You want communism? Vote Republican.

[Rex_Goodheart]

Maybe I'm missing a chapter or two, but I can't recall ever reading about an historical circumstance where communists were voted into power. I do, however, recall armed revolutions in Russia, China, Cuba, Cambodia, North Korea, North Vietnam, etc. where people got fed up with plutocracy and monarchy.

The storming of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, by the way, is an inspiring story, regardless of how the Bolshevik experiment devolved into something grotesquely different from what was intended. Looting began to break out when somebody cried "Comrades! Don't take anything. This is the property of the People!" Self-appointed sentinels then spontaneously took up positions protecting the riches, and anybody seen with items that did not appear to belong to them were siezed, lectured, and if non-repentant jailed.

[goddess40]

1. They weren't communists

That's how the right tries to tie socially responsible legislation to a negative topic. The countries that claim to be communist are the opposite - kind of like all the names BushCo gives their nasty legislation - clear skies means dirtier air...

It's another example of how the right defines the agenda and the left lets them get away with it.

[eallen]

2. There are no true Scotsmen, either.

Marx recognized that liberals were his political enemy. Speaking as a liberal, I'll return the favor. There is nothing liberal about communism, neither in its "true" but imaginary incarnation, nor in the variety of ways it has been instantiated.

[goddess40]

4. You're right but we teach our kids that communism is different

then how the right has been using it. It's an unattainable goal that assumes that all people would want to live that way.

Edit: we have to change the way we teach history when it pertains to this, define the different forms of government and match them to real life countries.

[Finder]

8. Your comment on teaching history is right on.

The way it is done now is demonize all other forms but ours. Unfortunately, not being able to identify fascism or communism leaves us vulnerable.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. We've already got fascism, NeoCon style.

[Finder]

9. Unfortunately, the average american...

thinks fascism is only about hating jews. Their logic is since there are jews in government it cannot be fascist.

[400Years]

5. Take a look at where modern conservative republicanism stands

they ask for the subjugation of the individual to the state

they are heading up a centralized economy where are tax dollars are taken from us and handed over to their cronies.

secret detention camps

authoritarianism is pretty much the same whether you call it left or right.

[Red State Prisoner]

6. Socialism is often confused with Communism

The righties have successfully made them one in the same. They've done it for decades. National health care and anything government run is considered to be "communist" in nature. Socialist in nature? Absolutely. But Socialism is not Communism. It doesn't impede the free will of the people when applied in a democratic society. The conservative ideology has a lot more in common with communism than anything we here on the left believe in. Who wants to govern what you do in your bedroom? Who wants to limit what you can say and where you can say it? Who wants to force a SPECIFIC religion down your throat? Need I even name the culprits?

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Red State Prisoner!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rman]

10. I think the RW is trying to provoke us into violence

Which will then serve them as an excuse to crack down on 'the enemy within' (us). They sure are working hard at creating economic and social circumstances that are likely to incite violence.
Remember Gandhi.