RE: 40 Percent Off -5minutefreewrite
I've been a Union Electrician since 1985, and the power of a unified group is very effective. You might be a bit put off to find that we don't "exactly agree" with your "foundational statement", at least as much in that I do not think we should be limited strictly to our "needs". I believe we should be allowed to work harder if we want more, but that does allow Human Nature back into the equation, but then again, no man-made system will ever be able to eliminate that. Plus, some folks are just better at acquiring wealth, and some are actually good at distributing to the poor, and workers. I really DO like the "gift economy" as it is constructed here, just enough elements of Communal Living, and wealth generation. I have No Problems with Whales, they do for a foundation for Steemit. if ANY FORM of "communism" can work, I suspect it will be very Digital.
That 2A link you provided, I just did a quick preview of that and it looks Fantastic! I saw the Orwell quote before, and I love it.
I also firmly agree with your Bottom Up, Local Basis example, that is really the best for any type of governance. I did live for 6 years in one of the most liberal localities in the 100,000+ populations in the USA, and it is Bloomington Indiana. They are RABIDLY Local, and they make it work pretty well! They will vote up taxes in a heartbeat, for a worthwhile project, and there is a higher level of participation and much less "apathy" than I have seen anywhere I have lived. Seems the students love the town, well, it WAS the USA's largest city w/o an interstate highway, until I-69 was finished. It is now growing by leaps and bounds. Lots of good folks there, I miss it for many reasons.
I see many possibilities if folks like us, seeming on 2 sides of a question, can work together. I am heading up a Steemit Community myself, and I'm sure this convo will help me to be a better "leader"... but I do try and lead by example, and promoting participation by all. Tha's the hard part LOL!!!
@underground
Of course, "to each according to their need" doesn't mean that everyone should only subsist on the minimum needed to survive. It does mean that those who have needs will have their needs met. That if someone needs more healthcare, the determining factor of whether they get that healthcare isn't whether they've produced an equivalent amount of value, just that they need it. And from each according to their ability doesn't mean we all have to work as much as possible, but rather, if someone's in need, you help them, not because they owe you, but because you can.
LOL yeah I saw that after I replied, then I figured you'd verify it. It changed tense or syntax or w/e, English was not my strongest subject ;) More of a numbers guy. I do see where it is tailored to our Abilities, instead of "because I said so" which is good. So yes, I can agree. Now that you cleared it up!
Many have said the Christianity has a lot in common with socialism. I do see some of the core principles being borrowed, but in a centralized government scenario, it is easy to pervert some things. That pesky Human Nature thingy again 😂 Unbridled (crony) Capitalism suffers from it as well, like I said before, no man-made system is going to be Perfect...
@underground I don't actually think human nature is a net negative. I do, however, think, "a few bad apples spoil the bunch". If everybody is active, we can easily keep the very few folks who are going to harm humanity from gaining power.
The big difference between any capitalism and any communism insofar as power goes is, in capitalism, it is part of the foundation of the system that those with more have power over those without. That owners get to pay or not pay workers. That a few people wield the instruments of power. Under communism, the power is inherently in the hands of the workers, so it is inherently more democratic.
Regardless, though, the many must actively understand the workings of economic power and fight for the best interests of the many, rather than allowing themselves to be convinced by the ruling class that their interests lie in maintaining the status quo.