot]

8. Equality and Liberty are opposing concepts.

There is a fine balance that needs to be maintained almost a Yin-Yang, this is the challenge of social contracts, laws, constitutions.

When Bush says "they hate us for our freedoms" he is touching on a real truth. They hate us for our freedom to kill, cheat, exploit, lie, and assassinate indiscriminately.

[laureloak]

16. And to practice communism you must sacrifice the freedom of

personal choices for the benefit of all. How dismal. Pass the vodka.

[CanSocDem]

5. If there is one...

"What is the weakness in communist system?"


'Class' divisions are not readily apparent.....

[Mika]

6. The great weakness in the communist system is ..

.. that a communist system doesn't exist.

[CanSocDem]

11. WHAT????

Now you tell us....

[KingFlorez]

9. If you view Communism as the Soviet Bloc

That's not communism, it's state capitalism. It's where a small elite control all the industry and means of production. You could say that's what the Republican Party wants, examples are the corporate subsidies, anti-regulation and the monopolies on energy. You examine Stalin and all the other Soviet Bloc leaders carefully you can see that they we're nothing but capitalists.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. A totalitarian approach. Communism in smaller doses among

groups of people who are committed to the idea can work. Very hard to enforce on everyone all the time, like it or not.

The corruption is also a major flaw. And so is the inevitable militarization that seems to go along with Communist states to the point that making bombs takes priority over taking care of people. (Note: this is not only a failing of communist states.)

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[dcfirefighter]

12. any centralized authority is easily perverted

as well as the fact that Communism requires each to give to their ability . . . and assumes that intrinsic motivation is enough.

Likewise, 'each according to their needs' is difficult to define.

We don't have capitalism here. Anyone dissappointed with our system, but in favor of free interactions, lack of central planning, econoimic egalitarianism, and social justice aught to look into Henry George.

His ideas seem a lot better than Marx's IMO.

[Ready4Change]

13. Personal politics. Same as any government.

I've long heard that it's corruptability is the failing of communism, and I agree.

However, I don't see any other governmental system much more immune to corruption. Any form of government is only as strong as it's checks and balances.

That's our current problem here in the USA. Our checks and balances are MAYBE kicking in now, but were've they been AWOL for for the last 3 or 4 years?

[icymist]

14. This scares me.

God pray, our government works like it's supposed to according to the Constitution Of The United States Of America.

[Ready4Change]

17. Remember, the USA is still a young proto-type.

An experiment. A mere gasping breath of human history, an eyeblink of life, the merest instant in all time.

Our age is the most full of potential of any other in history. Sure, some of that potential has been turned to dark purpose. But far more exists yet untapped. That is what those who would chain us fear. That we will recognize our own potential, seize it, and with it, banish them.

I truly believe that moment is closer now than at any point in history.

[oneold1-4u]

15. Knowledge of honest socialism.

The people Of Russia who brought about the revolution of communism were the most down trodden of humanity on earth. The whole nation was running on massive debt and the poorest were subjected in every way possible to keep the "ultras" in power. Sound familiar? If the people of the US have to drop as low as the Russian people did before starting a radical change, it will be much the same. We will be challenging with sticks and stones of a peasantry rebellion!