<p>I am a liberal. I have seen references to Marxism, socialism, stalinism, etc. and I don't know what these ideologies stand for. I know there are similarites to Communism or something, but I was just wondering if anyone could explain. Thanx</p>
<p>I think your best bet is to read the encyclopedia for a few minutes/hours.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism</a></p>
<p>yea, I did read that, but I was still left confused.....I was wondering if someone else could explain in their own words so I'd be able to understand it better.</p>
<p>It's basically a classless society. To the left is socialism, and farther to the left (on the left-wing-right-wing political spectrum) is communism. Marx viewed history as a series of class struggles and predicted that one day the lower classes would rise up to defeat the upper classes and institute socialism, which would then morph further into communism. Of course, then you get brats like Stalin, who was basically a dictator operating under the guise of Communism.</p>
<p>BTW, the argument that liberals are "communists" is absolute bulls^^^. Communism takes away all individual integrity and worth, and democrats do exactly the opposite by giving a crap about minority rights as well as things like welfare and social security.</p>
<p>This is just propaganda put forth by the republicans who try to win over votes based on their "morals".</p>
<p>Karl Marx believed that in a true communist society, there would be no need for a government and that the means of productions would be collectively owned by the workers. His book "The Communist Manifesto" (published in 1848) became the basis for many communist countries, including Russia and China. The Communist Manifesto talked about the struggle between the rich and the poor classes throughout history, and that the workers would have to rise up against the rich ("Dictatorship of the Proletariat") and all the property of the rich would be seized by the government and distributed for the benefit of the people. <a href="wow,%20that%20was%20a%20long%20sentence!">i</a>* </p>
<p>Stalin-ism refers to the political and economical theories/practices implemented by Joseph Stalin (Stalin's version of communism). Stalin's dictatorship is considered to be one of the most successful, and Russia became a totalitarian state under his rule. Stalin's greatest achievement was the rapid industrialization of Russia (it came at a huge cost). He implemented a series of Five-year plans to industrialize the country.</p>
<p>ReninDetroit, I hope that you didn't see my post as being anti-liberal. I'm uberliberal. Everyone over the age of 65 should get to do drugs, and of course be able to sell them to minors to supplement their dwindling social security benefits. :)</p>
<p>:D Legalize marijuana. The crime rate will go down! ;)</p>
<p>And they should give out condoms on street corners.</p>
<p>I dont see how marijuana is much more harmful than cigarretes. CIgarettes are more addictive. And alcohol impairs judgment also, bu its not outlawed.</p>
<p>Karl Marx's theories eminate for historical observations that the modes of production in a civilization (i.e agriculture, industry, etc.) dictate the type of governance(he calls the "superstructure"). As time time goes on, the "superstructure" grows to a cumbersome buracracy that becomes stratified. As the civilization evolves and the mode of production changes, the "superstructure" cannot adjust to the changes in production, and the civilization falls apart.</p>
<p>Had he stopped there, we all might reading his stuff like the bible. But when confronted with capital as a production mode he created a blueprint for its change, that in reality contradicted human nature.-It that regard, he was sharp as a flat earther.</p>
<p>Stalinism was governance built upon a tautolagy.</p>