where? communist tend to mean Soviet Russia and Communist China, which are notably Authoritarian - Graeme and Fasces are the only remotely authoritarian.

Putin - though claiming to be a communist seems to believe i personal freedoms (while advocating strong government control of bussiness and social welfare)

Not entirely communist...

The quiz has a libertarian bias. If you don't believe in eugenics and think women should have equal rights you're given libertarian points. Communists are not socially "authoritarian" . Read Origins of the Family by Engels or anything written by Lenin or Mao on women or nationality issues.



On a lighter note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NKHJ64qRR8&feature=player_embedded

I refuse to accept a world divided by some arbitarily drawn lines on a map. I will not go to war with someone because he holds a different passport. I will kill any bastard who threatens my family. I am afraid that I have now come to the conclusion that power corrupts and am disgusted by the Westminster expenses scandle.

Is anarchism my only alternative?

i guess that freedom in a social/family context (with religion having been suppressed) was easier under the Soviet Union, however working life was not anything close to the 'freedom' available in the west

@fullhamish: no, globalization is an alternative - where integrated trade becomes too important to risk war over...

"however working life was not anything close to the 'freedom' available in the west"

Freedom in working life means what? Being unemployed? Working for minimum wage?

"where integrated trade becomes too important to risk war over..."

That's why we're trying to become self-sufficient in oil and energy.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NKHJ64qRR8&feature=player_embedded"
Great video

The definition of communist/marxist/socialist is another debate entirely. E.g. I consider myself a marxist, yet people are surprised at my anti-authotarianism.

I agree, largeham. Marxism does not intrinsically involve a non-democratic central government. It is often carried out that way, but it can co-exist with democracy. They are not mutually exclusive. While I believe that the government should have relatively extensive power, it should absolutely be responsible to the people.

What do you mean by 'democracy'? Do you mean the working class controlling the government? Or do you mean parties competing in elections?

Marx was not a liberal. He was a revolutionist. He called for Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Some have tried to make Marx more palatable to the middle class/petty bourgeoisie by making it seem like he was something he was not. There was a reason he was in exile in England his whole life.

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