Why Communism Can't Work

"Communism is like prohibition, it's a good idea but it won't work." ~ Will Rogers

Communism is Karl Marx's concept of a Utopian Governmental system. It has been suggested that the only reason why it hasn't worked everywhere it's been tried so far, is because it hasn't been done right yet. Not true. Here is why it would not and cannot work:

When I was a pre-pubescent young man, I used to daydream about having great wealth and all the things I could do with such wealth. I remember once entertaining the idea of owning my own private island and creating a Utopian type government there, with me having total and complete authority.

But, unlike Communist governments around the world at the time, mine would be a kind, generous government. A benevolent dictatorship, if you will.

This is the concept I created in my own mind:

First, I would make absolutely sure that everyone in my country would have exactly the same amount of property and money as everyone else. Then, I would set the wage for every person in my country at exactly the same amount per year. The janitors and the bag boy at the supermarkets and the fast food counter person would make exactly the same amount of money as the doctors and lawyers and stock brokers and corporate officers.

Everyone could choose whatever occupation they wanted to go into, and I, the benevolent dictator, would use my incredible wealth to supply them with all the necessary tools and education they needed to accomplish their goals. In the beginning, no one would be allowed to have unfair advantage over another. All would be equal in every way. Then, I would let them do whatever they felt they needed to by whatever means they deemed necessary to achieve success by their own standards, within reason.

Breaking the law, questionable, or unethical conduct would not be allowed. No one would be allowed to use trickery to sell goods or services to anyone else.

But, being a benevolent dictator, I would not prevent anyone in my country from earning as much money as they could as long as how they managed it were legal.

People would have to start from nothing, and make something out of themselves or not, as the case may be.

"What a wonderful country!", I reasoned, with no one having any kind of advantage over anyone else. This country would be the ultimate example of perfect government.

Of course, in my childish, simplistic fantasy, everything worked perfectly. There was no crime, and everyone was wealthy enough that all would be content. There was simply no greed at all.

Now that I'm an old curmudgeon, and in my old age, become cynical, I have long since abandoned the notion that Utopia would ever be possible.
Here is what would happen in reality if someone ever did create such a society:

Within a year, some people would be wealthy. Some would be penniless. There would be a lot of resentment from the ones who frittered their money away towards the ones that managed to use their natural good thinking, instincts, and sheer determination to parlay their start-up funds into fortunes.

Within five years, there would be an upper class, a middle class, and a lower class. The rich would continue to get richer, and the poor would continue to get poorer.

Some people would find loopholes enabling them to cheat the cheatable. Some people would be so gullible they would find themselves easy targets for those who would take advantage of them. Some people would have scruples, others would not.

Some people would begin to steal, and murder, and whatever else they think will allow them to circumvent the legal process to success.

You see, Utopia isn't possible this side of Heaven. There is too much diversity in people.

Some people are ambitious, some are not. Some people are industrious, some are not. Some people are inventive, some are not. Some people take pride in good workmanship, others are just content to get the job done, whether it is done well or not. Some people are workaholics, some are just plain lazy.

Some people buy anything, Some people buy nothing. Some buy what they want. Some buy only what they need. Some people are foolish with money, some are miserly.

It takes all kinds to make a world. It takes one kind to make a Utopia.