Communism? What IS That, Exactly?

[MineralMan]

That's the question to ask anyone who says that Democrats are Communists. Just ask for a brief definition of Communism.

There will be no answer, because nobody really knows what Communism is any longer.

When the person can't answer, bring attention to that inability and move on.

Trump can't answer. He has no freaking idea what Communism is.

Hell, I couldn't give you a quick definition off the top of my head.

It's a shibboleth. That's what it is. Look that one up.

[Ron Green]

1. Seems like Communism never existed in the USSR.

Rather, it was State Capitalism.

[MineralMan]

3. Even the Communists don't know.

[MineralMan]

2. Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?

That was the question in the 50s and early 60s. That question was on the form I filled out for a security clearance in the USAF in 1965.

There was still a glimmer of McCarthyism out there at that time. We were still deathly afraid of communism. We couldn't define it then, either. the USSR was not a Communist nation. We called it that, but it wasn't.

Nobody know what it means, still.

[rampartd]

9. there was something about a "card carrying communist"

an actual party member. there were never many . gus hall and a few dozen leftovers from our alliance with stalin.

[Norrrm]

4. What is the difference between socialism and communism?

What is the difference between socialism and communism?

Socialism is a keyword/buzzword used to incite fear that the other party will control/ruin your personal economy/lifestyle.
.
Communism is a buzzword/keyword used to incite fear that the other party will ruin/control your personal lifestyle/economy.
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Alas! The meanings are meaningless. The names are used purely as an emotional trigger.

Does anyone think MTG or Trump actually knows (or cares) the real meanings and differences?

[bucolic_frolic]

5. It sure meant 2 different things back in the U.S.S.R.

State ownership of the means of production with the output shared with the workers.

Politicos of the State held the power and privilege and were paid to manage the show.

Then the State collapsed so they sold the system to the oligarchs, who were mostly the previous State managers.

We've been told many a tall tale!

[walkingman]

6. In the US, anything other than Cronie Capitalism is viewed as Communism.

[cksmithy]

7. According to my sil's dad, the entire state of California government, legislature, governor, etc., is

communist, this was his response to a one line joke my husband made about lawyers. (He doesn't tell long story jokes, just short one liners, where people usually laugh.) He didn't laugh about the lawyer joke, he somehow connected being a lawyer to being a California communist. This happened during Thanksgiving dinner, 2025. California, our state is a one party state, Democratic. The table of 12 people was silent for 20 - 30 seconds, then his daughter completely changed the subject. My sil's family are very conservative and are trump supporters. But his daughter changed the subject, we looked at each, she seemed a little shocked, and smiled. When I asked my own daughter about the communist comment, she said she didn't hear it. She just blocks out everything he says. She says he is not capable of having a thoughtful conversation about anything. He just spouts right wing talking points.

So, now that trump is going on about communist, Fox news, podcasters, etc., people have been hearing Democrats are communists. Trump must now feel free spread more baloney bs because the Democratic = communist ground work has already been laid by his cronies.

[planetc]

8. The key feature of classic communism is that the state owns all the property, which cannot be held in private hands.

And that is the feature which capitalists are well aware of, and abominate. Nothing terrifies a capitalist more than the theory of communism. Private people, or companies, could not hold private property, and do with it anything they could get away with. Communism makes profits disappear.

For this reason, Americans have been taught to hate and fear communism since the end of WWII. Many billions or trillions of dollars have been spent to arm this country with enough weaponry to kill every man, woman, and child in the Soviet Union 90 times over. Capitalists cooperated cheerfully with arming America against the threat of communism, and they profited handsomely. Until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, at which point the military Industrial complex had to think of new reasons to keep the Pentagon supplied with new and expensive weapons.

Republicans need communism to exist, but not be understood, so they can maintain a steady flow of dollars to arms manufacturers.

[struggle4progress]

10. Isn't that just what any organized crime family calls its competition?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. There is a pattern

[MineralMan]

12. Exactly.

Just tell them what to hate and they'll hate it.

[LeftInTX]

13. In Dr Zhivago, it's when Yuri returns home from the war and they've confiscated his house

We do have a local communist party here. Party for Socialism and Liberation. Please stay clear of them. They are trying to infiltrate the Democratic party. I wish the local PSL members would live like real communists, all under one roof! Practice what you preach!

[MineralMan]

14. I remember that scene!