To think a Marxist society would be an improvement

[Downtroddenhousingass]

Lots of people are so anti corbyn but there are many forms of Marxism and many could be far better than the system we have now imo.

Obviously corbyn isn't looking to replicate venezuela, that's been horrendously managed for a long time and was always going to end badly

The revolutionist Marxism system is nothing like the Nordic model.

I don't want to see elderly people die of hypothermia in winter.
I don't want to see disabled people die while they wait for their benefits to be decided.
I don't think people should need 2 jobs to make ends barely meet.
I think basic housing and being able to afford water is a human right, not a luxury.

I don't think people who think these policies are ok should be in charge. But power attracts people who want power, and thats why revolutions and Socialist utopias fail.

I'm not sure there is any country that has implemented Marxism and that we can look at as a good example to follow. For me, Scandanavia is a model of society that I would want to be part of more than mid or southern Europe. One of my concerns with Brexit is that we're more likely to look to the USA for culture and social models, which would be a disaster.

Adrian's Undead Diaries are a classic 😎

Adrian's Undead Diaries are a classic

Just on the final Trinity Book :)

I'm not sure about Marxism but I do think that there needs to be a fairer system.
So many people are living in poverty in a wealthy country, homeless people etc.
The system needs overhauling to be more equitable for everyone.

The system needs overhauling to be more equitable for everyone

Broadly speaking, the current system provides an avenue for all people to better themselves. It just takes a bit of work.

You are still going to get people that unfortunately fall through the cracks in any political system. that includes Socialism.

The only way it would be an improvement is environmentally by stopping our consumerism which is killing the planet. Socially it would be a total disaster.

@grubbyhipsterbeard

Yeah and when 10s of million people die that will help improve the environment too! 😕

There is also the aspect that unimportant positions such as “janitor”

Describing such a job as “unimportant” is pretty patronising.

The other issue is just how diverse we are - Marxism only successful when people are very homogenous

Marxism only successful when people are very homogenous

When has Marxism been successful, theknack?

It worked fine in the USSR, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Laos, Cuba & now Venezuela so it’s probably worth a try here.

sorry - not when, perhaps would/should/could ...

I think in some ways the current system is actually less equitable than it used to be and it's becoming more difficult to better your prospects.

It used to be possible to go to university without getting saddled with massive debt. It used to be the norm to leave university and go into a starter job in, say, journalism or fashion rather than being expected to enter an internship where your labour is unpaid. (Do-able if you have middle class parents who can easily afford to house and feed you. But what if you don't?)

It used to be the norm to take a job and know which hours you would be working and what your salary and disposable income would be. Now with the zero hour contract model being increasingly adopted, that security no longer exists for many people.

Marxism has never worked in practice but I do feel we should be questioning why governments are increasingly transfering automony away from individuals and into the hands of global corporations.

I do feel we should be questioning why governments are increasingly transfering automony away from individuals and into the hands of global corporations.

I agree but presumably the best way to do this is for individuals to boycott the corporations. There are frequent complaints in the media and forums such as mumsnet about the iniquities of, say, Amazon, but while customers go on buying from it then it will continue in business.

Tell that to the 120 million people that died as a result of Marxist inspired ideologies. The thing that many people don’t understand is that when the government takes away economic freedom they take away material freedom. No amount of rights is going to help you if you can’t afford to eat or to pay for the cost of getting the fuck out of the authoritarian hell hold you are living in. Dependence is the cousin of slavery.

Describing such a job as “unimportant” is pretty patronising

This!!!

It's heartening to read so many discerning responses. I've just finished reading 1984 by George Orwell. First time I have read it. This is not the kind of world I want to live in. I think extreme ideology always ends up in sacrificing the people's autonomy, freedom, quality of life and it always ends up an oppressive regime. Terrifying and incredibly sad. So, Op I do think yabu to believe Marxism will improve any society. It won't.

Oh and Fwiw I'm very grateful for our janitors and cleaners. Their contribution to society is undervalued.

Ocean,

Humour me, but can you see parallels with the Government in 1984 and the EU - or is that just me?

Probably just me :)

The problem is that Marxism was used and abused by dictators and controlling regimes, Marx had some great ideas but. other than perhaps in Russia between the revolutions, they have never been put into practice.

I like the Star Trek version of Marxism, everyone working together for the betterment of society.

The world has enough resources for everyone to have a good life, it is the fact that these are horded by the rich that causes suffering.

It worked fine in the USSR, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Laos, Cuba & now Venezuela so it’s probably worth a try here.

😂😂😂😂😂
Go and visit those countries or talk to those who live(d) through it /under it. You might learn something.

No. I used to live and work in the Soviet Union.

Where most doctors were female and "consequently" paid a shit wage.

Calamity, you need to get to A&E urgently. Your irony detector is broken.