SSN Special Report: Ukraine's Hooligans

[TBD]

Good point, I remember the BBC desperately defining the hard-line Communist generals, who confronted Yeltsin, as "Right-wingers"

Lazy, or deliberately misleading, journalism has tended to apply "right-wing" to all extreme regimes. Those left-wingers,well they just love everyone. Cuddly people like Mao, and good old Uncle Joe Stalin.
Who was the target of that good socialist, George Orwell's satire in Animal Farm? Both extremes have their nutters.

In 1984 the political ideolody was called Ingsoc English Socialism. Clearly extremes of either wing lead to nothing good!

 

[TBD]

None of those are true examples of communism, but it is true that, even in a properly functioning communist state (something we have never seen), there would be very little art, literature or music. Not because of censorship, but because there would be no incentive for creativity.

There are no true examples of communism because its impossible. Any ideology which depends on the good will of people will always fail. Whether you explain it from a religous or atheist perspective human nature is most definitly flawed.

 

[TBD]

Also this thread is flipping awsome love a bit of politics!

 

[AdamBanana20]

Have you been to Cuba Adam? Whilst it's not as unremittingly grim as the former Soviet Bloc countries, the prisons are full, there is no internet access (I wonder why?), nothing works, and the natives are frightened to talk to foreigners.

No,I've never been to Cuba,but I'd like to go there one day.The natives aren't frightened to talk to foreigners,where did you get that idea from?

 

[AdamBanana20]

None of those are true examples of communism, but it is true that, even in a properly functioning communist state (something we have never seen), there would be very little art, literature or music. Not because of censorship, but because there would be no incentive for creativity.

There is plenty of music in Cuba,they only promote music that the states deems as being good,as in it doesn't disrespect the state.I don't know about art and literature though...

 

[Archers Road]

No,I've never been to Cuba,but I'd like to go there one day.The natives aren't frightened to talk to foreigners,where did you get that idea from?

Go there. It's absolutely true about the locals, I can assure you. They're a frightened and oppressed people. Whilst they have eradicated the worst of the poverty you'll find on some islands, Cuba is the only place in the Carribean where people don't smile.

 

[Joe!]

Go there. It's absolutely true about the locals, I can assure you. They're a frightened and oppressed people. Whilst they have eradicated the worst of the poverty you'll find on some islands, Cuba is the only place in the Carribean where people don't smile.

There might be a few people in Kingston, Jamaica who'd have something to say about that.

 

[AdamBanana20]

Go there. It's absolutely true about the locals, I can assure you. They're a frightened and oppressed people. Whilst they have eradicated the worst of the poverty you'll find on some islands, Cuba is the only place in the Carribean where people don't smile.

What about the people who work in the tourism industry?They'll be happy to see foreigners.

 

[breconsaint]

There are no true examples of communism because its impossible. Any ideology which depends on the good will of people will always fail. Whether you explain it from a religous or atheist perspective human nature is most definitly flawed.

Careful! We'll be moving on to "original sin " next!

You're right about impossible ideologies. The problem is that they don't allow for human frailties, and are so sure of their own perfection that they are viciously intolerant of those who have failed to "see the light".

 

[OddRiverOakWizards]

All ideologies are theoretical ideal situations. Hence we can argue that no-one has ever achieved anything like Communism so we cannot say that it failed. This is why I do not understand why people say that we must stick so carefully to our current economic policy or we must stimulate growth; just like free market and Keynsian models they are nothing more than models and therefore we should not use them as blue print as how to run an economy or society. You wouldn't wear a coat because the Met Offices forecast said it would rain tomorrow if there is strong sun outside.

 

[breconsaint]

All ideologies are theoretical ideal situations. Hence we can argue that no-one has ever achieved anything like Communism so we cannot say that it failed. This is why I do not understand why people say that we must stick so carefully to our current economic policy or we must stimulate growth; just like free market and Keynsian models they are nothing more than models and therefore we should not use them as blue print as how to run an economy or society. You wouldn't wear a coat because the Met Offices forecast said it would rain tomorrow if there is strong sun outside.

Yes, but 'falling short' of utopian communism has killed more people in the 20th century than even Fascism. Imperfect free market models may cause a certain misery, but far short of collectivism, gulags/concentration/death camps, and final solutions.