Still scared of the Red? Democrats vs. Communists

MY SUBJECT POSITION:

Many people find politics very frustrating, as it is a topic where there is a lot of disagreement about the proper way to govern society. Within the United States alone, there are countless beliefs and opinions. I am not only referring to different ideologies within our democracy, such as Republicans, Libertarians, Democrats, ect. There are people who believe we are not practicing the right form of government at all, and think a communist government would eliminate many of our problems.

My world and upbringing have caused me to create a social construct of a communist. My parents grew up right after the second red scare, and cringe when they hear the word, and naturally I follow in their footsteps. Karl Marx and North Korea have a sour ring to their name in many American’s minds, those who grew up during the 1950’s. I have heard many stories about nuclear bomb drills that my parents partook in during elementary school in fear of the communists and the use of their deadly weapons. We recently studied Karl Marx in my political science class, and I have actually found his ideas to be quite interesting. However, I am still a steadfast believer in the worth of a democratic and a capitalistic society. After all, as cultural studies has taught me, it would be very unlikely that one class could change my steadfast beliefs that have been instilled in me for years through my parents, and through my culture.

It is interesting to note that when I was searching for pictures for this blogpost I struggled to find any in favor of communism. I know there are plenty of believers in Communism, but the English google image search does not demonstrate that well.

IDENTIFY AN ISSUE:

It is extremely difficult to narrow down the most prominent conflict between these two opposing systems. However, two of the main issues in my opinion are the rights that each form of government gives a citizen, and the problems that each cause/eliminate. 

THE STUMBLING BLOCK:

The goal of a democracy is to provide protection of life, liberty and property. It is focused on giving equal political rights to all citizens, and emphasizes the importance of free speech and the right to dissent from government. Democracy preaches equality, but a communist would beg to differ that it actually accomplishes that goal. Karl Marx says the class struggle is the root of all problems in our society. There is always a 'low class' with capitalism, there are the winners and the losers, the haves and the have nots. This is what communism seeks to abolish, poverty and class struggle. They believe strict government control to ensure everyone's basic needs are met. They highly disown the idea of private property, and think everyone should work according to their ability, and receive according to their needs. A democrat (me) would criticize their theories by saying they are unjust, as people should reap what they sew. Democrats believe freedom of the people in many areas is one of the most important attributes to government. A person is not free in a commune, but essentially a slave to the government. 

This debate is a mad, never ending circle that does not end because the theories draw from two totally different bases. A person believes in one theory or the other, based on many different factors. Maybe an OWS supporter would support communism because they think our economic situation is unjust, at the same time as an investment banker supports capitalism because they made it to the top. Maybe a Chinese citizen supports communism because it is all they have ever known, and can't imagine it the other way. Maybe that's why I am such a strong supporter of Democracy, because I grew up with it being praised. Everyone's beliefs are constructed by their culture, especially those of personal political views.