Capitalism
Q: What is capitalism?
A: The control of commodities
(goods and services) through corporations that produce only to make profits
for their shareholders (the capitalist class). In contrast, socialism is the
control of commodities through a government that produces only to serve people
(the working class).
Q: Rich people deserve to be rich
because they work harder. Why should they give up their money?
A: Capitalists gain their
wealth from the labor of others--not from their own work. The workers who
actually create the wealth-by picking the crops or assembling the engines,
for example-should get a fair share of the wealth they create. Why should
someone be a millionaire, with three houses, a private plane, and the like
when other folks can't even afford enough to eat?
Q: Aren't people greedy by nature?
A: No. For example, in
capitalist countries, little children quickly learn to share and cooperate,
but they are later taught to take more than they need compete viciously in
"the real world."
Socialism and Communism
Q: How can communism be achieved
in the US?
A: Unity of the working
class will be needed. Workers will have to realize that capitalism cannot
solve the problems it creates and that it is only beneficial to the few who
own the factories, mines, press and government. Hopefully, we will achieve
this in the voting booth; but if the capitalists attack, we will defend ourselves
and our system.
Q: Can people decide what job
they want in communist countries?
A: Yes, and better than
under capitalism. Now, you get a job based on the education you receive, and
the people you know: poor education + bad connections = a poor job, generally.
Communism will allow people who have aptitudes for certain work the education--for
free--to learn the skills it takes to do that work.
Q: Why would anyone be motivated
to work hard under communism? If you work harder, shouldn't you get more?
A: People can learn to
be motivated by working for the common good. If we help each other, we both
gain. Capitalism encourages us to fight against each other for crumbs, while
the very few stuff themselves on the pie.
Q: Why don't you like democracy,
why is communism better?
A: Democracy and communism
are not opposites. Communists believe in TRUE democracy, as opposed to our
"bourgeois democracy." What that means is when you only get to choose between
millionaires running for election, working class people (the vast majority
of society) aren't really represented. Elections in a capitalist system are
almost always decided by who can get the most corporate money. True democracy
will be realized under communism because everyone will have an equal say in
society.
Q: The world has never been fair,
so how can the communists make it fair?
A: Fairness is a function
of how wealth is distributed. Under capitalism, workers receive only a small
percentage of the wealth that they create. Under socialism, workers receive
a larger share. Under communism, workers (all people) will receive everything.
Q: What is the difference between
communism and socialism?
A: The short answer is
socialism is "from each according to their ability and to each according to
their DEEDS," and communism is "from each according to their ability and to
each according to their NEEDS." The longer answer is socialism is the step
between capitalism and communism. Socialism still has people working for wages,
therefore monetary equality has not be reached. Socialism is the society that
will pave the way for a communist society by setting a foundation of co-operation
and sharing of all things in common. Communism is the realization of these
goals.
Q: What would be the benefits
of socialism in the US?
A: Just to name a few
there would be jobs for all at living wages, full equality and an end to racism,
sexism and homophobia, health care for all, a right to a clean healthy environment,
equal rights for immigrant workers, free public education form nursery to
university, peace and solidarity.
Q: Is socialism inevitable?
A: If the human race is
to survive--yes, it is. Capitalism cannot solve the problems it creates. For
example, the capitalists want to pay workers less and less so they can have
more and more for themselves. But when the workers have less, they can buy
less, which means the capitalist end up with less as a result. It's a vicious
circle that has no solution under capitalism.
Q: Does socialism automatically
end exploitation, racism, sexism and homophobia?
A: No. These societal
ills are products of capitalism, but they will not vanish immediately with
socialism. They have been around for centuries, and will take generations
of the humanistic system of socialism and a constant struggle to cure. But,
socialism will make ending these problems possible, while capitalism encourages
them. At the same time, we can't wait until "after the revolution" to fight
these ills. The fight against exploitation, racism, sexism and homophobia
is a crucial part of the struggle for socialism.
Q: How can you have communism
and still have individual freedom?
A: By limiting bureaucracy,
establishing human-rights laws (the CPUSA and YCL have always advocated bill-of-rights
socialism), and reminding all workers that they need to remain involved in
union and civic activities.
Q: How free are the people in
communist countries? What kind of rights do they have? Can they think for
themselves and make their own choices?
A: These things vary according
to each socialist country. Generally, no one has the right to become wealthy
or spread capitalistic propaganda. In capitalist countries, we have only illusions
of freedom and democracy because the media is owned by only a few corporations
and the political campaigns are financed by the billionaires.
Q: Are there taxes in communist
countries?
A: Generally no. However
some socialist countries levy taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.
Q: How can people get ahead in
a communist country?
A: Ahead of whom? Under
capitalism, people get ahead of other people. Many poor and working class
people in this country consider putting food on the table being ahead of the
game. Under socialism, and eventually communism, all people get ahead together
with basic necessities and luxuries.
Organizing, communists, and the
YCL
Q: I support what the YCL stands
for, but why use the name communist?
A: By calling ourselves
communists, we acknowledge certain aspects of our lives and work like the
need to build working class unity and struggle for immediate needs like health
care, jobs at a living wage, affirmative action, social welfare programs and
much more. The fact that all of these daily stuggles fit in the overall fight
for Socialism, USA makes us young communists.
Q: Why is unity so important?
A: It's the best tool
the working class has, we have strength in numbers. We are the majority in
this country and world wide.Without unity, we fight each other for the crumbs
while the capitalist takes the majority of the pie. With communism we each
get an equal share of that pie.
Q: Do communists believe in god?
Do they outlaw religion?
A: Some communists believe
in god, some don't. Gus Hall, the former chair of the CPUSA says, "Our fight
is not with God, but with capitalists." Freedom of religion would continue
under communism--as long as the organized religion does not seek to destroy
the system and replace it with capitalism or any other earlier system (such
as slavery or feudalism).
Q: What has the YCL ever done
to improve this country?
A: It has always worked
to help raise class consciousness in the working class, and organize the unorganized.
Along with our fraternal organization, the CPUSA, and organized labor, we
have been leaders in the fights for the right to organize, unemployment insurance,
social security, affirmative action, and civil rights, as well as the fights
against english-only laws, immigrant bashing, hate crimes, and the like.
Q: Why do people join the YCL?
A: They see the present
conditions that have been wrought by capitalism. They want to fight against
racism, sexism, exploitation, homophobia, and immigrant-bashing. They want
to make the US and the world a better place by fighting for jobs, justice,
education and equality.
Q: Do people treat you differently
if you are a communist?
A: Yes. Even those who
disagree with our politics respect our work and commitment to the class struggle.
Many bless us, a few curse us, but no one ignores us.
Q: Why is the working class so
important?
A: We are the majority
class. It is our work which creates the wealth which allows a very few people
to live in obscene luxury. Because we are the majority class, we have the
real power to transform society.
Q: What kind of people are in
the YCL?
A: Those want to change
the world into a much better place. Young people of all races, genders, religions,
sexual orientations, and nationalities are in the YCL. Many types of working
class youth, students and young workers of many interests like music, theater,
sports, dance, visual arts and more...
Q: Do I have to be a communist
to join the YCL?
A: No. If you are sincere
about fighting the effects of capitalism, like racism, sexism, exploitation,
lousy schools, unemployment, homelessness, and so on, you should join
the YCL right away, whether you are a communist or not.
International Issues
Q: Has there ever been a communist
society that succeeded?
A: Technically, there
never has been a communist society. Some socialist societies, such as China,
Vietnam, and Cuba are succeeding. Communism is the long term goal; just as
the world has evolved from feudalism to capitalism, so it will evolve from
capitalism, first through socialism (in which the working class is dominant),
then eventually to communism (in which there are no classes). Our job is to
hasten that evolution.
Q: What communist countries still
exist?
A: China, Vietnam, North
Korea, Laos and Cuba are socialist states.
Q: Was the Soviet Union a real
communist country?
A: No. It was a socialist.
Q: Why did communism fail in the
Soviet Union?
A: There are many reasons
why socialism fell in the Soviet Union. One reason was because of the Cold
War. Capitalist countries were able to spend more on the cold war and the
Soviet Union tried too hard to compete. For example, Reagan was able to build
a greater military force by obscenely increasing our national debt. Overall
it is very hard for a socialist country to survive with imperial powers breathing
down their necks. There were both errors that the Communist officials made
within the country and forces from outside that tainted the gains of the revolution.
Q: Why do so many people want
to leave Cuba?
A: Relatively few want
to leave. They have all suffered due to our 40-year blockade, but most do
not believe that they can become wealthy capitalists by leaving Cuba.
Q: Is Cuba a dictatorship?
A: No. Although the Cuban
people have a strong central government, they are very active in local and
national democratic elections, especially through their union activities.
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