Quote:
Originally posted by Memnoch:
I think that 80 years of the failed Soviet experiment show that it's virtually impossible to make communism work in a society that is so large and has so many different variables and causal factors.
Communism is a concept which cannot be put into practice, due to human nature and ambition.
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True enough. However Marx himself said that Socialism would need to work in the west first - not the east. Russia had no history of human rights and democracy on which to build. They tried running when they couldn't walk. There is no reason why Socialism has to be totalitarian and repressive. Russia had seige mentality though because the west sided with the White Army during the Russian civil war, and later sought to undermine their way of government.
No govt is perfect, and a nation of 430 million must be very careful when criticising the way a nation of one billion people works. It must be very very difficult. Plus, China before Communism was a European exploited mess. Russia before Communism couldn't feed it's people. The Tsars were arseholes to the everyday folks.
Communism is meant to be a temporary means of implimenting true Socialism. Your aforementioned 'Human nature' put paid to that ever happening.
BTW, did you know Yeltsin was the first ever Russian leader to willingly step down from office?
Now, I'm no economist, but I equate myself with some peasant in the middle of Europe saying to himself... "feudalism sucks"! Well, capitalism sucks. I don't know of a better alternative but there has to be one. Capitalism = growth, growth, growth, when nature is all about subsistence and balance.
Another thing to think about is this. There are two sides to every story.
We hear about how the Dalai Lama is getting the rough end of the stick, and how China are systematically destroying Tibet.
I get so upset at the thought of Tibet losing it's cultural heritage, but have you heard the Chinese side?
For starters Imperial China created the post of Dalai Lama for the Tibetens!
How crazy is that? That is why they have the standoff over the Panchen Lama, because the post still has to be ratified by Beijing.
So the communists get into power, try sweeping the place clean with the cultural revolution and see in Tibet a "God-King" ruling the people. How much power does one hold if you make both earthly laws and spiritual laws?
It's interesting seeing both sides, that's all I'm basically saying. I still get upset at Tibets situation, but I don't demonise China in the process, and also have a better understanding of why they do certain things.
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O.K..... what do I do now? Goo goo goo choo?
A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!