American Naiveté About Communism

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MisUnderstanding Socialism/Communism/Marxism

For the sake of concept, and to avoid confusion, this article will draw no distinction between socialism, communism, and Marxism. Given the depiction of socialism that has been offered in America during the current political cycle, what the Democratic Socialists call socialism is by definition communism/Marxism. There really is no difference. Consequently, they will be treated as equals where the following observations are concerned.

Not all Americans misconstrue the essence of communism/Marxism, but it is safe to say that a large share of the U.S. citizenry is completely unschooled concerning this political ideology. In fact, many are captivated and enticed by communism specifically due to their ignorance. This begs a couple of questions. 1) What do the uninformed actually believe about communism? and 2) What is communism, really?

What do the uninformed believe about communism? The impact of communism on the assets and wealth of society has been a topic of significant debate among scholars, economists, and historians. This essay seeks to explore the various dimensions of this impact, analyzing the effect that communism has had historically on wealth distribution and individual assets. Communism, as a political and economic ideology, promotes the idea of collective ownership of a society's means of production and methodical control over the tools for creating wealth. In theory, this aims to eliminate class distinctions, ensure equitable distribution of resources, and empower the working class. However, the practical application of these principles has often led to less than favorable outcomes.

When it comes to communism, many misconstrue the touted "collective ownership" of a society's means of production, believing it means ownership by the citizenry. The first misconception in that equation is the idea of citizenship. Communism does not recognize citizenship, per se. Instead, the people of a Marxist society are viewed by the elite as members of a classless society and, as members, they serve as subjects of the Marxist ruling class. The second confusion lies in the notion of ownership. In a free market system, individuals take ownership of societal economic assets and participate freely in economic activity. However, in Marxism, the subjects of society own virtually nothing - a philosophy generously depicted as shared wealth.

These misconceptions about communism have unfortunately led to a significant portion of American society embracing the false and misleading promises of communism. They neither understand nor are concerned with the consequences of their support for something about which they are embarrassingly clueless.

What is communism, really? One of the central tenets of communism is the abolition of private ownership of property - all property. The needs of the people are met by the government as the ruling class measures those needs. In communist regimes, the state typically takes control of all means of production, which includes factories, farms, and other economic resources. This transition alters the society's financial landscape significantly as the government redistributes assets through government programs with the supposed intent of achieving equitable wealth distribution.

For the common subjects of the Marxist regime, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, this can result in an initial increase in access to resources and services that were previously unattainable. The Marxist ruling class seizes wealth/ownership of assets from the haves, using that wealth to develop government programs to purportedly meet the needs of the have-nots. This method is promoted as sharing.

Unlike a free-market system where ownership is earned and rights are focused on individual freedoms, in Marxism, basic needs such as housing, healthcare, and education often become entitlements rather than privileges. Unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that, according to the Declaration of Independence, are derived from the creator are replaced with only those rights awarded by the government and apportioned to the public as the ruling class sees fit.  

The Impact of Marxism/Communism

While redistribution by the ruling class can provide a measure of immediate benefits, the long-term effects on individual wealth and assets are generally detrimental to all but the ruling class. So much for the claim of a society devoid of economic classes. The lack of private property rights means that citizens subjects do not have the same motivation to invest in or improve their assets, as those assets ultimately do not belong to them. This can lead to a sense of disempowerment, where the people lack control over their own economic conditions.

In many communist states, the economy suffers from inefficiencies as government-run enterprises lack the competition and innovation found in free-market economies. As a result, over the course of time the people inevitably experience stagnation, and even decline, in their wealth accumulation. Additionally, the role of the state in managing resources generally leads to corruption and misallocation of funds. Of course, this happens even in a free-market economy, but not to the same degree. Consequently, those among the have-nots who dream of the fulfillment of Marxist promises end up witnessing affluent lifestyles among government officials while they, as subjects of that ruling class, struggle to make ends meet, creating a gap between the ruling elite and the commoners. The fallacious promise of equality is undermined by the reality of bureaucratic privilege, which diminishes trust in the governing system and creates disenchantment among the populace.

Another critical aspect to consider is the historical context of communism's rise in various regions. In some cases, such as in Cuba and China, communism emerged after periods of severe inequality and exploitation. For instance, the Cuban Revolution addressed widespread poverty and sought to fulfill the needs of the populace through nationalization of resources and land reforms. Initially, many people experienced improvements in their standard of living, but over the decades, as is always the case, economic restrictions and the lack of market freedoms stymied further growth and brought dramatic decline in personal wealth.

While communism purportedly claims to seek to level the playing field, it ultimately results in a two-tiered society where a subset of individuals (the ruling class) prospers while most of society remains impoverished. The theoretical underpinnings of communism suggest that by eliminating class distinctions, all citizens would share in the wealth produced by the state. However, the disparities between the elite and commoners reveal a contradictory outcome. Many people find themselves in a situation where they possess little to no wealth due to the state’s initial appropriation and its failure to encourage personal wealth generation.

It is said that support for socialism in America is growing by leaps and bounds with many Democratic Socialist political candidates gaining considerable support. However, here are some things to consider. First, a communist America is unconstitutional. Article IV of the U.S. Constitution forbids the establishment of anything other than a constitutional republic as the basis for governance in the United States. This is why Democratic Socialists insist that they want to eliminate the Constitution. As long as the Constitution remains the foundation for governance in the United States, communism/Marxism is banned. 

The Constitution also serves as the protector of rights in America. For those who favor socialism, the question is: Which rights would you be willing to relinquish in acceptance of the communist regime you desire? Would you be willing to sacrifice freedom of speech? Perhaps you would be willing to forego the right to a fair trial or protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Under a communist regime, these and other rights would be vacated precisely because the U.S. Constitution, the protector of those rights, would be eliminated. Additionally, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, would no longer be considered unalienable (natural) rights.

For those in the United States who have naively begun to support the idea of socialism, here is some prudent, very personal advice. Take a close look at your 401K and compare where it is now to where it was just a few years ago. Has it tripled? Quadrupled? Is it worth far more than you ever anticipated? Has it reached $250K, $500K, or $1 million? You can attribute that growth to the fact that much of the money is invested in companies - the very companies whose assets would be seized under a Marxist regime. Once seized, the money in your 401K would dissipate because a communist government now owns the stocks you once owned, and it's not like you would receive fair market value for your shares. The government would not buy your shares...they would seize them. After all, it would be a government that seeks to eradicate the concept of private ownership, of which your 401K is a major part.

Not every American is so naivé when it comes to socialism/communism. There are a number of political leaders, particularly those in the Democratic Socialist Party, who are fully aware of the consequences of installing a communist regime in the U.S. Indeed, that is why they want socialism. They fully expect to be among the elite of such a regime, looking down at the masses from their ivory towers.

Conclusion

The promises of communism offer a misleading vision of equitable wealth distribution and shared prosperity. Historically, its implementation has resulted in outcomes in stark contrast to its ideals. The eradication of private property and individual economic incentives leads to wealth stagnation among the general populace, bureaucratic corruption, and ultimately a divided society where the intended benefits of communism are realized only by the ruling class. The common man ultimately feels the brunt of this "classless" society as the intentions of equality collide with the realities of human governance and greed.

For those who seem so eager to convert the free market system of the U.S., along with its abundant rights and freedoms, into a socialist/communist society, here's a thought. Before we go through the steps of conversion, please go and live in Cuba or some other totalitarian regime for a year or so. Then, when you return, we can have a more informed discussion on the topic.

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