What is the difference between socialism and communism?

[msc545]

Socialism and communism are two economic and political ideologies that are often used interchangeably, but they have some significant differences:

At its core, socialism is an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are owned and controlled by the state, rather than by private individuals. In a socialist society, the government plays a central role in planning and directing economic activity, with the goal of reducing inequality and promoting the welfare of all citizens.

Communism, on the other hand, is a more extreme form of socialism that seeks to create a classless, stateless society in which all property is owned collectively and resources are distributed according to the needs of the individual. In a communist society, the state is expected to wither away as the people take control of their own lives and resources.

Another difference is that socialism can take many different forms, depending on the specific policies and practices of the government. Some socialist societies may have a mixed economy, with both private and public ownership of industries, while others may be more strictly controlled by the state. Communism, on the other hand, is based on the idea of a complete and total overhaul of the economic and political system, with the goal of creating a completely classless society.

Overall, the main difference between socialism and communism is that socialism is a system that aims to promote equality and social welfare through state ownership and control of the economy, while communism is a more radical ideology that seeks to create a classless, stateless society through the collective ownership of all property and resources.

(I wrote this for all the conservatives on here that are unable to comprehend or acknowledge the difference.)

[moondazed]

Great MyTake; interesting and thought-provoking

I find it funny when conservatives call liberals communists and seem unable to tell the difference between those two

[Philyouup]

they are not the same thing. at all. socialism is a big part in a lot of democracies can’t say that about communism

[Stoner710]

Socialism is the 2nd step in the communist manifesto. First revolution the Proletariat a. k. a. the working class basically kills off the proletariat think French revolution style. 2nd you need a strict government for a period of time where no one can become “greedy” and so everyone is suppose to share “to each according his ability and to each according to his need” once your need is greater then your ability you stop being fend or given medical attention you are worthless. So you die. The point of socialism is to force people into this habit and line of reasoning. Communism is the third step when the government steps down completely there is no such thing as government but people keep following the ideas and culture that government help set up. So China and North Korea the USSR Yugoslavia these were all socialist nations and people who don’t understand communism just assumed it was communism but it was really actually socialism. What’s the name of the Nazis. National Socialist German workers party that’s was the nazis Hitler himself was a socialist. Mao Zedong Joseph Stalin Vladimir Lenin Tito or all socialist China is a socialist state USSR was a socialist state they never achieved true communism. Which is why I chiasm is evil because you need to have a socialistic state in order to form a true communist way of life

[U4ea0]

They are just different means to an end. Communism is revolutionary while socialism is evolutionary.

They were designed to create a foul and squalid world in which every instinctive value is negated and aborted—a world in which the natural ties of family and property have been severed, leaving only rootless and helpless individuals, isolated and lost in the terrible loneliness of crowds—a world without history, without philosophy, without science, without reason—a world without beauty of any kind, without art, without literature, without culture—a world without real love, the love that unites men and women.

[Dumbkidnextdoor]

Communism means equal distribution of income/product among every individual. While Socialism means distribution of income/products on the basis of the needs of an individual.

For example:
You have 1000 tonnes of crop and you hired 10 people to help you harvest it, then in communism each of the individual gets 100 tonnes of the harvest but in Socialism it is dependent on yhe individuals on how much they need so some might opt for 10 tonnes and others may opt for 200 tonnes etc. Hope that helped.

[Anonymous]

Well there is like many different flavours of socialism from Christian socialism to anarchism to collectivism to communism, to national socialism to socialist nationalism, Arab socialism, democratic socialism, socialist democracy, socialism republicanism etc.

Socialism started off in Europe as an alternative to monarchism serfdom and imperialism.

[standardguy]

The problem in communist societies is that they even want to have one atheist religion, even adoring the political leader. This is the worst because we need have the right to adore whom we want, and if you want even the living God.

[FatDikEng]

There is t and anyone who says otherwise is a traitor to democracy.

[exitseven]

Socialism is what the democrats call it because they know that nobody would go along with something called communism.

[msc545]

Socialism and communism are not the same things at all.

[exitseven]

@msc545 "Communism, on the other hand, is a more extreme form of socialism" Somebody I know just posted this.

[msc545]

If it is more extreme it is obviously not the same.