[Tailgunner Joe]

[IronJack]

government ownership and/or control of the sources of production.

Under Marx, communism was defined almost identically, as "ownership of the means of production by the producers." In theory, that meant the workers. But, since the workers already own their own land, some overruling authority would have to be created to "own" that particular means of production. That of course would be a government. So, at least as far as land is concerned, government ownership of land IS communism.

"Socialism" just smells a little better. It's like a turd wrapped in a perfumed hankie.

[muawiyah]

The use of land is important - the ownership of it less so. Note that in the 1950-1990 period over 90% of the land in the Netherlands was owned by the government. In Poland in the same period, 90% of the land was in private hands.

Would you have preferred to live in capitalist, and relatively free Nederland, or in Communist Poland?

[bescobar]

The beauty of our system is that we are divided into state and have strong state rights. Socialism always fails...always. With time it collapse and the dumb folks who established such nonsense ared disgraced. After the collapse pure Capitalism arises in its place and people are able to buy property. because we have the buffer of fifty states, each state that participates in socialism will collapse at different times and will be supported by other states (i.e. Energy crisis in CA) until they practice capitalism...it is a sort of safety net. Get your law degrees in order and be prepared to use the law to sue states and steal back the property for yourself. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights protects us, use them to beat liberal socialist in the wallet. Arm your self with the law and establish individual property rights.