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Communism, in the shortest definition, is the anti-freedom of government types. On both the economic and social spectra, Communism advocates that the state has absolute power under a single executive leader. Everything is done for a greater good, and individuals are sacrificed, as needed, for this higher cause. In practice, Communism needs to maintain absolute control of its victims so that the state monopoly of power is never jeopardized. Everything from thought to action needs to be policed as the state sees fit. In effect, Communism’s victims are forced to believe and do whatever is determined beneficial to everyone.The individual is worthless. All ideas and actions directed at self promotion are strictly prohibited. Any action that furthers oneself, no matter how small, is considered greed and threatens the fragile stability of the state. Anything deemed self-promoting is therefore an action against the state, and an action against everyone.
The individual owns nothing. All work is done for the state, and the state gives back what it deems needed. Communism, in the economic sense, is the polar opposite of Capitalism. Collectively, everyone owns everything, and the state is tasked with dividing it upon everyone as needed. Wealth, innovation, and entrepreneurship have no place in a communistic society. A technological dark age exists because motivation lacks to innovate without the ability to reap the benefits of one’s own work. No one takes responsibility for maintaining the common goods because there is no incentive for such a burden, while the unintentional and purely natural tendency to want more than another person is constantly quashed by the state.
In a social sense, Communism has no place for discourse or activism. The state strictly controls every action taken by its victims. Anything deemed a danger to the state, and in turn everyone at large, is unacceptable. Any opposition that undermines the state’s actions will not be tolerated. Any such victim who dares question any aspect of their government will be silenced immediately. Any idea contrary to the state’s cannot be given the opportunity to grow into tangible opposition. No individual freedoms exist, only when something is deemed beneficial to society at large, is it permissible.
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The theory and practice of communism are not differentiable, anything suggesting otherwise is absurd. Stalin is undeniably inseparable from Communism, both the practice and theory. While Communists may speak of their theory of Communism, which is more peaceful than those in practice, do not be fooled, they are all the same. A system that advocates for no personal ownership needs an abusive and tyrannical executive to enforce such ideas. It is way too optimistic to believe that once a country adopts Communism that everyone willingly relinquishes their belongings. Stalin was a necessity to ensure that a forceful government takeover would accompany the national communistic ideology. A Communist state cannot exist without the harsh and brutal enforcement of a tyrant acting in the name of a greater good. There is no such thing as a anarcho-Communist state, it is simply an impossibility. Human nature will always have someone wanting more than another, which, according to Communists, needs to be policed away. An extraordinarily large government controlling everything is an undeniable reality that will always burden a Communist state. A pseudo-utopia of everyone willingly sharing their belongings will only exist in a Communist’s imagination, no practice is ever achievable. Therefore, Communist states are always stuck in the middle ground between adopting the ideas, and enjoying the supposed benefits. Everyone who disagrees with the ideals posed needs to be coerced, ‘reeducated’, or most often killed.
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In the modern United States, Communism is not as reviled as it should be. Long gone are the days when America’s youth adequately understood the danger posed by these radical practices. Instead, students are now subjected to communism as simply ‘another type of government’ different from their own. To even suggest that Communism is simply another option, is downright idiotic and undoubtedly biased. Communism is the anti-United States. Individual ownership and responsibility are the ideals that should be preached. Instead, trendy youth wear their Che attire, simply to object to the system. Often totally unaware of who Che Guevara is, these youth are not educated into his methodical killings and ridiculous ideology. Nowhere are students informed of how speaking out, as they do, would be an unacceptable option anywhere but in a free Capitalistic state. Normally, communists are correctly labeled fanatical freedom haters, a simple education into communist history has ensured this proper characterization. However, without that correct education, people will no longer dismiss these fanatics outright. Instead, American youths are being told half-truths about Communism to conceal its horrific history.
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Capitalism, although not perfect, is best able to take advantage of human nature. The drive for wealth and the inherent tendencies of greed are able to benefit everyone through free markets. While Communism will, undoubtedly, collapse because no one cares about their work or the collective belongings. Capitalism institutes a system where self ownership is idealized. In this system, the drive for wealth creates innovation and employs the nation. It is the competition to better oneself that allows for an ultimate greater good. In the United States, economic and social freedoms are stressed equally. Also, individuals are born with these freedoms, no government has the power to grant or retract them. The tendency of greed is idealized in such ways to incentivize growth and innovation. Unlike Communism, a free capitalist state allows for opposition within. What is used to combat this domestic opposition is a good education. If the proper education into the history and brutality of communism is lost, an incorrect resurgence of such ideas is likely to occur.
