Can The Marxist Mantra Ever Work?

[naomi24]

This question arises from a conversation I had here earlier - and it’s something to talk about other than the miseries of Coronavirus so that can’t be a bad thing.

So … the Marxist Mantra -

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs".

Can that ever work in any society - and if not, why not?

[shoota]

I'm not a great thinker (CBA'd) but that sounds like a one way valve to me.

[iluvmargie]

This question is a bit too clever for me (lol).

[derekpara]

No, it can't. Reason ? Greed, corruption, lust for power.

[allenlondon]

Nah, of course not. Let dog eat dog, that’s the best way. Every man for himself, and devil take the hindmost.

The meek?

Let them eat cake, if they can scrabble for it in the dirt.

[naomi24]

Can it work, Allen - and if not, why not?

[pixie374]

No... much as it might sound a nice idea, removing motivation for people to make an effort, will never work.
But...
Theland's freudian slip at the end of this page (21:34) was amusing :-)

[pixie374]

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1701462-4.html

[ToraToraTora]

no, it is fundamentally flawed due to human nature.

[youngmafbog]

No, because someone has to be in charge. And without doubt that person(s) will take more - as we see time and time again.

The other problem with it is: define "his needs".

[ToraToraTora]

TBF it would be wonderful if it could work but sadly countless examples have demonstrated it cannot.

[naomi24]

//Theland's freudian slip at the end of this page (21:34) was amusing :-) //

Which page, pixie?

[naomi24]

Sorry, pixie, cross-posted.

[naomi24]

Haha! Oh I see, pixie. Sounds about right. ;o)

[pixie374]

:-)

[TheDevil]

No, and because of greed and power.

[andy-hughes]

In an ideal world - the sort of world Jeremy Corbyn's imagination lives in - yes it would work.

But it flies in the face of basic human nature.

Aspirational people will always create more wealth because they want more wealth, and they will be unwilling to share it with others who have not contributed to it because that is not in the nature of aspirational individuals' thinking.

On that basis, it will never be more than a concept, and an ideal, which can never be realised.

The model, if anyone wants it, is the history of Russia, the Communist State created with that notion in mind, dismantled beyond redemption by the oligarchs and capitalists who run modern Russia, and live in personal splendour as a result, without noticeably sharing their wealth with any strangers at all.

[pixie374]

I'm happy to share with people who genuinely need it, but laziness and fussiness about work, aren't acceptable reasons to me.

[ToraToraTora]

this is just one of many useful examples of why it cannot work:
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/646/does_socialism_work_a_classroom_experiment
Sadly, many seem to ignore the obvious.

[pixie374]

That's about right, ttt. I might have felt differently, but my view is really, that disregarding disability, if I, as a single parent of 4, could manage to support all of us, I can't see why everyone else is unable to.

[ToraToraTora]

most people are socialists until they get some assets. Believe me I went to school with a few, now they'd beat Ghengis Khan in a fight over a torn fiver!