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While it is unlikely that you live in one of the few remaining countries with a communist government, you can still embrace the ideology of communism in your everyday life and participate in political and activist organizations that support communist principles and beliefs. [1] X Research source This article will give you practical tips on how to live as a communist in the twenty-first century.
Steps
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Understand the plight of the proletariat. The proletariat is a member of the working class; people who provide work to an employer in exchange for wages, but do not have any ownership of the company they work for or the "means of production," meaning the land, tools, factories, office buildings, raw materials, etc. that make their work possible. Most members of the proletariat have little control or say over their own labor, and do not share in the profits of their employer. [2] X Research source
- Because the proletariat has no control over their labor and are dependent on wages to survive, they are easily exploited by their employers.
- The oppressors of the proletariat are called the "bourgeoisie" in Marxist terms, the wealthy capitalists who own the corporations, factories, and land, and consequently, most of the world's wealth. [3] X Research source
- The modern concept of the 99% is very similar to Karl Marx's concept of the proletariat, and the 1% is analogous to the bourgeoisie.
- A key tenet of communism is that the proletariat should strive to gain control over the means of production, and own and manage it collectively.
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Contemplate how private property creates social injustice. Private ownership over the means of production is what gives the bourgeoisie the power to exploit the proletariat (working class). Marx argued that if the ownership of the means of production were seized and handed over to the proletariat to own communally and equally, workers would fare better, exploitation would cease and the social classes that arise from the unfair distribution of property would disappear leading to a one proletariat class society.
- Some modern companies are partially or completely employee-owned, in that they give their employees stock, but these are relatively few. [4] X Research source
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Consider communist critiques of capitalism. Marx believed that it was capitalism, itself, along with the market economy, and the unbridled quest for profit that brought about the current state of injustice and inequality. Marx felt that the remedy for this was the total abolition of capitalism through a proletarian revolution.
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Become familiar with the core texts of Marxist communism. If you identify yourself as a communist, people will presume you are familiar with these texts and expect you to be able to discuss them knowledgeably.
- Begin with Frederick Engels' The Principles of Communism , a pamphlet he wrote in 1847 outlining the key tenets of Marxist communism. [7] X Research source
- Move on to the Communist Manifesto , published by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in 1848. [8] X Research source
- Read Marx' 3-volume Das Kapital when you are up for a real challenge. [9] X Research source
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Read some secondary literature on Communism that explains the context and evolution of the movement.
- Some good introductory texts include: Communism: A Very Short Introduction by Leslie Holmes, and The Theory and Practice of Communism: An Introduction by R. N. Carew Hunt
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Remember that Communism is strongly opposed to the acquisition of private property, and needless consumption. One of the most communist things you can do is to rely on the public library and second-hand bookshops to accomplish your research goals
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Join and participate in local communist organizations. Do some research and look for an active communist party or activist group in your area.
- In the United States, you can join the Communist Party USA. [14] X Research source
- If no communist groups exist locally, consider forming your own.
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Participate in groups and causes that are based on or are compatible with, communist ideals.
- Support labor unions, and remember that a good communist would never cross a picket line!
- Participate in the Occupy movement.
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Keep in mind that even peaceful demonstrations can lead to legal consequences. Learn the laws in your area and be prepared to be chastised and possibly even arrested for participation in political demonstrations.
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Reduce your exposure to Capitalist propaganda by avoiding commercial television and radio. Marketing is ubiquitous in modern society and most of us think little of it, but it is also a powerfully manipulative tool of the Capitalist machine. [15] X Research source
- Avoid advertisement-heavy websites and use pop-ups and ad-blockers to reduce your exposure to unwanted advertisements online.
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Choose where you spend your money wisely, for money is the lifeblood of Capitalism. Giving money to exploitative companies only increases their power over the working classes.
- Research the various corporations that produce the food, medicine, clothing, and other items that you use. Avoid doing business with corporations that are known to exploit labor.
- Buy goods directly from the person who manufactures them and avoid the corporate middleman whenever possible.
- Look for labor-friendly companies to do business with. Shop at the union, or better yet, employee-owned stores. Avoid using multinational companies such as Starbucks and amazon.com; which have a reputation for tax avoidance.
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Join a co-operative society. For a small annual fee, you can take part-ownership of your food distribution source. Most co-ops also offer opportunities for members to share their labor, as well.
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Minimize your consumption of consumer goods.
- Avoid purchasing disposable products of any kind. (cutlery, plates, cups, napkins, barbecues, sanitary products, razors, gloves, nappies, and chopsticks are all perfect examples)
- Avoid the unnecessary acquisition of personal property. Before making a purchase, analyze whether or not you really need it, and consider how long you will be able to use the item. If possible, go in on large purchases (for instance, a lawnmower) with one or more other people, and share the item that you buy amongst the co-owners.
- Learn to sew and repair things. Mend and reuse old items before purchasing new ones.
- Buy as much as possible from second-hand stores.
- Eschew the latest technological trends and gadgets. Only buy what you really need. iPhone 10? Forget it!
- Learn to garden and begin to grow your own produce, if space permits, or if a neighborhood allotment is available.
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Consider forgoing car ownership. Cars are a particularly wasteful and expensive form of personal property that with a few adjustments, can be made unnecessary for most people.
- Use mass transit whenever possible.
- Take advantage of car-sharing programs in your area.
- Consider buying an older, used car that is in good working condition, rather than a new vehicle if you have to buy a car. Unlike brand new cars, used cars are much cheaper and don't contribute to feeding capitalism as much as buying a new one from a dealership does, because a new one is not being produced.
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Hand your business to your employees and make it a syndicalist union if you are an employer.
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Advance the cause of labor if you are an employee. Participate in labor unions and employee organizations, and advocate for your fellow workers. If labor is not organized in your place of business, do your part to make this happen.
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Speak to others about your beliefs and share practical ways that others can adopt and practice communist ideals.
- Keep in mind that many people, particularly members of older generations, may become immediately hostile to the term "communism" or "communist," as they equate it with Cold War politics and propaganda. Do not take it personally, and do not antagonize people needlessly. Teaching by example will win more converts than aggressive confrontations and debates.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I be a communist freely?NY BlossomTop AnswererSo long as communist ideologies can be legally voiced in your country.
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QuestionHow do I tell my close friends and family I'm a communist without incurring judgement?Keri RautenkranzCommunity AnswerBe a great example of a good communist, as described above. When they notice and ask why, that is a good time to share. It takes patience.
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QuestionI heard that Americans think Canada is communist because we have free health care. Why?Community AnswerThe vast majority of Americans do not think Canada is communist. However, there are some ignorant Americans who have an over-the-top fear of/opposition to any kind of government-provided services, either because they see it as government 'interference' in citizens' lives or because they think the taxes required to pay for such services are a form of stealing from citizens, and will try to demonize such services as 'socialist' or 'communist' (which are scary words to many Americans due to memories of the Cold War and their association with certain totalitarian governments).
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Tips
- The Marxists Internet Archive is a great resource on communism and has an excellent student section. [16] X Research sourceThanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Personal property is different from private property. Communists believe that people should be able to own personal things (clothing, toothbrushes, phones, etc.), but not private property (means of production, land, houses, etc.).
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Warnings
- Being too open with strangers about your beliefs might be dangerous.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0933874.html
- ↑ https://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proletariat
- ↑ https://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bourgeoisie
- ↑ https://www.nceo.org/articles/employee-ownership-100
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/331694/history-of-Latin-America/60906/Expanding-role-of-the-state
- ↑ https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Communism#Collapse_of_the_Soviet_Union_and_Communism_Today
- ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm
- ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/Communist-manifesto/index.htm
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/311741/Das-Kapital
- ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/
- ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/idom/dm/index.htm
- ↑ https://www.peoplesworld.org/
- ↑ https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
- ↑ https://www.cpusa.org/
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2012/mar/23/mind-control-advent-of-neuroscience
- ↑ https://www.marxists.org/subject/students
About This Article
Article Summary
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To live like a communist, apply the core principles, like living a minimalist lifestyle, to your daily life. Choose where to spend your money by researching corporations and only doing business with those that are labor-friendly. Additionally, join a co-op to take part-ownership in your grocery store and share some of the labor. Another way to live a communist lifestyle is to avoid buying disposable products, like plates, cups, and razors, and to learn to sew and repair things instead of replace them. Since cars are especially wasteful and expensive, consider using mass transit instead, or buying a used car so nothing new had to be produced. To learn how to get involved in communist politics, keep reading!
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"This article has immediately improved my quality of life. My country used to suffer from having a middle class doing all the work, while the rich relax in laziness and the poor live in sorrow and pain. Now that these surefire techniques have been implemented in my everyday life, and into my friends' and family's lives, we live joyfully knowing that our country is united in a great working class who labors together for the common goal with the will of the country. Communism now and forever!"
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"I am Irish and came to live in 1974 in the Netherlands or Lowlands as I like to call it. I became a member of the Communistic Party that had some seats, today this has changed to socialism and left winged parties. I have read most of the books above."
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"In class today we decided to overthrow the world. This article was very useful in achieving our goals. We now feel enlightened with the success of communism and will now proceed to become full fledged licensed crowned bestowed christened communists."
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"This article has helped me improve my life. I feel much better now. I feel like I'm helping society and improving the communist spirit that is in us all. I now understand why Russia is a communist country and I am a full blooded communist now."
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"This article, when read with an open mind, cleared many of the misconceptions my father taught me. I especially like the inclusion of a reading list, although I would like the list posted again in the tips section for ease of finding."
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