Originally posted by Millz59
Neither. A constitutional republic is what I prefer.
Communism doesn't work. The idea doesn't work. It does not look good on paper either. Making people "equal" is equivalent to making people mediocre and celebrating it. I have seen what socialism and communism can do to a country first hand, and I can tell you it is not pretty. The massive amounts of redistribution of wealth, the government taking properties from people, the censorship, the execution of people in public, the propaganda. I could go on. I feel as if the people who think that communism is a "good idea in theory" don't exactly know what it feels like when true communism is implemented. I'll leave it at that. I have seen communism first hand, and I can guarantee you wouldn't like to live in it. Even if it may look good on paper to some.
On the other hand, we have a Democracy. Democracy does work for the most part, however the problem is that the general public in most nations that have Democracy are politically and fiscally illiterate, and are going to vote for the the person who promises the most handouts. Now of course this would have been much different 50 years ago, where people still believed that you had the right to earn money and become successful, and where people just loved to work for their country. It was when people still wanted to accomplish things. So, what's wrong with a Democracy some people may ask? Well in recent times, people who are elected under a democracy are elected so with absolute power. They have no regard for things like the constitution, and are stepping all over the rights of the people. What will happen when the world has a Democracy + a crappy socialist leader? Well I'll let you to figure that one out, but if you suffer from some form of critical thinking I think you know what is going to happen. Don't act like it's never going to happen, at this rate I'll probably be prosecuted for speaking out against these types of policies within 50 years. Unless I'm target for assassination instead.
So, what is the answer? A constitutional republic. A constitutional republic means that the elected officials must govern according to exist constitutional law that limits the government's power of it's citizens. That means that a certain someone cannot take away your guns because he/she feels like it, instead they must govern using the constitution. This prevents pure Democracy, and prevents absolute power over the people. A constitutional republic has limited power over the people, meaning that there will be smaller government, more rights given to people and less penalizing of the successful.
I believe neither pure Democracy nor Communism will ever be the best choice for the people. But I obviously would support Democracy over Communism, incase I didn't make myself clear :p
Well said Millz. However the term "looks good on paper" was coined because of the Communist Manifesto since it mentions equality and fairness and never really discusses how corrupt Communism is. However the cruel reality of it is total government control which you brought up in your post. So it's not literally referring to Communism but what Karl Marx said about it.
Me and you share the same political views. And I'm sure we are some of the few people who know what America was founded on.. it was a Constitutional Republic. However throughout the years people have been trying to change it to a Democracy and they are doing so now. And you pretty much nailed it.. free stuff over freedom. I myself would prefer Democracy over Communism but ultimately I want America to go back to being a Constitutional Republic.