Re: Socialism or Capitalism: What is better?

James A. Donald:
> > In Russia they have elections, and at election time, 
> > do you see anyone saying "vote me, and I will 
> > restore the old economic system just the way it 
> > was"?

"Brian M. Scott"
> Damn' near, in Zyuganov's case.

The word "nationalization" is nowhere to be found in his 
platform.

Zyuganov's  main pledge is increased state salaries and 
pensions and tighter censor****p - adjusting the present 
economy a bit, not turning it upside down.

He was what I was referring to when I said "Even the 
communist party is no longer communist".  He summons 
nostalgia for the good old days of Stalinist terror, but 
not for the good old days of socialist economics.  The 
communist party platform does not contain the words 
"communism", "Marx", or "Lenin".  In Smolensk, he did 
indeed speak to a rally calling for an end to private
property in the means of production with a great big
Lenin poster behind him - but got hammered so badly he
has not done so again.  No trace of such a campaign is
to be found in his party platform, recent interviews, or
campaign literature.  No Lenin, no Leninism, and no crap
about the means of production.

Maybe a majority of those who attended the rally in 
Smolensk wanted a return to socialism, but it manifestly 
does not sell in most of Russia. The communist party of 
Russia is no more socialist than the labour party in 
Britain.  Maybe they say "socialism" from time to time 
to the blood crazed fanatics who show up at rallies and 
meetings, but they would never say it to the general 
public, Zyuganov no more than Gordon Brown would. 

--
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We have the right to defend ourselves and our property, because 
of the kind of animals that we are. True law derives from this 
right, not from the arbitrary power of the omnipotent state.

http://www.jim.com/
     James A. Donald