Create your society, how will you do it?

[Ideal08]

I was thinking the other night, I can't believe we haven't discussed this. I even did a search. Anyway, here goes.

I am not the biggest fan of capitalism. My friend called me a communist last night. I guess because I grew up during the part of the Cold War, the word communism has always had a negative connotation to me. But I kind of had to concede when he called me that, because I do agree with some of the basic principles of communism. So I wanted to ask my esteemed GC family what type of society you'd have if you could create it. You can use one that already exists, or mix and match or create a whole new one that doesn't exist. Have fun!

I'll include definitions since I know I'm not the only one who gets confused behind these type of things.

Communism
1. a. A theory which advocates a state of society in which there should be no private ownership, all property being vested in the community and labour organized for the common benefit of all members; the professed principle being that each should work according to his capacity, and receive according to his wants.

b. spec. A political doctrine or movement based on Marxism and later developed by Lenin, seeking the overthrow of capitalism through a proletarian revolution (proletarian: relating to or a member of the class of workers who do not possess capital or property and must sell their labor to live)

2. a. Applied to any practice which carries out this theory in whole or par t; e.g. that mentioned in Acts ii. 44 seq., as practised in the church of Jerusalem, or that prevailing in monastic communities. spec. The communistic social order established in Russia after the revolution of March 1917, and later in certain associated countries

b. Co-ownership of land.

3. Community of feeling; the spirit of a community. rare.

Marxism
The theory of government based on the ideals of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in the book The Communist Manifesto written in the 1800's. Marxism advocates the "workers" (Proletariats and petite-bourgeoisie) rise up and overthrow businesses and government and take control themselves. Marxism advocates a classless society in which everything is shared and owned by all. In its true form it follows the mandates of a Direct Democracy in which the mob or general population rules and allocates resources based upon the will of the majority with equal consideration given to all without exclusions or privileges to any.

Socialism
A theory or system of social organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned and controlled by groups or by the government.

Capitalism
An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decisions, and by prices, production, and the distrubtion of goods that are determined in a free market.

[ClassyLady]

It may be the business major in me, but I'd go with a Capitalist society. I want to control where I will go in life and I want to personally reap the benefits of my efforts.

I take issue when society's resources are controlled by the government or select individuals and groups. There is just too much room for abuse and no apparent means of redress for the masses.

I also do not believe that a classless society will ever exist. There will always be those who think or know that they are better than someone else. Those people will always find a way to show that and to exclude those that they do not deem worthy.

[REIKI]

I would definitely rid society of its capitalistic focus. On one hand capitalism has enhanced society, but in other ways it has deeply corrupted us. For instance, instead of having to grow my own food and sweat my entire life scouting for food, I can go to a market...one of the most simplistic and earliest capitalistic ventures. The simple idea of growing food in mass for other people and having those people exchange something for that food (i.e., a service or money) has made life easier. But, then you have people that are just greedy, want more than they need, want to deprive 'inferior' people of the things they need, or want to control all resources for whatever reason. The greed of some people creates this insatiable capitalistic catch 22 that has instead made life harder instead of easier for many people. Back in the day societies were community/family focused and/or worship focused. Now the focus is on achieving status, power, prestige, etc by acquiring money. In turn promoting a capitalistic mindset that doesn't have much to do with making life easier for anyone but a select few...those that center their lives around the dollar. I don't know if I would exactly embrace communism in its modern form, but I would choose a society that has communal ownership in property and organizes labour for the common benefit of all members.