what is a communist?   or what is communism?
351790
Communism is a society where the Government controls and distributes everything, usually by inspiring fear in the populice.  \n\nThe above answer better describes socialism then communism, though both are remarkably similar.
1158990
You need to understand the difference between socialism and communism. There are several socialist and quasi-socialist countries that are highly successful in the world today (market socialism).
411992
political viewpoints tend to get divided. i am an economic liberal which comes awfully close to communism because i believe in sharing the wealth and helping out your neighbor. However i am a moral conservative because i am against things like gay rights, immigration, and lots of other political questions that fall on the moral side.
984758
Well besides my Avatar and screen name saying it all I'll elaborate.\n\nCommunism is so damn romaticised todays as been a form of liberation and equality for all but what most people don't realise is that in communist societies everyone is equal but not in a good way. You work equally as hard, you get equally as little money and in the end Party members are more "equal" than everyone else.\n\nPeople (like here) ramble on about how great communism is on paper and how wonderful it must be in it's purest form. What I want to point out here is that EVERY communist country hasn't followed communism 'by the book' and have always turned into a terrible society where everything is collectivised, the Party rules all with an iron fist and all suffer and work insanely hard and in the end get lied to. This is what communism is and has become synonymous with. \nWhat it isn't synonymous (for most) is utter evil. It has claimed more lives than anything else in the world. Around 100,000,000 people have died because of communism. Add up the death tally for China, USSR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cuba, etc and it will reach this total but everyone calls Nazism the epitome of evil. Communists did everything the Nazis did but still communism is so romanticised.\n\nLets look at Russia to answer your Q of people wanting it's return. Go to the link (political parties in Russia now) and you'll notice that so many have the word "people's" or "communist" or "red" or even "bolshevik" in the title. It could really happen there but never like they once were.\nI can sort of understand the desire of so many Russians for communism's return. Think about it... under communism Russia was a world power that equalled the US. Now they are a shadow of their former selves. I hear crime and corruption is rife in Russia, neo-Nazis are running around all over and the quality of life isn't so good (heard this all from Russians myself). People there probably see communism as a way to regain that lost political power and restore control over everything like in the days of the Reds.
500687
It's a great book.  It's about communism.  Under communism the workers are worse off than they were under capitalism.
752964
Leniin's political party was called Communism, it was socialism, but a branch from the main stem like several other varieties of economic systems...It was the Communist party which was socialist in origin...socialism is not a political party, but an economic system
603977
The system was doomed. Even without the cold war, it would eventually have failed. True communism means "Anthill Society", kind of a wrong species model of government. Humans are not communal bugs.
437669
The Republicans are kissing the Communists butts everyday now over Americans. That's because the Republicans are Communist too, it's a no brainer. Wal-Mart is Communist, RCA, Thompson Electronics, Microsoft, hell it's starting to become endless. They parade them around America, and call Communism Capitalism. How can it be Capitalism when they are not even Americans. The real word is called Monopolization with no free or fair trade, and that isn't Capitalism, it's Communism. So "RED" is for the Communists that they really are. I heard this from somebody else in here. The Conservatives choose Communism over Americans; because America can and would produce any thing that we need. America doesn't need anyone to produce our products for us. They choose to be Communist for greed, over America.
250392
Stalinism is referring to a specific style of government (the Stalin USSR era), whereas Communism is the political ideology behind it. Check out this site: \n\nhttp://www.marxists.org/glossary/index.htm\n\n(wikipedia is also helpful)
486358
Communism is almost non-existant in developed countries. Although during the Soviet reign, they have split Germany in half, which I guess- you could call a crime. Look into Ronald Reagan and the Brandenburg Gate, he had an address there, against the Soviets, very powerful.
25573
Communism is a form of economy where, in theory, all property and businesses belong to the people as a whole.  It is commonly misaligned with "dictatorships" as seen in a previous answer.  \n\nIf communism could achieve what it was truly meant to be, it would mean that every citizen would have a say in how property and businesses were used and operated.  \n\nHowever, communism oftens makes it easier for a dictator to take advantage of the people and assume power.  It is important to note though that a dictator truly has nothing to do with the economic system of communism.\n\nSocialism is somewhere between capitalism and communism.  It allows for the private ownership of business.  However, the government and the people control services vital to the people such as medical services.
464209
Anarchy, and one in which all countrymen are moral. (And a theocracy, if everyone believes, but then it's a god's dictatorship) That is the problem with communism- for it to work, you need a strong dictatorship.
585317
They are opposing governmental systems.\n\nI believe Capitalism is better for the economy and usually there is more freedom under Capitalism.\n\nCommunism is a system without God, that the leaders are greedy for power and usually oppress the people denying many rights because supposedly the Communist government leaders know best how their people should live.\nMost Communist systems violate human rights including freedom of speech and freedom of religion.\n\nBut at the same time Capitalism when it is done without God and taken to an extreme also leads to greed and the oppression of the poor.\n\nAs a Christian I would rather to be under a Capitalist system with hopefully Capitalists who are not extreme and believe in God.
366994
Marxism was a form of Communism.  Just as there are degrees of Capitalism, there are degrees & styles of Communism.  \n\nRead the Wiki on this for more:
800427
Welcome to the world of political philosophy vs political propoganda.  Okay a couple of things socialism means that the government has more control over business.  MAking sure there is money for healthcare, welfare, education, etc.  There are many socailistic countries in Europe that are democratic and doing fine.  Communism is further left.  Communism is an economic model and not a political one.  You could have a democratic communism.  What has happenned is a lot of solcialistic dictatorships.  There is yet to be a true communist country.  Unfortunately human greed always ruins communism as it will do with capitalism (according to marx) and there is examples of it starting to happen now (outsourcing jobs for penny wages).  Captilism will expand until it cannot expand any further and then collapse upon itself (basically once the rich have starved the poor whats left?).  It is a very confusing issue.   Anarchy is a political model and I would say is the opposite of socialism...which is no governemnt at all.  However I have been an anarchist for awhile, not because of punk, but because I have no faith in the politcal process today.  Too much business influence and lobbyists to really help most individuals.  But the pistols do rock.
290333
Capitalism at least gives people the chance of getting out of poverty.  Communism only the upper party leaders have money.  In communism everyone is poor, everyone has to wait in lines for goods, merchandice is poor quality.\n\nMillions have died because of communism.  Freedom of speech is non-exsistent.  Famines due to government controls.  Communism essentially makes government god.  Give me capitalism and give me freedom.
1001254
Communism is a political ideology that wants a classless, religionless, and stateless organization based on collective ownership.  \n\nCommunitarianism enforces the idea of civil society, which refers to the totality of voluntary civic and social institutions that form the basis of a functioning society as opposed to the structures of a state.