Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Khrushchev’s secret speech and end of communism
Daily Times ^ | 3/5/06 | Roy A Medvedev

Posted on 03/05/2006 6:39:16 PM PST by voletti

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 last
To: spanalot
Many Liberals that I talk to still try to support Marx's criticism of capitalism, while admitting that his economic model was flawed. These are the same people that have never read Adam Smith and think that the free market is evil because it allows the rich to take advantage of the labor of the poor (the stupid labor theory of value).
41 posted on 03/06/2006 7:02:02 PM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: rzeznikj at stout

Are you differentiating between political Socialism and cultural/ethical socialism?


42 posted on 03/06/2006 7:05:03 PM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: rzeznikj at stout
Are you differentiating between political Socialism and cultural/ethical socialism?
43 posted on 03/06/2006 7:05:30 PM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]


44 posted on 03/06/2006 7:06:03 PM PST by GretchenM (What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Please meet my friend, Jesus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia
I'd submit that Soviet Communism died with Lenin, the purges of Bolshevik revolutionaries of the October Revolution and the murder of Leon Trotsky. What followed Lenin and the revolutionary Bolshevik vanguard was simply a new version of a corrupt Czar. The "idealism" died and "Uncle Joe" led the Russians as Russians were conditioned to be led: By simple hegemony.
45 posted on 03/06/2006 7:11:03 PM PST by Thumper1960 (The enemy within: Demoncrats and DSA.ORG Sedition is a Liberal "family value".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: rzeznikj at stout
Socialism is a spirit.

It puts the State on the throne as God.

Sometimes, dictators like Stalin and Hitler want to put themselves on that throne in the name of Statist socialism.

Once you make the State into your God, you turn into weird socialists like Hillary and Ted Kennedy. And these types of personalities will attempt to use socialism's apparent altruism to actually put themselves on the throne. All Freepers know that Hilllary is Mao in a silk turquoise pantsuit.

In Biblical terms, it's the sin of idolatry that these "politicians" are committing, because once they get people to think that the State and politics can solve all their problems and take care of them cradle to grave, they then -- take over.
46 posted on 03/06/2006 7:19:45 PM PST by Californiajones ("The apprehension of beauty is the cure for apathy" - Thomas Aquinas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Thumper1960
I agree that Stalin used patriotism to defend the Rodina from the Nazis rather than a Communist ideal. However, Lenin was a murdering autocrat as well as Stalin, just not of the same magnitude. Communism has created more butchers like Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Kim Ill-Sung, King Jung Ill, Castro, Causeasnu, Honecker, the list goes on, than than simple apparatchiks like Kruschev or Breshnev.(sorry for some of the spelling of the names)


When did the people know in their hearts that Communism was a fraud? I don't know for sure, but I believe even Gorbachev believe it enough to try to save it (with a human face!).

Solzhenitsyn was right when he said there were more Marxist in western universities than in the SU, but that was decades after Stalin.
47 posted on 03/06/2006 7:26:00 PM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia
Yes, but only to an extent. Though Socialism is political, common socialism is econopolitical--meaning that common socialism is purely an economic and political system in that it fully relies on both the economic system and at a minimum the loose political structure of Socialism to survive.
48 posted on 03/06/2006 7:47:30 PM PST by rzeznikj at stout (This is a darkroom. Keep the door closed or you'll let all the dark out...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Californiajones
I would say no. Socialism is a political system, and "common socialism"--what we think of as socialism is an economic and political movement.

Stalin exemplified the personality cult--it wasn't so much about the state as it was about him personally. And while personality cults and State worship are all too common in Socialist systems, they are not a defining criterion--a system need not display the premise of the State taking the place of God to be defined as Socialist.

Not all Socialist systems put the state on the throne as God, for example, religious (Christian, Islamic) socialisms don't, and personality cults that develop don't put the State as a god, but the dictator. The dictator is the head of state, but he is not necessarily the complete embodiment of the State (e.g. Saddam, Stalin).

Therefore, it cannot be said that Socialism is a spirit or a God.

49 posted on 03/06/2006 7:55:38 PM PST by rzeznikj at stout (This is a darkroom. Keep the door closed or you'll let all the dark out...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia
I do not believe that Communism has ever been practiced, as either an economic or social apparatus, by humans.

Insects, however................

50 posted on 03/06/2006 8:23:29 PM PST by Thumper1960 (The enemy within: Demoncrats and DSA.ORG Sedition is a Liberal "family value".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: rzeznikj at stout
I like how you broke it all down; would only add that "altruistic" sounding socialistic ideals are the bait, tyrannical dictatorship is the sinker. Like what's happening in Venezuela right now.
51 posted on 03/06/2006 11:20:37 PM PST by Californiajones ("The apprehension of beauty is the cure for apathy" - Thomas Aquinas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Californiajones
would only add that "altruistic" sounding socialistic ideals are the bait, tyrannical dictatorship is the sinker.

Very true. Good Point!

52 posted on 03/07/2006 1:40:29 AM PST by rzeznikj at stout (This is a darkroom. Keep the door closed or you'll let all the dark out...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Thumper1960
Pure communism envisions the withering away of the state. Just remember the Winter Olympics when they did "Imagine" --Imagine no religion, Imagine no countries, Imagine no possessions---
53 posted on 03/07/2006 4:53:24 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Thumper1960

"I'd submit that Soviet Communism died with Lenin, the purges of Bolshevik revolutionaries of the October Revolution and the murder of Leon Trotsky"

Not so fast - Lenin and Trotsky were Genocidal Despots guilty of the deaths of millions. They were rascists that looked to line their own pockets.

http://www.ukrweekly.com/Archive/1988/458814.shtml


54 posted on 03/07/2006 5:48:18 PM PST by spanalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson