Would Labour turn this country into a communist state?

Haven’t read all the posts but all I can say is that I have never voted anything but Labour and never would. Have no faith in the current government and it begins to worry me.

No, you didn't, MOnica. But I always get the feeling (speaking generally, not about this thread in particular) that it's somehow OK to be pretty far-right but completely and utterly aberrant and abhorrent to be pretty far left.

Couldn’t believe this thread. How anyone can think a party that cares about people would turn us into a communist state!!!. Stop reading the newspapers and listen to what comes out of the mans mouth.

dyffron

Chinese whispers?
Nobody has said in any thread including this one, that a Communist State will be imposed on us.
This thread is just complaints really, that an anti Corbyn thread ‘has been allowed’. I get the feeling that some would prefer free speech to be not so free.
Cari was right to issue a warning.

It's listening to what has come out his mouth that causes concern

Maizie Nothing I have ever written would give anyone the idea that extreme right wing views are less heinous than extreme lftwing views.

I hold both in equal contempt. - and the parties that espouse them.

I thought that pure communism involved the gathering together of the "workers" to organise the overthrow of the existing ruling class in a violent manner. As in Russia in 1917.
Or is that Marxism?
Maybe not such a bad idea at the moment .
But certainly there cold be a return to nationalisation of main industries and services.

Looking at the history if the Russian Revolution I think it wasn't Marxism or communism, was more like opportunism than anything else... They were in the middle of fighting WW1, for a start.

But it's true that true communism is usually associated with a radical regime change, very often accompanied by violence. And it usually seems to occur in countries that have experienced huge inequalities and no established democratic government.

I don't know if anyone has any examples of it happening any other way?

Looking at it at another angle- would you prefer to live in a Communist or Fascist country?

Neither, jura. Perhaps communist if push came to shove...

Nothing to choose between them. Either way I would probably be among those dispatched to the Gulag.

I agree, m0nica. Both are authoritarian and therefore undesirable.

History tells us that they are both murderous regimes.

Stalin, Hitler both killed millions of their population for a skewed ideology.

It’s true that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ or something like that.

Looking at it at another angle- would you prefer to live in a Communist or Fascist country?

The situation would never be that binary though would it. You would also have an opportunity to fight for democracy. I have no idea why you wouldn't suggest that as a choice. There is nothing to decide between none democratic extremes. I cannot believe anyone on here would not defend our democracy in every way possible.

Having said that we need to heed the warning of the past - where good people did nothing. Either evil could then take hold if we allowed this to happen again.

OK. It's been asserted several times on here that no-one has said that labour government would try to establish a communist state.

If this is so, why are people so scared of them?

Even lemongrove says it will not happen, Maizie, so obviously it will not.

It is a good question though. If no one has ever said or implied that we are on the road to a revolution - what are some posters afraid of?

It would be interesting to have an explanation from those who throw this word about quite frequently as we could then understand a little more about their view of politics.

It would be good to hear from primrose, as she obviously thinks revolution and the gulag still exist.

2 other examples of Communist take-over/ revoltion:
China in 1946 - chairman Mao.
Cuba in 1962-5 - Castro
These revolutions end up with one person having total power over the population.

Thanks, Fennel

Both examples involved violence and the deaths or long term imprisonment of 'opposition' figures.

No countries transitioning peacefully from mature democracy to communist state, though?

This is a totally hypothetical situation. Labour isn't a revolutionary nor a Communist party. It's a democratic socialist party and members/supporters believe in democracy.

Exactly.

Of course the answer to my 'choice' above, is 'neither' - for sure.

And some say we should not even mention fascism- and yet- things can change very quickly, if things go belly up with Brexit, and the Pound does tank and 1000s more jobs are lost- especially in the areas with the highest % of Leave voters- which are likely to suffer the most- and more susceptible to influences from the Far Right- like BF and the BNP, and UKIP. Farage has made open threats again and again- about civil unrest - and he is getting ready to stir people up- he admits it himself- and made it very clear again on Question Time last Thursday.

Just look at what is happening NOW in Italy - fascism is definitely on the rise, and openly so - and I dread the results of the elections. Are you saying this could NOT and would NOT possibly happen in post Brexit or no Brexit UK?

www.itv.com/news/2018-02-26/restaurant-diners-make-fascist-salutes-as-italian-election-dominated-by-immigration-debate/