Can someone explain to me the difference between capitalism and communism?  Which is the better choice?
474234
COMMUNISM IS A MUCH BETTER CHOICE IF HUMANS WERE NOT GREEDY. THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNISM IS EVERYBODY IS EQUAL . THE PROBLEM WITH COMMUNISM IS THERE  ARE LIMITED  ECONOMIC RECOURSE , FOOD WATER CLOTHING OIL NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND, IF EVERYBODY IS EQUAL THEN WHO GOES WITHOUT?  CAPITALISM ON THE OTHER HANDS SAID THE MARKET SHOULD SET THE PRICE FOR THESE GOODS AND SERVICE ,  THE TOUGH IS IF YOU CHARGE TOO MUCH FOR AN ITEM THEM YOUR COMPETITION  WILL COME IN AND TAKE ALL YOUR BUSINESS AWAY, THE PROBLEM WITH  CAPITALISM IS THE MARKET HAS NO HEART,  HOW MUCH WILL A DIABETIC PAY FOR INSULIN?  THERE IS NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT PRACTICE EITHER  ONE IN ITS PURE FORM, SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS A HYBRID BETWEEN THE TWO.
1127294
I am not a communist but in know this.\nCapitalism and Communisima are in a fight to the death.\nCaptilism has better PR.\nWhat we call Communism like Russsia Cuba China is not real communisim its not close, it is pretty much Fascism with the rehtoric of the worker, people ect. Those were horrible, Capitlism is horrible too but not as bad, depends on where you are in the food chain....\n\nIn theory shouldn't everyone be equal. Wouldn't god want that. isn't that what Heavan in our Christian doctrine is all about.\n\nHumor me now.....\nImagine if Heavan were physical place, during the 50 we would be threating to Bomb them....
496949
A capitalistic society retains ownership in private hands.  Even the economic planning in a capitalistic society is mostly a non-governmental function.  The courts exist to achieve justice.  The fundamental value persued by government is FREEDOM.\n\nIn a communistic society, there is no private property, the economy is centrally planned, and the courts exist to serve a social function rather than justice.  The fundamental value persued by government is supposed to be EQUALITY but normally is actually RESENTMENT against anyone more successful than the norm.
847791
Ok my theory on this is two things:\n1. Lack of education on the true meaning of both.\n2. A purpose-full intent to redefine communism as socialism because a lot of liberals are called socialist.
1025425
Capitalism - it provides incentive for people to improve their situation, and in doing so, the rest of society.  Socialism allows everyone to depend on someone else to do the work.  There is no incentive to go beyond the minimum required.\n\nIf you appeal to a man's noble side, you won't get much.  Appeal to his self interest, and he'll accomplish a whole lot more.  Capitalism (with certain builtin safeguards) works a whole lot better.\n\nPS:  Go green!
185266
Communism will never work.\n\nHumans all have different strengths and weaknesses.  In a capitalistic, you are able to discover and take advantage of those strengths.  You are compensated commensurate with amount of effort, education or innovation you apply to a specific task.  You are rewarded for creativity.\n\nNot so with communism.  Regardless of your efforts, you are compensated the same as everyone else.  Take the day off; get paid the same as someone that worked a double-shift.  What do you think you'd do?  Work or relax?\n\nThe Soviet Union was the classic example.  They would set quotas for steel pipe production.  They could crow they were the top producers in the world, and they were.  The problem was, no one would buy their pipe, because the quality was horrible.  There is no incentive for excellence, and that is required in today's world.\n\nThe responder that mentioned China is a bit disingenuous.  They have started modeling capitalistic standards after decades of being passed by the west.  More and more, they are allowing private enterprise to flourish.  Even in state owned industry, managers are given bonus' for meeting quality and production goals.  Clearly, not Marxist dogma...
381254
Capitalism is commonly understood to mean an economic or socioeconomic system in which the means of production are predominantly privately owned and operated for profit, often through the employment of labour. Other systems would include monarchism (the monarch owns everything), socialism (communities own everything) and communism (the state owns everything).\n\nIs it good? The capitalist mode of production is capable of tremendous growth because the capitalist can, and has an incentive to, reinvest profits in new technologies. Marx considered the capitalist class to be the most revolutionary in history, because it constantly revolutionized the means of production. But Marx argued that capitalism was prone to periodic crises. He suggested that over time, capitalists would invest more and more in new technologies, and less and less in labor. Since Marx believed that surplus value appropriated from labor is the source of profits, he concluded that the rate of profit would fall even as the economy grew. When the rate of profit falls below a certain point, the result would be a recession or depression in which certain sectors of the economy would collapse. And when it collapses (eg as in the Great Reccession of the 1920's and 30's then things are very bad).
61456
Capitalism is best to solve poverty, but only if the income generated under it is taxed properly to redistribute the wealth to help the less fortunate.  Capitalism brings more creation of wealth and provides for more opportunities to help the less fortunate.
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:
333769
History has proven pure communism or socialism doesn’t work.  Humans are free thinkers and eventually demand access to individual freedoms and rights.  History has also proven pure democracy and capitalism doesn’t work either.  Louis, Tocqueville warned of a “tyranny of the majority” which some say may be occurring in America today.\n\nThe answer is a balance between the two.   In a perfect society there would be enough social programs to support the poor, sick, and needy while providing opportunity for those “go getters” who wish to pursues wealth and success.
1064672
Communism is a good idea to people who have been super oppressed for a long time.  Good idea but about as pratical as monkey with a gun. Eventually all communism turns into capitalism.
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.
340873
Socialism-  you own a cow, the government takes it and gives you some of the milk\n\nCommunism- you own a cow, the government takes it and shoots you for being a corrupt property owner\n\nCapitalism- you own a cow. You sell milk until you can affort to buy a bull.
626596
Communism is just a government format, that leads by council. It grew out of the Socialist movement sparked by Carl Marx. There are a number of books on the subject, try The Manifesto. By the way, both of these were ideas that looked real good on paper, but never translated well into reality. Human nature is it's biggest problem.
202259
Someone who believes in the socialist ideologies put forth by the philosopher Karl Marx, though he was once quoted as saying "I am not a Marxist" which goes to show that the term really took on a life of its own historically.  The basic concept is that all members of society make roughly equal contributions and receive roughly equal benefits, as opposed to capitalism where people compete for a greater share of society's benefits.  The theory is very in-depth, and scholars still debate over what exactly is implied by the term Marxism, or if or how it differs from socialism or communism.\n\nI think socialism focuses more on social equality and pooling of resources.  Communism focuses on the economic and political constructs of a government that commands the economy and the major industries.
170424
I am talking in a economical sense. Politcally I do not how to answer your question. True communism requires equally distribution of capital. Socialism does not. Both have high levels of government ownership of industry.
657254
Capitalism and individualism have improved more peoples' lives than communism ever did.\n\nCapitalism and free markets are not a complete dog-eat-dog competition, and does not make people less inclined towards their fellows. In fact, because free societies also allow for free religious expression, there is also more money donated to charities, more charities and more care for fellow man than seen in any communist country.\n\nIn a free society, free people gladly choose to sacrifice for others. They are individually free to do so.\n\nIn communism, other people decide to sacrifice you for the common good, and because communism is against the concept of individualism, your loss doesn't matter.\n\nI still do not understand the attraction of becoming some slave to the collectivist will, like some expendable worker bee in a hive, like an ant in a nest, like a termite in a colony.\n\nI am an individual. I have worth apart from society. Communism does not recognize that, and that alone makes it evil.