Ben Seattle answers: Frequently Asked Questions about communism The following represents my own views. Many people who consider themselves communists will probably disagree with much of what follows. For their views, contact them or see other faqs below. Some readers may wish to view the wikipedia definitions for communism and socialism. • (Ben) What do our readers think of this FAQ? • What is communism? • What is socialism? • Where has communism existed? • What about human nature? • What happened to Lenin's 1917 revolution? • What democratic rights will workers have after the overthrow of bourgeois rule? • How will workers prevent the former bourgeoisie (or a new ruling class) from coming back to power? • What will a genuine classless, communist society be like? • What is "the crisis of theory" ? • Want to help overcome the crisis of theory ? What is communism? The word "communism" means different things to different people and has both a scientific definition and a very non-scientific (ie: bullshit ) definition that is commonly used and believed. The following chart may help to clarify: What is Communism? science vs. bullshit Scientific definition: A classless society with no exploitation. No state machine used by one section of the population to oppress another section. No need for professional armies or police forces. No use of production for profit or exchange. Society runs in accord with the principle: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Bullshit definition (ie: commonly believed--but WRONG) Rule of society by a single party which maintains a monopoly of political power and suppresses all opposition. Control of the economy via centralized bureaucratic planning. Examples of bullshit definition: the former Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea, etc. What is socialism? The word "socialism" also means many different things to different people. There is a scientific definition and at least two commonly believed bullshit definitions. The following chart may help: What is Socialism? science vs. bullshit Scientific definition: A society run by the working class rather than the bourgeoisie. The state machine is used to defend working class interests against those who still have wealth or power and who will attempt to return society to the capitalist system and bourgeois rule. Socialism is the period of transition between the overthrow of bourgeois rule and the development of a classless, communist society. Bullshit definitions (ie: commonly believed--but WRONG) -- Bullshit definition # 1 -- Society in which the ruling bourgeoisie slightly betters the conditions of life of the working class and oppressed, through such measures as slightly higher taxation of the capitalists. In Europe the word socialism is often identified with the political trend of social-democracy. Examples of bullshit definition # 1: (at various times) Sweden, France, etc. -- Bullshit definition # 2 -- Rule of society by a single party which maintains a monopoly of political power and suppresses all opposition. Control of the economy via centralized bureaucratic planning. Examples of bullshit definition # 2: the former Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea, etc. Where has communism existed? Nowhere. Communism, in the scientific sense of a classless society, has never existed. Exception: A form of primitive communism existed within primitive communal societies in prehistoric times Where has socialism existed? Same as above. Scientific socialism (ie: the rule of society by the working class) has never existed (except in embryonic form such as the Paris Commune of 1871 or the early period of the 1917 revolution in Russia). The words "communism" and "socialism" are commonly mis-used to describe a society in which a popular revolution against the ruling class and foreign imperialism results in a radical transformation of property relations and an improvement in the living conditions of the masses. These popular revolutions deserve support against imperialist attack. But at the same time it is necessary to recognise the vast distance between such popular revolutions and the rule of society by the working class. The Interactive FAQ ( FAQ = "Frequently Asked Questions" ) • bullshit or brilliant? (vote on this FAQ) • What's your question? • Other FAQ's Bullshit or brilliant? If you want to comment on communism then go to the forum here. • If you want to vote on the usefullness of the questions and answers in this FAQ then vote here:   Really cool !! Useful, but maybe a few problems Not sure--will think about this Some really serious problems   Total bullshit Other ... Optional comment: keep it clean: posts using obscene language will be deleted. (but the word "bullshit" is ok) Please: only vote once   What's your question? I will make use of these questions as I gradually expand the FAQ. If you need a quick answer, see the other FAQ's or the references on the top left-hand side of the page at http://communism.org. Please: no more than one question per hour Please note: If you want a personal reply from me, first look at my site on proletarian democracy. Give me some solid indication that you have read that essay, and I will then answer any 3 questions you send to: faq_qu @ Leninism.org   Other FAQ's More FAQ's on communism: -- classics -- Karl Marx by Lenin, 1913 The famous Communist Manifesto (Marx-Engels, 1848) The first FAQ on Communism (Engels, 1847) -- Wikipedia -- communism • socialism • marxism -- found on google -- from NewYouth.com Young Communist League, USA Red Future Maoism FAQ World Socialist Movement, FAQ Young Communist League, Minnesota,USA -- Some other FAQ's I found -- Louis Proyect's marxmail.org FAQ Marxism Made Simple David McMullen's Socialism FAQ -- Right-wing or reactionary anti-communist FAQ's -- here and here and here and here Google search for communism+FAQ Google search for marxism+FAQ If you know of any particularly useful FAQ's on communism, send me the link and I will add it to this list. Please: no more than one link per hour What about human nature? See my essay (below): Communism and Human Nature What happened to Lenin's 1917 revolution? The most well-known attempt at working class rule (ie: Lenin's October 1917 revolution) was eventually suffocated and degenerated into a single party regime that ruled like feudal lords and suppressed all serious opposition (ie: a police state where a single organization enforced a monopoly on political thought and activity). It is a measure of the backwardness of pre-revolutionary Russia that the police state that emerged from the popular revolution created a vast improvement in the living conditions of the masses. But this state did not represent the rule of the working class. What democratic rights will workers have after the overthrow of bourgeois rule? In a workers' state in the context of a stable, modern society (ie: with a modern economy and infrastructure) workers will have the right to: create independent political organizations and mobilize mass opinion against the inevitable incompetence, hypocrisy and corruption of people and policies of their own workers' state (For more info and backgound on this see my essay on proletarian democracy) How will workers prevent the former bourgeoisie (or a new ruling class) from coming back to power? The workers' state will make use of many measures to prevent the former bourgeoisie (or any aspiring future ruling class) from recreating the rule of a few over the many. One very important measure will be the separation of speech and property: The separation of speech and property Commercial speech (and all forms of media created with paid labor) will be subject to control by the masses and their state. Non-commercial speech/media (ie: created with volunteer labor) will be essentially unrestricted (ie: similar to free speech rights within modern bourgeois society) (For more info on this see my essay on proletarian democracy) What would a genuine classless, communist society be like? The most reasonable scientific speculation (of which I am aware) on how a genuine classless, communist society would function is my own The Self-Organizing Moneyless Economy and also a similar work called Communist society: a dialogue Other questions? There are lots of questions which this FAQ doesn't answer--including the nature of the transition society that will exist between capitalism and communism--and questions like: "How do we get from here to there?" Some of these questions may be answered in my theoretical work (below). What is "the crisis of theory" ? The degeneration of the Soviet and Chinese revolutions have created a situation where it is essentially impossible for people to even think about a society that is not ruled by the bourgeoisie. This situation is what is called the crisis of theory. The theoretical degeneration characterisitic of the current "left ecosystem" has resulted in political activists being left with a desperate choice between two bullshit alternatives: a supposedly "socialist" police state where workers are exploited by a new ruling class and the independent political voice, life and activity of workers is ruthlessly suppressed eternal bourgeois rule Until the crisis of theory is overcome the various mass movements against the worst outrages of the capitalist system (ie: the movements against imperialist wars, against the WTO and corporate globalization, etc.) will never be able to fire millions of people with the unshakeable conviction that another world is really possible. Until the crisis of theory is overcome there can never be a mass movement for the overthrow of bourgeois rule. Want to help overcome the crisis of theory ? You can help overcome the crisis of theory. If you are a serious revolutionary activist (or are considering becoming one) then your help is needed! Join the POF-200 discussion list. Help other activists such as yourself develop a clear and militant focus on the tasks that are decisive for the liberation of humanity! Want to see the overthrow of bourgeois rule?   Do you have what it takes to be part of the pof-200 discussion list ?  Determination  •  Humility  •  Militancy  •  Maturity And if you are not quite ready yet to join a militant and focused discussion list--then subscribe to the POF-100 announcement list and you will receive two emails a year (nothing less and nothing more) that will keep you informed of the progress of my various projects aimed at forging weapons of information war to be used with skill by the hands of the proletariat. It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               Ben Seattle ----//-// 23.Dec.2003

 

Ben's theoretical work A survey of Ben Seattle's theoretical work -- in the form of 29 political ads used in the communism forum -- =================================== 1 =================================== It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               =================================== 2 =================================== Communism and human nature The self-organizing moneyless economy of the future will unleash the full potential of human initiative and the striving for happiness     Many who post here argue that communism will never be possible because of "human nature". The essence of this false argument is the belief that a communist society would consist of an all-powerful central government that would tell everybody what to do--and would therefore undermine the creative initiative of individuals and the search for happiness.     • This argument is based on two false assumptions: (1) It assumes that a communist society will look like the former Soviet Union, or the current China, North Korea, etc (ie: corrupt police states with a feudal-style ruling class) (2) It assumes that people will only work in order to own bigger and bigger piles of commodities.     • The truth is that: (1) There will be no government in communist society--people will do what they want without being pushed around by anyone. The development of a corrupt police state or a new ruling class will be prevented by the struggles of the masses who will be armed with the weapon of transparency. (2) In a world of abundance for all no one will have to struggle (or even work) for the necessities of life (which will be a birthright--just like the air we all breathe). People will work on projects of their own choosing because (a) they find the work fun and interesting; (b) they enjoy the work relationships with talented and dedicated co-workers; (c) they want to make the world a better place; or (d) they want social status and recognition. A world of abundance for all where work is fun (and voluntary) will be made possible by a much higher productivity of human labor.     • An example of communist work relationships is provided by the Linux computer operating system--the core of which was created by many thousands of people--all working for free. A 2nd example is the "work" involved when people post to this board. No one gets paid to post here--but people do so--because it is an expression of their principles and convictions.     • Who is in control? Under capitalism (and previous economic systems such as feudalism and slavery) only a small fraction of the population has control over their conditions of work--and the life of society as a whole. Only under genuine communism will the masses control their conditions of work--and the culture, economy and politics of society. • (Ben Seattle • Dec 2003)

=================================== 3 =================================== The Self-Organizing Moneyless Economy     The first scientific speculation on how a communist economy and political system will function in the 21st century. Featuring brief sketches of the organization of political, cultural and economic life in a future where all authority flows from principles that have been distributed universally and are part of everyone's internal compass rather than institutions which are external to the individual and which use one or another form of carrot or stick.     The future communist economy, based on the principle of from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, will not be based on the market, money, capital, commodities or wages (ie: the economy will not be based on exchange or trade of any kind) nor will there exist any kind of supreme central authority telling everyone what to do.     All work and all economic actions will be voluntary (ie: gifts freely given without strings attached--nor expectations of reciprocity). The communist economy will consist of myriad self-organizing assemblies of economic units in competition with one another to most efficiently transform skilled labor and other resources into forms of social wealth serving the the material and cultural needs of the masses. (1995) =================================== 4 =================================== Politics, Economics and the Mass Media when the working class runs the show After the overthrow of bourgeois rule, during the period of transition to a communist economy ...     • Will there be elections?     • The three economic sectors       (private capitalist, state capitalist, gift economy)     • The evolution of the mass media       (commercial media, state media, free media) =================================== 5 =================================== A scenario for the overthrow of bourgeois rule in the U.S. in the middle of the 21st century Here is one way events may unfold ... 1. The digital fire • 2. Electoral victory • 3. Economic retaliation 4. Workers stand firm • 5. Attempted decapitation • 6. Workers' movement resilient 7. Bourgeoisie paralyzed • 8. Workers' victorious • 9. Stable workers' state =================================== 6 =================================== The Future Transparent Workers' State Will a workers' state be a brutal police state or a machine controlled by workers? Are we paralyzed by fear of violent and brutal repression? Or defiant, courageous and determined to win victory with mass-based information war? • Who's afraid of "red fascism"? • The solution to the crisis of theory • Thermador vs. Transparency • Mass-based information war • Why "censorship by filter" is doomed to fail • Productivity of labor inseparable from revolution in communications • How the bourgeois political machine undermines the independence of the mass oppositional movements =================================== 7 =================================== Want to see the overthrow of bourgeois rule?   Do you have what it takes to be part of the pof-200 discussion list ?  Determination  •  Humility  •  Militancy  •  Maturity =================================== 8 =================================== It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               =================================== 9 =================================== The cyberLeninist Manifesto The principle that "information wants to be free" fits Leninism like a bullet does a rifle in what turns out to be the ultimate nightmare for the bourgeoisie. Leninism, as a continuation of the practical and theoretical work of Karl Marx, had two stages in the period that Lenin was alive. The period from Lenin's death to approximately the present time has represented the third stage of Leninism. Now, as the coming revolution in digital communications promises to link-up class-conscious workers in every country, we are entering the fourth stage. Leninism I • (1896-1917) • Building a party that withstood repression and fought emergent social-democracy Leninism II • (1917-1923) • State power under harsh conditions Leninism III • (1924 -- approximately today) • Leninism in the hands of its enemies Leninism IV • (after the fall of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the internet) • Classical Leninism plus "information wants to be free"     (Oct 1996) =================================== 10 ===================================   How to Build the Party of the Future By continuing our political development and harnessing the power of the coming revolution in communications--we can help to lay the foundation for a communist "trend of trends" with the ability to eradicate sectarianism from our ranks, puncture the influence of reformism over a vast audience, capture the imagination of workers in their millions and mobilize our class to ignite a fire that cannot be extinguished     The coming revolution in communications, now in its earliest stages, is already beginning to demonstrate its potential to influence the development and interaction of Marxist (and would-be Marxist) organizations. In the next decade or so, the communications revolution holds promise to completely transform the "left ecosystem" at present consisting predominantly of squabbling sectarian grouplets, craven reformists and the just-plain confused. In place of this will likely emerge a dynamic and powerful system of communist organizations which will both compete and cooperate with one another ... (May 1997, unfinished, deals with principles and history of international communist movement) =================================== 11 =================================== 1917 was the beta version What are the decisive tasks today to rebuild a communist movement worthy of the name ? 1. working to create a web-based news service without copyright that would be open to all trends 2. focusing discussion on the system of workers' rule as it will exist in modern conditions     (Nov 1997) =================================== 12 =================================== Want to see the overthrow of bourgeois rule?   Do you have what it takes to be part of the pof-200 discussion list ?  Determination  •  Humility  •  Militancy  •  Maturity =================================== 13 =================================== How will economics, politics and culture work when the working class runs modern society? Working class rule has never existed in a modern, stable society. However it will emerge triumphant in the 21st century. How will a workers' state suppress the former ruling bourgeoisie without also suppressing the independent political life of workers? (Apr 2001) =================================== 14 =================================== Seventeen Theses • Includes 9 theses on the Emerging Revolution in Communications and its Significance for the Awakening of Proletarian Political life and Consciousness (a fairly concentrated summary of Ben's views on our tasks in the coming period of transparency and information war) • Includes poll and bulletin board   (July 2001) =================================== 15 =================================== It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               =================================== 16 =================================== Finding the Confidence to Build the Future How will the working class keep supply chains running and bourgeois apologists from flooding the airwaves on the morning after bourgeois rule is broken? The crisis of theory is that we don't have a goal that makes any sense. The alternative to resolving the crisis of theory is to restrict our vision to rolling a heavy stone up a hill until the end of time. {Excerpt}   ...   But if we seek a fundamental change to the status quo--we soon run into a formidable obstacle: fundamental change to the status quo is unthinkable.     The progressive movement (even the most serious, militant sections of it) is totally incapable of coming up with any serious alternative to the present system of bourgeois rule. The alternatives we are offered are only fit for people with the mentality of children. The militant "marxists" offer us an alternative that consists, essentially, of a police state. The militant anarchists offer us only childish daydreams. This failure of the progressive movement to offer a serious alternative to the rule of the rich is called the "crisis of theory".     It is because of this crisis of theory that fundamental change to the status quo is unthinkable. No one can imagine it, picture it, visualize it, or explain it in terms that are remotely realistic--in terms that take into account the specific features of modern, economically developed societies. This is why such an alternative is unthinkable. It is impossible to think about.     (January 2003) =================================== 17 =================================== Which way forward for the development of a powerful anti-war movement? The decisive step forward for the anti-war movement is to develop in depth so that it can give tens and hundreds of thousands a clear understanding of the class nature of our society and the need to end the rule of the bourgeoisie. • Hit them where it hurts • How to move the Democrats to the left • The need for revolutionary organizations that are deserving of the respect of the masses.   (March 2003) =================================== 18 =================================== Want to see the overthrow of bourgeois rule?   Do you have what it takes to be part of the pof-200 discussion list ?  Determination  •  Humility  •  Militancy  •  Maturity =================================== 19 =================================== It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               =================================== 20 =================================== Frequently Asked Questions What is communism? • What is socialism? • Where has communism or socialism existed? Communism and human nature • What happened to Lenin's 1917 revolution? • What democratic rights will workers have after the overthrow of bourgeois rule? • How will workers prevent the former bourgeoisie (or a new ruling class) from coming back to power? • What will a genuine classless, communist society look like? =================================== 21 =================================== =================================== 22 =================================== =================================== 23 ===================================   The History of the Universe The self-organization of matter from the big bang to the future ... From the dawn of life to the self-organizing moneyless economy =================================== 24 =================================== It's easy to keep informed! Get email updates twice a year   No spam--just an email sent to you twice a year               =================================== 25 =================================== Want to see the overthrow of bourgeois rule?   Do you have what it takes to be part of the pof-200 discussion list ?  Determination  •  Humility  •  Militancy  •  Maturity =================================== 26 =================================== =================================== 27 =================================== =================================== 28 =================================== =================================== 29 ===================================