Capitalism vs Communism

[The chrisman union]

Hey,
I've got to give a talk on the capitalism vs communism argument this wednesday, so I was wondering whether you politically minded people could help me. I need a definition of both systems (in layman's terms) and the pros and cons of each system. I've also got to make it interesting to year 10 students (a hard task even if the talk was about Beyonce or cars). Please help! Thank you.

[Hydesland]

Capitalism is where the majority of the means of production is privately owned and resources are distributed primarily in a market oriented fashion, communism is where all the means of production are owned publicly, or are communised (as in, owned by various communes and voluntary associations) and with the resources distributed by these associations in an egalitarian fashion, without government.

Capitalism wins, where as communism fails epicly.

[Call to power]

Communism has bands like RATM and greasy hair
Capitalism has bands like Razorlight and gets all the girls with his skinny jeans

any questions?

edit: and who the hell is stupid enough to argue something like that anyway?

[Jello Biafra]

Communism is a stateless, classless society where the workers control the means of production.
Capitalism is none of the above. (Though arguably it could involve the first.)

[Natapoc]

First an introduction to theory of capatalism and communism read (at least summeries of) Das Kapital, The communist Manifesto, The wealth of the nations.

Summaries here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Kapital
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Communist_Manifesto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations

Detailed Marxist writing archive for original sources on communism here: http://www.marxists.org/

Wealth of the nations is from a somewhat capitalist perspective. I'll let a real capitalist give you decent sources for their side.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Communism is the Bogeyman. Capitalism is the Devil. I hope that clarifies things.

[Ordo Mallus]

Communism would be awesome if people actually WORKED TOGETHER which has never really happened for an extended period of time.

Capitalism is awesome since it actually works.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Capitalism is where the majority of the means of production is privately owned and resources are distributed primarily in a market oriented fashion, communism is where all the means of production are owned publicly, or are communised (as in, owned by various communes and voluntary associations) and with the resources distributed by these associations in an egalitarian fashion, without government.

Capitalism wins, where as communism fails epicly.

That's a rather simplistic way to put it and quite an optimistic view of capitalism.
I don't mind optimism, but as far as capitalism and communism are concerned i think both are as bad as each other and ought to be put on the naughty step for not going to bed when they should have done so.

[Ascon]

People who have money or the means to generate some advocate Capitalism.

People who do not have money or the means to generate some advocate Communism.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Communism would be awesome if people actually WORKED TOGETHER which has never really happened for an extended period of time.

Capitalism is awesome since it actually works.

actually i think the problem has more to do with sharing responsibility in large numbers. which is apparent in any ideology.
pfft capitalism only appears to work because you can't see the people getting screwed over.

[Hydesland]

Capitalism is where the majority of the means of production is privately owned and resources are distributed primarily in a market oriented fashion, communism is where all the means of production are owned publicly, or are communised (as in, owned by various communes and voluntary associations) and with the resources distributed by these associations in an egalitarian fashion, without government.

Capitalism wins, where as communism fails epicly.

That's a rather simplistic way to put it and quite an optimistic view of capitalism.
I don't mind optimism, but as far as capitalism and communism are concerned i think both are as bad as each other and ought to be put on the naughty step for not going to bed when they should have done so.

Are you talking about the second bit of my post? I was just being obnoxious in that bit.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Communism has bands like RATM and greasy hair
Capitalism has bands like Razorlight and gets all the girls with his skinny jeans

any questions?

edit: and who the hell is stupid enough to argue something like that anyway?

or you can stop projecting your own ideas of musical taste into political ideas eh?

[Brajh]

People who have money or the means to generate some advocate Capitalism.

People who do not have money or the means to generate some advocate Communism.

This. Win.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

That's a rather simplistic way to put it and quite an optimistic view of capitalism.
I don't mind optimism, but as far as capitalism and communism are concerned i think both are as bad as each other and ought to be put on the naughty step for not going to bed when they should have done so.

Are you talking about the second bit of my post? I was just being obnoxious in that bit.[/quote]
oh okay.

[Macindia]

The philosophy behind Communism is much better

[The chrisman union]

Communism has bands like RATM and greasy hair
Capitalism has bands like Razorlight and gets all the girls with his skinny jeans

any questions?

edit: and who the hell is stupid enough to argue something like that anyway?

Err...me.

[Lhach]

Capitalism is all about the individual.
Communism is about society as a whole.
Therefore, in my opinion, Communism is better. the only problem is that once you're told greed is good it's hard to go back...

[Czardas]

Sorry to cut short what will surely prove to be yet another fascinating and original debate on the merits of communism vs. capitalism, but NSG is not a place for homework help.