Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 22:35:49 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: marxism2-digest V1 #242


On Wed,Sep 11, 1996 4:17:55 PM, LeoCasey-AT-aol.com wrote: 
 
>Precedence: bulk 
>Reply-To: marxism2-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU 
> 
><< In reply to Justin S's view that we must still keep what must be   the 
>POLITICAL 
> state under communism. 
> This is NOT so in the main as Marx and Engels point out . 
> Antagonistic classes and class struggle will not exist under communism. 
>neither 
> will 
> exploitation of persons by persons. There will be no ruling class.
Scarcity 
>and 
> privativation and parasitism will be no more. Abundance prevails ! no
waged 
> labor -- FREE ACCESS! >> 
> 
>This is argument by utopian definition. Since communism is, by definition,

>the elimination of all exploitation, class struggle and conflict, the
state 
>will not exist. If you like to argue by definition, this is fine; it makes

>for good catechism, and you can keep the faith alive, but just don't try
real 
>politics. 
> 
>What Justin said, if I read him correctly, was that even if a society
which 
>abolished all class struggle was established, there would still be a
number 
>of other functions of a modern, diverse and pluralist society which could 
>only be performed by a state. Returning to pure definitions is not a 
>response, but an appeal to tautological argument. 
>  
> 
 
The point of Marx's and Lenin's definition of communism is *to point the
way to mankind's proper historical goal.*   They were very explicit that
reaching this goal would take a prolonged evolution,  stretching over the
several generations it will require to establish a global society of
abundance based on technologies far transcending what is presently
feasible--and also (Lenin in State and Revolution          is as explicit
as possible about this) a transformed human nature that has eliminated
greed and achieved a truly ecological individual and social consciousness. 
Justin's 
and Leo's claim that there are "functions of a modern, diverse and
pluralist society which could only be performed by a state" implies that
they conceive a communist society on the basis of present "modern"
technology and human nature.  Stalin and his disciples have abundantly
proven that the claim to construct "socialism" or "communism" on such a
basis is nothing but a pretext for exploitative totalitarian rule. 
 
Shane Mage 
  


     --- from list marxism2-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---