There has been some confusion, over quite a long time on GN, by posters who suggest or state that the Labour Party has Communist policies
This is so incorrect, I decided to explain what Communism actual was both in theory and in the "Communist" states we have had/do have.
. My parents were Communists - and have also studied politics and economics at uni.
We haven’t ever had a ‘true” Communist society, but these are the features:
No one, no one at all, owns any private property, nor owns any businesses, nor own any land, nor the means of production, nor goods beyond their needs.
All run by the state, which in theory was post a workers revolution, and workers co-operatives.
In the original communist theory:
People are paid not according to their abilities, but their needs.
All health and education and similar services are run by the state, no private opportunities at all.
All receive a state pension/welfare is necessary however much they have paid in, ie, again, according to need, not savings and so on.
Of course, the societies called Communist did not reach this theoretical Communism, but there was certainly no private ownership or other kinds of ownership as described as above: and health, education and welfare all run by the state.
Note - meals were provided at work, and schools and all welfare places, but there was only a few years when meals were communally provided for those who wanted
Most people, as we do, wanted to eat at home except for lunch or other work breaks, where food was still supplied, and did so, once the turmoil of revolution ended
*But States we called Communist were was not run by Worker’s Co-operatives, they were run by supposedly free elections -
- hence the rise of those in power as we have known them, and the KGB et al*
I suggest we stop using the term Communist unless it is accurate.
It as happened so many times I decided to explain, and will again.
So.....hence this thread.
I think that the nearest we have ever got to the Marxian concept of communism are small communities probably with an optimum of 150 people acting as a a cooperative, sharing resources and decisions.
The Amish probably are an example of how it works.
Oreo
And as we saw with Russia, some comrades were more equal than other comrades.😠
That has never been a communist state.
Another feature of communism which I think you missed, Wyllow, was the 'command economy'. Decisions on what was needed by the state and in what quantities, (e.g machinery, agricultural produce etc.) were made centrally and the workers in those industries were allocated quotas of what they had to produce.
And as we saw with Russia, some comrades were more equal than other comrades.😠
mum2three
Surely Jeremy Corbyn is a Communist, and this is the main reason why he was so unpopular.
Communism sounds good in theory, but there has to be people in control, so it doesn't work in practise.
Your second sentence hits "nail on head", mum2three .
Much earlier I described my Dad as an idealistic Communist. Despite all his life experience, he had, to hold onto his core values to believe that the political changes he believed in, could actually change people's characters:
Although this may be true to a point,
fundamentally you cannot take out envy or bitterness or greed or spite
(or its positive opposites)
The communist or socialist utopia breaks down because there are many with ability who refuse to contribute to the greater good, even if that is helping their own neighborhood or relatives, it’s always some else’s responsibility.
That was one post on one thread only.
And the nearest we have ever got to a communist economy is Cuba but that was never an economy/society as Marx described.
I do wonder if a communist society as described in Marx philosophy is ever possible - given the way we are progressing- or regressing🙄
Oreo
Where are all these posters who you claim are confusing the Labour Party with Communism Wyllow3 as I haven’t seen any at all.
Well, as Wyllow posted the explanation of communism not only on this thread, but on another very recent thread in which the OP actually says, in relation to a Labour project, Taxing companies out of business and replacing them by a highly inefficient wasteful government alternative? Wait... That's not socialism. That's communism! you're clearly not reading all threads...
Galaxy
I would find most of the earlier points you mentioned really important areas to think about, culture, religion, etc, I think the right are sometimes more willing to discuss these issues than the progressives.
I very much disagree.
In my experience, both are equally willing.
The people I know who are lefties enjoy - if it is their disposition - jumping in for a good old discussion, which includes reviewing opinions from all sides.
As is the case with right wingers who like a good old discussion - question is - do they include reviewing opinions from all sides?
I cant answer that one, not being right wing, but I'm sure some do and some don't, not follow the press outlets blindly, just as lefties may or may not follow the press outlets blindly.
mum2three
Surely Jeremy Corbyn is a Communist, and this is the main reason why he was so unpopular.
Communism sounds good in theory, but there has to be people in control, so it doesn't work in practise.
No Corbyn isn’t a communist
He is a socialist.
The difference is enormous.
First he is operating in a capitalist economy and second he has never ever talked about anything other than a mixed economy.
Petra 😁I don’t think there’s much danger of nodding dogs on here.
Where are all these posters who you claim are confusing the Labour Party with Communism Wyllow3 as I haven’t seen any at all.
Caleo
If "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need," defines a 'communist' then I am a communist .
I call myself socialist , not communist, because Marx's famous slogan is never going to be absolutely actualised due to human greed.
I’m with you Caleo 👏👏👏
Voltaire might well have said I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it, but I don't think it ever stopped him disagreeing with 'what you say' and saying why he disagreed.
If "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need," defines a 'communist' then I am a communist .
I call myself socialist , not communist, because Marx's famous slogan is never going to be absolutely actualised due to human greed.
Quote windmill1 Sun 13-Jul-25 07:36:04
Unfortunately, today's Labour Party is a million miles from the party Keir Hardie founded and he would disown the lot if he were still alive.
Champagne socialists, the lying traitors.
There isn’t trouble in mill now, no miners to have their deaths
honoured in parliament now
MaizieD
Nice try, Wyllow but the truth is that opinions trump facts any day.
Ask what has formed that opinion and you’re out in the cold…
To create peace and harmony on GN I would suggest we put up this video as an answer.
www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1044262120-nodding-dog-on-dashboard-car-shaking-head
Galaxy
I would find most of the earlier points you mentioned really important areas to think about, culture, religion, etc, I think the right are sometimes more willing to discuss these issues than the progressives.
I think people are sometimes more willing to give their views than they are to discuss these issues in detail with others who have different viewpoints.
Surely Jeremy Corbyn is a Communist, and this is the main reason why he was so unpopular.
Communism sounds good in theory, but there has to be people in control, so it doesn't work in practise.
I would find most of the earlier points you mentioned really important areas to think about, culture, religion, etc, I think the right are sometimes more willing to discuss these issues than the progressives.
Nice try, Wyllow but the truth is that opinions trump facts any day.
Ask what has formed that opinion and you’re out in the cold…
Its worth looking at the roots of how those who claim "the Labour Party is communist get their information from" rather than focusing just on GN posters who claim this.
We find labels of “Communism” from Right Wing politicans and the press, in cultural references.
I'll just jump in with examples
The Express reported in 2019 that
“Nigel Farage was flabbergasted at the Labour Party's proposed plans to abolish private schools, branding the action “Communism”.
(This sort of remark was widespread in my search, but I thought it more interesting to see "what is behind it".)
John Anderson Media has for example produced videos which outline whole right wing theories on it - eg in 2024
“Keir Starmer & The Communist Roots Of 'New Labour' “Peter Hitchens describes the ideological roots of Keir Starmer's government.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q4n7l0SwTw&t=15s
That discussion is with Peter Hitchens but behind it lies John Anderson media, part of a whole structure of Right Wing think tanks that actively claim Communism or ideas that they consider related to it in newspapers, GB news, other media outlets.
The ideologies are what you’d expect
In newspapers (I'm not giving references as they are all behind paywalls)
“I Was Never Comfortable With Multiculturalism" John Howard”
"There Has Been A War On Our Culture for 50 years"
"The Idea That Every Culture Is Equal Is Nonsense”
and
“Religious Freedom: The New Blasphemy”
(Both as in the war on multiculturalism and Islam)
Daily Mail headlines
“The Communist Toffs taking over the left of the Labour Party”
“John McDonnell hails Marxism as a 'big influence on Labour'
“Labour's 'communist' plan for free, state-run broadband was condemned by the telecoms industry”
GB news is full of similar headlines:
“ Jeremy Clarkson, 65, fumes 'it's communism as he rips into SNP plans…”
“Hope Not Hate researcher accused of plugging Far-Left extremism by endorsing Communist Red Army“…..(hit a paywall)
I would give references, but of course hit paywalls
My general point, is obviously that all of us get our opinions from what we read, what we talk about, but information if constantly fed to us
But we have the chance to be discerning and accept the obvious - that this can only be one sets of POV's
Unfortunately, today's Labour Party is a million miles from the party Keir Hardie founded and he would disown the lot if he were still alive.
Champagne socialists, the lying traitors.
Don’t mention it nanna8 (oh, you didn’t) 
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