In the last 100 years what ideology has killed more people worldwide (via genocide, war, famine, etc): capitalism or communism?

[Anonymous]

I do realize it is very difficult to quantify which ideology is responsible is claimed more human lives worldwide. However the more I study modern history (and I’ve been reading a lot lately) the more I believe one particular ideology is ultimately much more diabolical then the other.

However I will not state my personal position unless I get more than 50 votes.

If you vote please explain why you believe this.

Capitalism

Communism

I am not educated enough in this subject to vote either or above

[NamerOfStars]

You're looking at this the wrong way. Ideology doesn't kill people; people kill people. Communism didn't cause Holodomor any more than capitalism caused An Gorta Mor.

The danger lies in the concentration of power in too few hands- the owner of those hands, and even the nature of that power, doesn't really matter all that much.

[Asker]

I admitted this would be difficult to quantify. But I didn’t state and opinion either way. I also kept an option C for people to admit they can’t make a choice about above. No shame in admitting you do not know enough about the subject have an opinion.

[NamerOfStars]

But it's not a matter of a lack of knowledge; it's a matter of misapplying blame.

[Asker]

So you think that ideologies have no consequences?

[NamerOfStars]

Sure they do- but not nearly as much as concentration of power does.

[MCheetah]

Objectively, Communism. That is literally the only right answer for this question.

[FreyaRed]

There has been always an ideology behind every genocide in last 10k years of human history. Ideology is just a tool not the reason for murder, violence and dehumanization.

[Asker]

That’s why I have an option C.

[CloudMassacre]

I haven’t heard of a nation that didn’t have capitalism going on, so I say capitalism

[Asker]

Alright. Who do think was the biggest mass murderer in the 20th century? Again I am not judging one way or another unless I get 50+ votes on this poll.

[CloudMassacre]

I was going to say the Las Vegas Shooter, but that’s 21st century, I’m not sure who killed the most people in the previous century

[Asker]

I am talking about dictators. I suggest you do some research.

[CloudMassacre]

Okay, we went from talking about economic systems to individual people and now specifically to dictators, so what all are you wanting to pin down?

[CloudMassacre]

Also, is someone dying at their job “killed” by capitalism? Or someone who works their body to dust and is basically old and broken, is that a kind of death? Like basically killing their life away at a job that breaks them

[Asker]

Both capitalism and communism has worked people to death. If you don’t believe me about communism working people to death then google China’s Great Leap Forward.

Let’s say which ideology lead to a shortened or premature death.

Again I am trying to remain impartial here but I had to let the cat out of the bag a bit to give you more clarity about what I am asking.

[Asker]

*shortened life

[CloudMassacre]

I agree that communism has worked people to death, but I still think way more people have died for/due to/however you’d phrase it, for capitalism

[Asker]

Well again I am not going to state my personal opinions until I get at least 50+ votes. I intentionally setup this poll to be impartial as possible.

Most people setup polls already having their mind made up about the results before collecting results (often with “damned if you do” and “damned if you don’t” poll options). Not just on GAG but real life “researchers” do this. I remember getting a market research phone call about critical race theory. The beginning of the phone call started out objective. But than the interviewer threw in blatant bias and the end in an attempt to skew my response. It was twisted.

Truth is want to know the general zeitgeist of westerners opinions of capitalism vs communism. From what I’ve seen most people are not very educated on objective history and economics (or worse given very biased educations). However it’s okay to admit ignorance. That’s why I have an “option C”. Even Socrates was considered wise for admitting he didn’t pass judgment because he didn’t understand things. It’s about checking your ego.

[CALIGVLA]

In the last 100 years, it's communism.

In the last 30 years, it's liberalism.

[TroyDT2]

Let's see... Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot... umm, yeah.

[jamesgoldman]

Kim Jong Il