10 of 30

Write now Article Tools

Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, the founders of Communism, envisioned a utopian society characterized by the popular communist slogan, "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." This concept attracts many at first glance. Who wouldn't want to live in a place where everyone shared with everyone else, where no one was poor, and where everyone worked their hardest for the benefit of society as a whole? In theory, Communism would be a perfect answer to mankind's economic woes. However, the world has seen Communism put in practice, and the end result has always been destruction. This is due to some very large mistakes that the Communist system makes.

First of all, Communism is based on the assumption that mankind is naturally good. Hegel strongly believed this concept, and it was he who influenced Karl Marx greatly. If mankind were naturally good, then the individuals within the "utopian society" would work their hardest to benefit everyone else. They would also be willing to give much and receive in return only the barest necessities. However, man always needs an incentive of some kind, and the incentive that Communism gives is a drastic failure. No one would want to give everything only to watch others benefit from his giving. No one would want to watch his family eating hardly anything simply because the food he has worked for has been given to some one else. When a person knows that he is working so that he and his family can live safely and securely, that is when the most productive work is seen.

This can go the entirely opposite direction, also. If someone knows that he does not have to work very hard because the wealth is equally distributed, he will simply not work. This leaves the labor to the few men and women who, by their diligence, become the backbone of society. However, they will no longer have an incentive to work because their work is being rewarded to the "bums" of society. Therefore, society as a whole will be damaged by the natural laziness of human beings.

A perfect example of this is the pilgrims in Jamestown. The pilgrims set up a system very similar to communism. They created a storehouse that was open to everyone in the colony. When the men would go hunting, they would bring the food they caught to the storehouse, and anyone who was in need could and would take all they needed. It seems perfect, at first. But there were some men who would not work because they could benefit from the work of others so easily. Needless

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The problems with Communism?
We want to hear your view. Write now!