I hate to play devil's advocate but here it is:I can see a large number of problems with the current economic system (remember I am from Austraila, so there are signifigant differences between the American system and the one I am talking about). One of the obvious ones is the growing disparity between rich and poor. I just don't see how communism is a step forward.
I am not going to site Stalinist Russia or China as examples, because they are not true communisms, merely dictatorships in disguise, but I am going to site human nature. Like it or not (probably not) most of us have a continuing desire to 'beat the Joneses.' In fact an economic survey in '95 (I could have said last millenium - God, I love that) showed that growing income did not lead to happier lives, because most people would choose world A over B (see below)
World A:
1) You earn 100k/year
2) The norm is 90k/year
World B:
1) You earn 110k/year
2) the norm is 150k/year
In this model the people surveyed were asked to ignore inflation and other aspects that would make world B a less fortunate position.
Communism has its problems - just like capitalism, included in which are the human issues, the large beauracracy required and the high chance (historically) that a dictator would come to power.
I would be very interested in any responses (feel free to email me or post here) and I hope I haven't come accross as a blind follower of social norms,
Crowley
