I commented on What is Socialism with the following:
Marx was a smart guy, particularly on his analysis of class. But, imo, his conclusions are all wrong. He observed literal communes and abstracted that system as a model for his ideal state. Communes only work when you're personally invested in the others of your community. Families as communes are a good example: you as a producer are willing to work for the benefit of your children. When you (as a producer) are robbed by the state to provide for someone you don't know, and may not even like were you to get to know them, you start to look for alternate states where you can retain a larger portion of your productivity, and retain the freedom to produce primarily for yourself and the people you know and care about.
2 comments:
Interesting, but I must disagree. You are under the assumption that Marx believed in a Socialist "state" ran by bureaucrats. He believed in a democratic control of the state by the workers, not in an elite stratum of bureaucrats who were a parasite on the workers' state (taken from http://www.newyouth.com/content/view/117/60/#marxism). Marx himself said before dying that based on the then current interpretations of his ideas, he himself was not a Marxist.
Matt,
Thanks for your comment. I haven't confused the economic system with the government system as you suggest, though I agree that most socialist governments have been run poorly. I think my statements hold even in a socialist democracy. Further, I believe that socialist systems are ripe for corruption, which I partially outline here: http://sanerantsonstuff.blogspot.com/2008/10/note-on-power.html
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