Marx Under Communist Government example essay topic

Communistic Society Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, is credited with establishing and developing the idea of a communist society in response to modern capitalism in the early 1800's. Communism is the theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all its members. Marx described human history as the attempt to control nature in order to improve the human condition. The party was formed to support and promote the common interests of the proletariat. Communists believed that private property was the root of class struggle. Communists felt that ownership of property and the means of production allowed owners to be oppressive and to control employee wages, product pricing, and lives of the workers.

To eliminate this problem, means of production should be government owned. Communists, Marx stated, were to lead society into its new era. Marx stated that following a revolution the proletariat would seize control of both the social and economic world. The distinction between classes would be lessened, and class struggle would cease to exist. Government, social structure, and economic development were three important aspects of Communistic society. Communists believed that the present should dominate the past, contrary to previous modes of thinking under which the past dominated the present.

A person's social standing would not be affected by his ancestors as they were prior to Marx's time. According to Marx, under Communist Government, the State, or government, was to play a more direct and involved role in society than it previously had. Government was to control all private property and means of production, thus eliminating the bourgeoisie class and permitting the proletariat to thrive. In addition, Communists planned for the abolishment of inheritance. They believed this forced each individual to earn his own space in society, and would deny him the ability to simply inherit it. Following death, an owner's property (machinery, facilities) would be sold, with a large sum of the profit going to the government.

The lands and property of rebels and emigrants would also be confiscated. Along with the ownership of private property, Communists also attributed both the ownership of means of transportation and communication with foreign lands to fueling the struggle among classes. To avoid this, transportation and communication would be controlled and operated by the State. Also, the State was to impose a heavy progressive income tax on all businesses to fund a National Bank that was to be constructed. This National Bank would serve as a place where capital could be borrowed and money stored. In a Communistic Society, labor is but a means to widen, enrich, and promote the existence of the worker.

In this new society, labor was not done simply for survival; it was done by an individual to earn money and to rise in society, little by little. Since the government would own the means of production, individuals could not deprive others of their basic rights to fair wages, decent working conditions and job security. Ownership of individual property, however, was permitted under this society. People were entitled to own homes, land, modes of transportation, and luxuries. Communism not only had goals for the present, but also plans for the future. Communists recognized that rather than basing the economy solely on agriculture or industry, they should combine the two, paying equal attention and funding to each.

Marx stated two of the main goals of Communists relating to the economy. One was to extend government owned factories throughout the continent in order to increase production and availability of merchandise. This would also create more job opportunities and would cause the population to be more evenly distributed. The second was to improve the soil conditions of the farming areas in Europe. This would result in an increase in agricultural production and would balance out the economy. One improvement made to the soil would be the construction of wastelands.

With the addition of new working facilities, the demand for labor would be greater. This would bring about an increase in job availability. However, child labor would be abolished as new society formed. Communist felt it was the child's place to learn, not labor in a factory. All children would receive free education. Communists recognized the children to be the future of the world.