3 ms·

> Check out the history of communist countries. I can only find the history of the authoritarian communist countries, the Leninists, Stalinists, Maoists, etc.

> Check out the history of communist countries. I can only find the history of the authoritarian communist countries, the Leninists, Stalinists, Maoists, etc. I'd be happier to write off communism if there'd been more practical exploration of the libertarian communist theories.

WalterBright 4y ago
It's perfectly legal in America to set up a commune. I think more than 10,000 have been set up. They all failed. The Israeli kibbutzen are communes, but they are only kept afloat by government funding taxed from capitalist enterprises. The Pilgrims set up a commune their first year here, and starved. So did the Jamestown colony. There was the "Summer of Love" commune in San Francisco in 1969 that collapsed after 3 months. The Woodstock concert was a 3 day commune, which worked great until you consider they left behind a mountain of trash for other people to clean up. Apparently people were fine with getting free stuff, not so fine with doing work.
- incompatible 4y ago
  I'm curious about where "they all failed" comes from. Presumably that means there are none currently in existence? I suspect that a lot of communes are set up for religious reasons, or because somebody fancies themselves as a petty dictator. This may be inevitable when a commune has to be set up on private property, and somebody will be the "owner". I thought the Plymouth Colony was successful? I don't know what system of governance it had.
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    > I'm curious about where "they all failed" comes from Can't find a successful one. Plymouth switched to capitalism after starving for a year.
- pcthrowaway 4y ago
  This commune has been doing well for quite a while now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farm_(Tennessee) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farm_(Tennessee) I don't agree that a working commune means communism as a political system could also work. I'm also not saying communism can't work, though I personally like socialism with some capitalist elements better.
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    I'm pretty sure the Farm was the one where people would leave after 2 years. Hardly anyone stayed longer. They're just good at recruiting replacements. I recommend anyone who believes in communism should join The Farm and give it a try.
collyw 4y ago
These guys seemed to have a working version from seeing them on a documentary. https://www.bruderhof.com/ https://www.bruderhof.com/

WalterBright 4y ago

It's perfectly legal in America to set up a commune. I think more than 10,000 have been set up. They all failed. The Israeli kibbutzen are communes, but they are only kept afloat by government funding taxed from capitalist enterprises. The Pilgrims set up a commune their first year here, and starved. So did the Jamestown colony. There was the "Summer of Love" commune in San Francisco in 1969 that collapsed after 3 months. The Woodstock concert was a 3 day commune, which worked great until you consider they left behind a mountain of trash for other people to clean up. Apparently people were fine with getting free stuff, not so fine with doing work.

incompatible 4y ago
I'm curious about where "they all failed" comes from. Presumably that means there are none currently in existence? I suspect that a lot of communes are set up for religious reasons, or because somebody fancies themselves as a petty dictator. This may be inevitable when a commune has to be set up on private property, and somebody will be the "owner". I thought the Plymouth Colony was successful? I don't know what system of governance it had.
- WalterBright 4y ago
  > I'm curious about where "they all failed" comes from Can't find a successful one. Plymouth switched to capitalism after starving for a year.
pcthrowaway 4y ago
This commune has been doing well for quite a while now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farm_(Tennessee) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farm_(Tennessee) I don't agree that a working commune means communism as a political system could also work. I'm also not saying communism can't work, though I personally like socialism with some capitalist elements better.
- WalterBright 4y ago
  I'm pretty sure the Farm was the one where people would leave after 2 years. Hardly anyone stayed longer. They're just good at recruiting replacements. I recommend anyone who believes in communism should join The Farm and give it a try.

collyw 4y ago

These guys seemed to have a working version from seeing them on a documentary. https://www.bruderhof.com/ https://www.bruderhof.com/