Myths Against Communism

Joyce Zhong, Co-editor of Features/Opinion|December 5, 2016

image courtesy of wikipedia

It’s important for readers to separate themselves from the sneaky, capitalist propaganda that is apparent in a multitude of our textbooks and books in general that readers would conceive as “factual”. Let’s apply the idea of “understanding both sides” by spending our time and effort to actually understand the idea of communism and separate ourselves from the myths that were spun from rhetoric meant to sway people away instead of giving the full details. To authentically understand Marxism, it is crucial to read literature from Marxists themselves.

Karl Marx’s theory consisted of the stages of capitalism, then the transition to socialism, and then the transition from socialism into communism. To understand socialism and communism, let’s understand capitalism first.

Capitalism has been the fuel for our own country’s imperialism throughout history, beginning before the Pilgrims had even set foot on Native American soil. It works in divisiveness – the more divisive, the better. The more racist, misogynist, classist, and exclusive others are to minorities, the easier it is for capitalism to fuel. In capitalism, there must be a subordinate and the bourgeois class in order for exploitation to happen. Someone is always going to be at the bottom in order for someone to be at the top. This exploitation over uncontrollable assets (sexuality, gender, ethnicity, etc.) is not only unfair, but unnecessary for progressivism. Socialism is when workers of the world begin to realize that they are the power in the world, hence they set the rules and wages for themselves and not shackle under their boss’s establishments that blow all the profit to the CEO’s position. Think of all the sweatshops abroad and people, even children, working for pennies a day while CEOs have the nerve to sell you that dress for 1000% more than it is worth. Communism, after socialism, is essentially socialism in that it will continue to provide the basic rights for people to live including clean water, food, shelter, healthcare, and education- utilities that our world can sustain for everybody. It’s important to note that the people have the power.

Here are four myths about communism that needs to be addressed once and for all:

Communism will take away all your personal belongings and force everyone to be the same. This rhetoric demonstrates the most obvious quality of people not understanding Marxism at all and only internalizing the myths they hear. A basic differentiation the reader must understand is the difference between personal and private property. Private property are things that cannot and should not be monopolized, such as land, water, etc. Personal property, however, is your toothbrush, makeup, sweater, bags, hairbrush, phone, etc. Communism, contrary to popular belief, will actually increase personal property considering that your basic rights of housing, water, food, etc. won’t be monopolized by companies that take the majority of your paycheck. Your basic necessities being taken care of gives way for even more personal, luxury belongings.

Communism defers creativity. This is simply untrue. Like #1, communism actually increases creativity and promotes the artists of the world. Considering that people will not have to worry about finances, the artists of the world do not have to give up their dreams just to live. This allows artists to prosper. We won’t have a shortage of doctors, engineers, teachers, etc. This idea that we’ll “run out” of people being interested in occupations is simply false. The diversity of the U.S. itself is infinite. In fact, considering people have the freedom to choose their occupation without worry now, people can pursue their odd dreams which, in turn, increases the diversity in creativity. Want to open a business? Go ahead. As long as it doesn’t leech off exploitation and the workers decide their own rights to avoid that exploitation, why not?

If you’re a doctor, you’ll be paid the same as a McDonald’s worker. With those socialist influences, the workers decide the wages and the rights for themselves. There will be fluctuation in pay. However, their labor will be decided for and by themselves and unions.