Communism--from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs--is a goal. It is frankly utopian, but it is nonetheless to be striven for, just as perfection--which can't be achieved--is a worthy aspiration. Socialism is the period of transition between Capitalism and this far-off goal. It is struggle, it is contradictions, it is experimentation. It is two steps forward and one step back, it is mistakes and it is triumphs. The notion of Communism may be utopian, but the way toward it-- socialism--is not. Marxism is scientific socialism--it's figuring out what works best for the maximum development of the gifts, talents and aspirations of the people. It is finding a practical path forward through historical and contemporary circumstances, context, and contradictions. That's what China understands, and that's what China is doing. Das Capital is a critique of Capitalism. It explains how it works and what it does. But finding our way to a better world on the other side of Capitalism is up to us. And without the discipline, solidarity, and leadership of a flexible, practical, clear-thinking Communist Party--which is loyal to lifting up the great mass of people--chances of achieving that better world are very slim.
I speak from 30 years experience and I promise you that it's far from utopian. But it requires men and women of great emotional and moral maturity, and there are only 100 million such folk in China at present, dues-paying volunteers members of the Communist Party.
When a majority of Chinese are members in good standing, then the country will begin planning for a communist state, the like of which the world has never seem.
Communism--from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs--is a goal. It is frankly utopian, but it is nonetheless to be striven for, just as perfection--which can't be achieved--is a worthy aspiration. Socialism is the period of transition between Capitalism and this far-off goal. It is struggle, it is contradictions, it is experimentation. It is two steps forward and one step back, it is mistakes and it is triumphs. The notion of Communism may be utopian, but the way toward it-- socialism--is not. Marxism is scientific socialism--it's figuring out what works best for the maximum development of the gifts, talents and aspirations of the people. It is finding a practical path forward through historical and contemporary circumstances, context, and contradictions. That's what China understands, and that's what China is doing. Das Capital is a critique of Capitalism. It explains how it works and what it does. But finding our way to a better world on the other side of Capitalism is up to us. And without the discipline, solidarity, and leadership of a flexible, practical, clear-thinking Communist Party--which is loyal to lifting up the great mass of people--chances of achieving that better world are very slim.
I speak from 30 years experience and I promise you that it's far from utopian. But it requires men and women of great emotional and moral maturity, and there are only 100 million such folk in China at present, dues-paying volunteers members of the Communist Party.
When a majority of Chinese are members in good standing, then the country will begin planning for a communist state, the like of which the world has never seem.