What are the best lessons learned from communism that have had an influence on democracy as we know it?
469170
I think the biggest thing we learned is that centrally planned economies just don't work. You can't run an entire country like a dictatorship, where the production and reward for every citizen is determined by the leadership.\n\nIt is somewhat curious that this is so, because this is basically how every company is run, but every attempt to run an entire nation like this has ended in ruin. People really are only willing to respond to what is basically selfish motivations: the desire to better either themselves or their family. When you try to motivate them by telling them that what they are doing is for the best of the country as a whole and try to regulate their lives, they resist by not giving their best effort, or in many cases, no real effort at all. This causes economic ruin.\n\nPeople are better when they have the freedom to decide for themselves what the most productive use of their time and passion is.
311153
I have been in Moscow and i saw that they were more powerful when they have a communist regime.They had an unity.I am looking at China and they are very powerful too.\n\nSo, i think communism is not bad.
347913
a communist system could be democratic...there are, for instance, socialist countries now in south america where their leaders were elected.\n\nbut communism differs from capitalism in that in a communist society the means of production (factories) are woned by the state.  in a capitalist country - like the US - private individuals own factories etc. and make profits from them.\n\nin a communist country money is supposed to be distributed equally....the state makes the money and distributes it equally.
208570
The Real Social Impact of Stalin’s Rule over Russia.\n\nThe First Five Year Plan:\n\nBy squeezing profits out of the agricultural sector, heavy industrial production increased from 300-600 percent. \n\nBelieved rapid industrialization was the only way to preserve socialism. \n\nIndustrial labor force was created overnight as men and women were put at work.\n\nThe number of women in the industrial work force tripled in the decade after 1929.\n\nIndustrial production also increased between the years 1929-1932.\n\nStalin forced collectivization and confiscated land. By 1938, private land was almost eliminated. \n\nThe Second Five Year Plan:\n\nSucceeded in reducing the Soviet Union’s dependence on foreign imports (heavy industry, machinery, metal works)\n\nThe industrial development and collectivization brought growing urbanization to the country. \n\nComintern(Communist International):\n\nStalin wanted it to promote the unity of working classes everywhere and cooperate with existing worker organizations. \n\nIt must seek to sever the ties between Communist parties and social democratic parties. \n\nAs a result, socialism in Europe was badly split between communists and democratic socialists. (ruined the triumph of fascists movements; Germany.\n\nThe New Soviet Estate:\n\nStalin was committed to the liberation of women.\n\nTheir double burden became heavier during his reign. \n\nThey held full time jobs while doing household chores and taking care of the children.\n\nThe family was glorified as the mainstay of the socialist order.\n\nThe independence of women was challenged as a threat to Soviet productivity. \n\nMassive Loss of Human Life\n\nBecause of the collectivization, 25 million peasants suffered. At least 5 million peasants died between 1929 and 1932. Collectivization ripped apart village life, ruined families, and sent homeless peasants into exile. \n\nAbout 300,000 people were put to death. (engineers, managers, officers of the navy, etc.)\n\n7 million people were placed in labor camps. \n\nThey dealt a severe blow to the command of the army.\n\nIt also resulted in the shortage of qualified industrial personnel, therefore, slowing growth of industry.
360265
There really has never been a real communist state in the world. Only totalitarian governments that called themselves communist. I don't think it works.\n\nOn the other hand. A government made up of several types of ideals I beleive is the way. Like the US or Canada. A democracy with a capitalistic base, seasoned with socialism works very well. As long as it doesn't get too one way or the other, business booms, and the poor get help.
619219
Marshall Plan was a catalyst that stimulated many countries in the Soviet Unions influence to "go west" and choose democracy and capitalism instead of east and accept communism. It showed the economic advantages of it through the aid they received, and worked flawlessly to show up Stalin, and communism, who chose to build a wall instead of trying to improve the part of Germany in their influence, or any other nation. Germany's loans to pay off its war reparations, and by other nations for reconstruction, from US soon became part of the whole foreign policy and American influence ordeal. As now they had ties with US, that allowed it to exert more control over these foreign entities.
1011418
Of course democracy exists. What's your solution, eh? Redistributing the wealth so there isn't a wealthy minority? Yeah, that's communism.
644791
none.\n\nThey have so many seats but they can't be able to control them. \n\nThey can't survive without the communists.
220119
yes.\n\n  All of history is full of bad examples of communism that were misrepresented totalitarianism in disguise. But pure unpolitisized communism is a quest for a utopic society where no one person is any better than the next, and everyone shares the wealth of the community as well as their fair share of the work that supports it. That is the true reason for The west's aversion to the idea of socialism and communism. We here are a pyramid society that takes from the bottom to support the top 10% of the population's interests and agendas. AAnd more times than not those agendas are to keep the pyramid stacked in their favor at the expence of the bottom 90% of the population. That is what is at the heart of modern capitalism. Before capitalism there were other ways to rule over the masses, such as slavery, indentured servitude, religious superstision....but the basic pyramid was the same and has been passed down to modern times because 90% of the people are asleep at the wheel for their entire lives.
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.
986508
Hi. Great question. Consider communism in two ways: in theory and in practice. As a theory, a philosophy, communism was the vision of an ideal state where all people would share equally, there would be no poverty or exploitation, no war or classicism. It was almost a religious ideal for many people. The philosopher who shaped that vision the most into a practice was Karl Marx. At the turn of the century, his attack on capitalism set in motion as political force that challenged the political status quo. It frightened the rich and powerful with the image of working people rising up to take over the government for themselves. In practice, Marxism has been tried to various degrees in different countries. In Russia and China, for example, it was the state system, but in truth, this kind of Marxism had little to do with the original image of communism for a free society. Both the Soviet Union and China were dictatorships. In Vietnam and Cuba, communism has been much more successful, although they were severely stunted by the economic pressure put on them by the United States through boycotts to starve them out. In the end, classic communism has yet to be tried. There are many communist parties still around, but there is no clear vision for this philosophy and the memory of the old Soviet regime still haunts the reputation of the communist hope. Study Antonio Gramsci of Italy (1920's-1930's). This is a good communist thinker,
109704
To control the world thru "democracy"
165304
Share w them what u have learnt. \n\nTell them communism is utopian.\n\nTell them socialism is somewhere between communism and capitalism. It promotes REAL democracy, save the environment, doesn't need people to work like a dog... etc./
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.
154515
Communism is not all bad, America and many countries just don't like it because it's pretty much the opposite of freedom which is what America value so much.\n\nIn China, before they turned communists, there were a lot of starving people who became sick and died because there was shortage of food, shelter, and medicine.  The aristocrats were wealthy and it was easy for them to make money because they had connections.  \n\nAfter that there was a group that turned the country into Communism, that's when all the food, and other necessities are taken from aristocrats and are devided among everybody.\n\nYou can see that communism saved lives in this situation.
15498
The communism Karl Marx promised was good, equal rights for all, but todays communism makes sure the govt. is rich but the people are poor.\n\nFor more info, read the book Animal Farm
1104455
crap! i learnt that this year. i forgot about the first question. but i do know that there are socialist democracies. those scandanavian countries and there are some in europe. socialist democracies are basically where they have freedom unlike in the USSR but the government will do things for the people like give free health care, free education, stuff like that. \nhope i answered ur question