Rating: 
Summary: The Road to Serfdom
Review: Everybody who read this book should read "The Road to Serfdom" afterwards. Here, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics F. Hayek takes apart the Philosophy propagated by K. Marx and other socialists, and shows that collectivism without exception must lead to the loss of personal freedom and wellbeing. Read it, it is an easy to read political (not economic) book, and it will change your outlook. It even may make you an individualist.
Rating:
Summary: Where were the Dancing Girls?
Review: Let's get a few things straight here: Most people fail to realize that the Communist Manifesto is in reality nothing more than the novelization of an old Spaghetti western, "The Cowboy with Bleeding Gums." Sure, the translators seem to have made a few minor errors, like naming the heroic desperado of the story 'Working Class' instead of his true name, 'Deep Throat Wong.' Also, his horse was named trigger, not Bourgois Capitalist Scumdogs who Never bother to Return the Hairdryer. What's more, the Aphids in act III had Belgian accents in the original, and the whole scene played a lot better without that happy Hollywood ending tacked on, and why the hell did they get Omar Sharif to play me? I asked for Yul Brynner, I tell you! after all, we're both bald. and dead, come to think of it. Now where are my teeth? As I was saying, this book bears little or no resemblance to the original masterpiece of world government, the 1964 serbian Postal Code, which I based on a catchy little musical I saw once called Das Kapital. So, I just wanted to set the record straight on this. Now I go, free hot wings and tanning creme for all! Cubey
Rating: 
Summary: argument to rediculious arguments
Review: alright, let me just point one thing out. yes, this is probably the same "excuse" you've heard many times. the soviet union was not socialism. "communism" is not a form of government, but a type of society. "socialism" has never worked because every "socialist" nation was either (a) a total mockery of socialism (china, for example) or (b) destroyed by the un in the name of "democracy." no, the communist manifesto isn't flawless. however, it is sadening to hear the only arguments the critics ever give is examples of attempted "socialisms." if you are going to argue with it, use a sound argument.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry For Upsetting Greedy Capitalists
Review: I'm deeply sorry for upsetting all those Capitalists. I hope you will accept my earnest apology. I hope the Reds come to your American Fast Food Restaurants and brutally murder all those who support the slaughter of innocent cows. Down with Ronald McDonald !
Rating:
Summary: More applicable today, than ever before
Review: The writing style is extremely easy to read for such a powerful work (unlike mill's 'on liberty' for example)While some of it has dated, the basic elements remain as powerful today and the closing paragraph of 'the manifesto' has to be seen to be believed !( one of the great quotes of the millenium is to be found there!!) As for some people's criticism of marx - responsible for millions of deaths and stalin,etc, these frankly are ludicrous(would these same people also blame christ for the inquisition,and countless holy wars?) Also bear in mind 'communist state' is a contradiction in terms, as outlined here, marx's idea of communism was the end result of a stateless, equal society in which solidarity would be an important element ( such an immoral and hateful proposition, ??)
Rating:
Summary: Oh, but that wasn't real communism there...
Review: Yeah. But Soviet Russia and Red China weren't "reeeeaaall communist" nations, as goes the typical cry. There are some problems with communism as a philosophy: 1, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Ok, who defines "neeeeeed"? Another, where is the great divide between worker and capitalist now? If anything, there are more people in management, and more people with stock in companies that are also of the "working class." The best thing is this: it's typical for a leftist/communist to cry about the "surplus value of labor," that the worker is making a profit for the capitalist. They scream that the worker should get the profit from their work, yet they believe in a system that has no private property rights. But wait! I thought the worker should keep his profit? Or, do they have any claim to it, since they can't own anything? Obvious paradoxes scream out in communism.
Rating:
Summary: An accurate prediction of what the world has become.
Review: As an active Socialist and Marxist I must say that this book is an undeniably accurate prediction of what Capitalism has done to our society, even though it was written so long ago. Marx did not have the ability to see into the future but it does seem that he had the insight to put 2 and 2 together to see what would happen if the system continued as it did. This book enlightens any reader that will take the initiative to buy it and read it for what it is worth. An accurate critique of the state of the industrial world then and now.
Rating:
Summary: Enough with the ignorant people, READ THIS
Review: This is probably one of the most profound statements of a way of life. First of all, to all of you who think that communism is what we were fighting in the Cold war, you are way wrong. Communism, as described in this short book is the absence of government. Everyone works for the society and gets what they need. You work by ability, and get paid by need. This will never work because of human nature, but it is a different type of system to wonder about. Read this book and if you don't understand it, read it again. Don't go on thinking that communism is Stalin and such...try to understand it.
Rating:
Summary: The Book that Changed the World.
Review: It's interesting reading, regardless of your political affiliation. The old, nationalistic CCCP differs in so many ways from the anarchist/communal "state" Marx envisions. I have to disagree with Marx's notion that lasting change comes through violent revolution, and not gradual reformation of the legal system. There are many other points on which I disagree as well. It's still interesting, although not the defining Democratic-Socialist tract I was looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Only an "intellectual" can believe this garbage
Review: Let's look at the results: over 100,000,000 killed and countless imprisoned, and an ideology for the Democratic Party. This is from a man who had nothing better to do than impregnate his maid (who he never paid) while watching his own children starve to death (why didn't he get a job?). Let's face facts, communism is for people who do not want to work or contribute anything to society, but only want to engage in their selfish, hedonistic lives. Get real!
|
