Source: Dragon Productions Theater– Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx

“I think I’m one of those few in today’s world who have got a clear knowledge of what communism is and believe in the theory of communism. I also think I’m one of those few avowed communists who are true to the communist values and principles. Nevertheless, I must in this regard make it clear to the world that none should mistake me for Leninists, Stalinists, or Maoists. In fact, I do not recognise Lenin, Stalin, Mao or any of their followers as communist. Why I refuse to recognise them as communist and who I recognise as true communists are not the subject matter of this discourse. I should like to throw light on these issues in some other essay…

Source:Prakash RP

Communism, at least in how its been practiced up until the last thirty-years, or so with the Soviet Union collapsing and the People’s Republic of China moving to a form of state capitalism and the same thing with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Communist Republic of Cuba, has been a government philosophy built around a big centralized state. That the central state, is the country and owns the country and everyone inside of the country are essentially subjects of the central state. With the central state being responsible for the welfare of the people and taking care of the people. While at the same time preserving the communist state. Even if that means locking people up and killing them if they are seen as threats to the communist regime.

Now, if this if the definition of communism, then I believe only a Communist, or Marxist could defend that. But let’s say I’m wrong about what communism is (and I don’t consider myself to be an expert on communism) and that it really is something a lot more positive than that and a communist state, is not what we’ve seen North Korea collapse into, (keep in mind, the word communist comes from community) then what is it?

If communism is really just about community and protecting the collective (and not necessarily the government) and making sure everyone is taken care of and doesn’t have to go without, then how is communism different from democratic socialism or social democracy? And how is a true Communist, different from a Democratic Socialist or Social Democrat? Those are the questions that people who call themselves true Communists, have never even tried to answer before.

But if my second definition of communism is correct and the first one is wrong, (and I’ll take that bet) then what makes communism better, or different from socialism?

If the difference between a Communist and Socialist, that the Socialist tends to be more democratically oriented? That they believe in multi-party systems and elections? A list of both welfare and individual rights and that everyone is entitled to a certain amount of autonomy over their own personal and economic affairs? That the Communist, believes in the welfare of their people and that everyone should be taken care of. But is so in love with themselves and their political system, that they believe they are entitled to absolute power and don’t deserve to have any opposition whatsoever?

If I’m wrong about the differences between a Socialist (and I mean Democratic Socialist, or Social Democrat) and a Marxist like Fidel Castro, or someone like that and that Communists, do believe in at least a certain level of both personal and economic autonomy, which means freedom at least in America, then why do you need both socialism and communism, if they’re the same thing?

I welcome anyone who actually understands communism to answer these questions  on this piece. My guess is they aren’t the same thing. That there are good reasons to be a Socialist, because again Socialists believe in at least a certain level of democracy and freedom. Both personal and economic freedom. As we see with Bernie Sanders and social democracies in Europe.