The Theory of Nothing

Survival of civilizations has indeed depended upon fool-proof and standardized operating procedures, had it not been that way we would have vanished from the face of the earth long ago. Our ancestors tried and tested the process of a healthy existence and made sure to pass on the knowledge to us so that we do not commit the same mistakes. As a thinking society, We kept all the working principles and discarded what never succeeded, be it religion, philosophy, technology, or theories. One such theory that was tried and failed every time it was executed was Communism. It is rather funny that communism was executed and so were the people who thought it would work.

But what is communism, you might ask? Allow me.

Communism, at its core, believes that communal ownership of the means of production and the abolition of private property would eliminate social inequality and provide for the basic needs of all people, regardless of their social status or economic background.?

Noble! Isn’t it? Unfortunately no.

Communism has been tried and tested throughout the course of history and failed to deliver on its promises, EVERY SINGLE TIME! Be it China, Soviet Union, Germany, Romania, or Cuba, the list is endless.?

But why does it have to be that way every time without fail??

Numerous reasons are at play when a society is experimenting with a philosophy and it is fine for it to fail in some conditions but communism being an idea deeply flawed to its core has failed in every possible condition. We need to understand where, why, by whom, and under what condition communism was forged.?

The origin of communism can be traced back to mid-19th century Europe by two German philosophers namely Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. This duo thought that (A) Industrial capitalism has created income and social inequalities (B) A Class war between the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) is inevitable and the working class will surely win, leading to a classless society. Funnily enough, both Marx and Engels belonged to the capitalist class. Marx was so capitalist that he never paid his maid anything and the exploitation was not only monetary. Marx sexually assaulted her, impregnated her, and refused to take any responsibility for the child, unfortunately, his dear comrade Engels later confirmed that Marx was indeed the father of his maid, Ms. Demuth’s son. Fun fact, Karl Marx was also a cousin of Benjamin Philips, founder of The Philips.?

But how did a theory made by such eminent philosophers and for such a noble cause lead to so much oppression, tyranny, and death??

Obviously, I will be making a ghastly generalization if I reduce the failure of communism to one single cause but well, it was all intrinsic to the communist project. Centrally planned economy and society allowed for power to be concentrated at the center which allowed its earliest proponents to be the supreme leaders and dictators be it Mao, Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, or Castro resulting in 100 million+ deaths till its inception. (According to THe black book of communism, Robert Kurz)

Communism fails to comprehend the inherent traits and tendencies of a human being. One such primary tendency is individuality and self-expression and communism seeks to eliminate individualism and replace it with a rigid and conformist society, in which everyone is equal and there is no room for personal expression or creativity, So much so that the government controls every aspect of people's lives, from their work and housing to their beliefs and values, curtailing freedom of choice. Pretty ruthless for an ideology that claims to provide liberation to the oppressed, right? This is a recipe for disaster, as it ignores the fact that individuals need to have a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives and that this can only be achieved through personal expression and individuality.?

It also ignores the hard fact that humans are inherently competitive. We have a natural desire to compete with others and to strive for excellence but because of communism's utopian idea of equality, eliminates competition, which can lead to a lack of progress and a society that is stagnant and devoid of innovation.?

But communism was an economic philosophy, agreed it is deeply flawed politically and ethically, was it a failed economic theory as well? This is where it gets interesting.

Communism is the worst economic theory of all time and even a contender for the worst theories to have been penned ever. It is up there with the flat earth and Burraq, the flying donkey.

Jokes apart,?

1. Communist governments are unable to allocate resources efficiently as under communist regimes, the state decides how resources are allocated and what goods and services are produced resulting in a lack of flexibility and adaptability. The government may make decisions that are not based on market demand, leading to either a surplus of goods that nobody wants or a shortage of goods that everybody needs.
2. Communism is unable to adapt to changing circumstances as under communism, the government controls all means of production, and there is no competition or innovation. This lack of competition and innovation means that the economy is unable to adapt to changing circumstances, such as technological advances or changes in consumer preferences. Meanwhile, capitalism is characterised by constant innovation and creative destruction, as entrepreneurs seek.
3. The most common critique of communism has been its inability to provide incentives for individuals to work hard and be innovative. The government controls all means of production, and workers are paid equally, regardless of their productivity or contribution to society. This means that there is no reward for hard work, and no incentive to be innovative or entrepreneurial. As a result, the economy stagnates, and technological progress is slow as individuals would have no reason to work hard or be innovative.

So to sum it up, communism is an inadequate ideology that has caused immense harm wherever it has been implemented. Its rejection of individual liberty and personal responsibility, its ignorance of economic incentives and innovation, and its history of violence and oppression make it a dangerous and destructive force. As a society, we must remain vigilant against the seductive promises of communism, and must continue to defend the principles of freedom, democracy, and human rights. And as the Golaniad protestor’s rightly said, “Mai bine mort decat comunist”.

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Yashwant Singh Tanwer