The Problem With Marxism

Today's world and most societies are ruled by Capitalism. This means, as you (should) know, that the economy (trade, industry and production) are "privately owned and operated for profit". Now, capitalism is (arguably) the economic system that creates more prosperity, but it is also one that is associated with economic instability and is unable to provide the well-being of all people.

As Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels observed, with Capitalism, the gap between the low working classes and the rich business-owning classes will increase and as the "social unrest between the two antagonistic classes intensifies", a revolution will undoubtedly culminate. The outcome of this revolution will be the establishment of socialism, where production is cooperatly owned and is directly for use (in contrast to Capitalism's "production for profit") and the following principle is followed:

To each according to his contribution.

This principle of distribution is one of the basis of socialism and means that an individual will be compensated for his efforts and contribution in terms of labor, effort and/or productivity, which contrasts with Capitalism's compensation method, where an individual is rewarded merely for owning and contributing service. Eventually, as technologies and productive forces advance, socialism will mutate into communism, a society based on common ownership and the following principle:

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

 This slogan was first used by the Socialist Louis Blanc and according to Marxism, it will become possible due to the abundance of goods that a communist society will produce. There will be enough to satisfy one's personal needs, pleasures and daily work needs and all citizens will contribute to the community according to his skills, capacities and age.

This utopia that Marx and Engels describe sounds great in all aspects. One fulfills a roll that one has chosen or has earned and develops his personal skills with the desire to work and contribute to the community. There will be enough for everyone to live happily and confortably. Ha! Funny. Can you see the problem here?

Well, to begin with, this assumes mankind will have resources and materials to sustain itself indefinitely, which as we well know, is a big fat lie. Secondly, and perhaps more important, is the fact that in this utopia everyone is a nice guy that wants to contribute to the community. However, men are a corrupted race, ruled by selfish desires and fears. In this kind of society, there will always be assholes trying to take advantage of the system, trying to take more than they give and disrupting the beautiful utopia that has been established.

The biggest flaw with the utopian society that Marxism describes isn't, curiously enough, the ideas or rules that have been defined. It is not a problem of mankind not being ready for this paradise; it is the utopia that is not ready for mankind.

Show me your opinions and points of view in the comment section down below! Peace out,

Dave