Equal distribution of resources Communism Equal distribution of resources

Communism Defined: In a communist state, the emphasis is on money and resources. The goal is to eliminate rich and poor classes. Therefore, all profits are collected by the government, and then redistributed to put all citizens on an equal level.

Distribution of Power (Wealth)

Distribution of Power (Wealth)

Key Figures Karl Marx envisioned the communist ideal. Friedrich Engels helped him flesh out his ideas.

Key Figures Vladimir Lenin was the first government official to attempt communism. Later, Mao Tse Tung and Che Guevara would start similar communist revolutions.

“Stalin Epigram” Our lives no longer feel the ground under them. At ten paces, you can’t hear our words. But whenever there’s a snatch of talk it turns to the Kremlin mountaineer, the ten thick worms of his fingers his words like measures of weight, the huge, laughing cockroaches on his top lip, the glitter of his boot-rims. Ringed with a scum of chicken-necked bosses, he toys with the tributes of half-men. One whistles, another meows, a third snivels. he pokes out his finger, and he alone goes boom. He forges decrees in a line like horseshoes, one for the groin, one the forehead, temple, eye. He rolls the executions on his tongue like berries. He wishes he could hug them like big friends from home.

Historical Examples Many countries have tried to become communist, including Russia (the Soviet Union), China, Vietnam, Korea, Cuba, and others. No country has ever achieved a true communist status.

If our class were a communist regime: All students would work their hardest to earn a grade. The grades would be turned in to Mr. Greenwood He would average the grades. Everyone would receive the average grade on their report cards.

Pros and Cons Pros Cons No rich or poor Promotes unity Fair No real incentive to work Difficult to manage Allows for some to “cheat” Might result in less productivity

Decisions One of the major criticisms of communism is that Marx never really explained how all this would work. Nothing is set up to show how to make decisions.

Is our country communist? No. However, many of our programs (taxes, welfare, public roads, schools, etc.) are communist (or socialist) in nature.