tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post7952562228919936933..comments2024-03-20T16:34:04.414-04:00Comments on Alex Zorach's Tea Blog: OpenSky, and Why Communism FailedAlex Zorachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-66336259082572081902011-11-08T15:25:54.959-05:002011-11-08T15:25:54.959-05:00I agree with your analysis, Volker...I'm using...I agree with your analysis, Volker...I'm using the word "Communism" (i.e. Communism with a capital "C") as it is widely used. In a sense, it's a lot like the debate over whether to call <a href="http://cazort.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-herbal-tea-tea.html" rel="nofollow">herbal tea "tea"</a>, and you can read how I settle that one.<br /><br />I'm an idealist, but there are some battles of language and termination which I just don't prioritize. I'd rather focus on, say, <a href="http://cazort.blogspot.com/2011/09/there-is-no-should.html" rel="nofollow">should</a>.Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-28084042287425580762011-11-08T13:37:46.053-05:002011-11-08T13:37:46.053-05:00Eastern Euopean countries were socialist in so far...Eastern Euopean countries were socialist in so far has the means of production were socialized. It may or may not have been what Marx had envisioned, but it makes sense to call this system socialist. It wasn't Communist accoridng to Marxist or Marxist-Leninist terminology. <br />It was Communist according to a certain Western usage which calls every country ruled by a party claiming to be Communist a Communist country, regardless of the economic system (and China proves that Communist Parties can even preside over Manchester cpaitalism). This usage is not about the economic system at all. <br /><br />I'm not a Marxist-Leninist, but when talking about the economic system of countries dominated by Marxism-Leninism I think using the Marxist-Leninist terminology makes sense.Volkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07492633168921455988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-37726989763406645642011-11-07T12:14:35.858-05:002011-11-07T12:14:35.858-05:00Thanks for all the info!
I also agree that I like...Thanks for all the info!<br /><br />I also agree that I like that video on Vimeo more than OpenSky. I still, however, am not a big fan of the term "consumption". Economies are not strictly about consumption, they're about a combination of production, consumption, and organization...I think focusing on consumption is a reflection of the consumerist mindset, and to some degree encourages / legitimizes it. I'd rather shy away from that word to describe economic activity in general...and only use it to refer specifically to consumption, and not other types of activity (production, sales, exchange, etc.).Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-54612015171093299992011-11-07T11:09:31.016-05:002011-11-07T11:09:31.016-05:00The streetcar in the picture is an old KT 4D from ...The streetcar in the picture is an old KT 4D from Czechoslovakia, just painted in post-unification Berlin yellow and with modernized lights (and probably modernized interior), which makes it look more modern. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_tram <br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_KT4<br /><br />In West Berlin they ablished streetcars in the 1960, following the philosophy that subways and busses are better because they don't impede the car traffic as much as trams. The ideal of that time in West Berlin and West Germany was the "autogerechte Stadt" (car-optimized city). This ideal has come out of fashion, so in that respect East Germany was actually superior - not because of ideological reason, but because of lack of money, lack of cars and the COMECON plan which said that East Germany would get so and so may trams from Czechoslovakia - busses would have come from Hungary, and their number was also fixed the COMECON plan. So the planned economy extended even beyond national borders. Ultimatley Moscow decided.Volkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07492633168921455988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-32713459636451068682011-11-07T10:42:17.678-05:002011-11-07T10:42:17.678-05:00I saw this earlier today, and think it looks much ...I saw this earlier today, and think it looks much better than OpenSky<br />http://vimeo.com/28935954Gingkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00717840609096741544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-19031558111036332532011-11-07T10:38:58.583-05:002011-11-07T10:38:58.583-05:00Based on Carl Marx's definition of communism a...Based on Carl Marx's definition of communism and socialism, no country in the world has ever been a communism or socialism country yet, although a bunch have been self-claimed socialism country. China is still claiming itself a socialism country, but in many senses it's much less socialism than Canada or European countries, although the latter never claim themselves "socialism country". <br /><br />Carl Marx predicted that the primitive stage of socialism should slowly initiates from the richest capitalism country. Sounded like America :-p This is kidding... But I think Northern Europe is somewhat living part of Carl Marx's prediction now in a smooth way.Gingkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00717840609096741544noreply@blogger.com