The crux of Leftist thinking has nothing to do with Marx..

The discussion between the benefits and drawbacks of economic/political systems is ongoing and forever circling around in on themselves.
Usually discussions end with the predictable kind of entrenchment and one ideology firing shots at the other, both unwilling to move from their position.
I understand this, I really do.

But we need to move on from this, to change anything.
It is frustrating, time consuming, and rarely productive.

And so, in reflection of the views and discussions that I have had recently, I was trying to somewhat 'think outside the box' as a way to express what I 'know' to be a truthful picture, re economic systems.

....put down yer shovels down, there is no need for ideological entrenchment in this post...

And so I came up with this.....(well, I'm sure I'm not the first...I'm not that arrogant!)

@freenbornangel gave a very good (imo) and very positive definition of what 'communistic ethos' is.

This is one that most left leaning, and well intentioned people could probably identify with.

I really do believe in the innate good of peoples, and that it far outweighs the negative aspects of humanity.

...It is in this vein that I wish to destroy utterly, the basic misconceptions about communism and socialism.

I see the supporters of leftist, communist doctrine as..

I wish to show a bigger picture, as I feel that this fundamental flaw I'm talking about (but yet to talked about) is the problem.
Misunderstanding this basic law of nature, ( never even thinking about it perhaps?), limits the broader view, and blinds people to the bigger picture...

So this got me thinking. The conflict, the disconnect, has nothing to do with political systems, or economic systems.
Nada.
Arguments in support of whatever ideology emerge from the understandings of that ideology.
Leave aside these intellectual jousting of specific ideas, we need to backtrack...

A loooooooong way...

Pushing string...communism.

Pulling string... Capitalism.

Pushing string is an impossible task, no matter the good intentions.
The pusher wants to move the string. His intentions may be noble.
It's still impossible.

Pushing the string involves much more force and coercion. ('persuading' it to move in the right direction)
Pushing the string causes twists and turns and an due to this, an inefficient use of energy.

Taking capitalism as pulling the string, it all becomes very much simpler, without as much force, and far more energy efficient.

.... only works as a political and economic model, if it is a true statement.

But how do we decide if it is true or not?

Historical knowledge is the only measure we can use with any degree of certainty to try and gauge if this statement is true or not.
Looking back at what has been is by far the most accurate way to glean any truths from human behavioral traits or patterns.
It is not hypothetical. It is real people, living out their real lives, doing real actions, in real places.

If this is the tool we are using, then it can be seen that this definition does not work, or has never worked in history, from the small tribe to the nation state.

Why not?

Because it comes from a perspective that believes altruism is real and contributes towards a successful social model.

As does communism.

IS ALTRUISM REAL... OR NOT?

That's it. The crux of the matter.
All of it.
The whole leftist mess, and why it's politics and economics are built on air.
Is it real - or is it selfishness in disguise?

We are all individual biological units with the desire to replicate our genes.
This is fact supported by approximately every living life form on the entire planet.
It has a such a weight of evidence in it's favor to support this, as to qualify it as being called a 'fact'.
(A fairly leftist perspective, actually.)

The individual is the lowest common denominator. This is also fact.

Altruism v self interest.

As an individual biological unit, there are not many that would give up their life selflessly for another human being.
Those choosing to do so – from 'altruistic motivations' – are making a choice of a 'which gives me less pain'.
To live without another person in your life for example, may mean sacrificing your own life for them to live.

This is real, and may appear to be altruistic- but it is self interest in so much as choosing an action which causes them the least amount of pain.
These are the extreme exceptions to the rule of course.

In normal life, and normal circumstances, you make sure 'you are alright', first. A selfish action.

History tells us that naked self interest always takes the higher priority over altruism.
The default setting of the human biological unit is selfishness.
It makes total evolutionary sense, and is pure logic.

How do we know this to be true though, with just human society..?
Simple.

Altruistic acts concerning life and death become the things of legend, of myth. The story of the hero.
There is a reason for that.
Because these acts are so uncommon. They make the news, that's why.

If it were commonplace, it would garner no special attention or status. None.
So if they are uncommon acts, then naked self interest are common acts..
It's 'normal'.

This fundamental change of perspective is HUGE. ( I even put it in capital letters- just to show how huge we are talking).

This belief in altruism illustrates the fundamental flaw in socialist and communist mind set.
Consciously thinking it exists or not doesn't matter.
The fact it it a belief system (like religion) and not a fact of life, does matter.

A fundamental misunderstanding of human nature and dynamics.
Is this due to an individuals personal perspective,and experiences? ..Most probably.
The facts still don't change.

I grew up on farm, and when I was very young, one of our dogs bit me. ( I was probably the very good reason it bit me it all fairness, knowing me. I don't remember).
I could have grown up believing all dogs bite, from that one experience.
The fact was, it was one dog that bit me one time.
I knew this, and it never altered my love of dogs.
Logic decided my future actions regarding dogs - not a belief in all dogs biting...

Allowing your belief system to take a controlling position over logic is flawed. Altruism as a logic, is flawed. Communism as a system that is built on a belief in altruism.

I see no historical evidence to prove this theory wrong - from the hunter gathers joining together to make it more profitable for themselves, to women working in villages, together.
It is all about efficiency of the individual to maximize their own rewards.

If entire leftist ideologies are built on these misconceptions of the human being, it's no wonder they don't work.
And it's no wonder why political and economic discussions just go around and round.

A belief in altruism is the crux of the matter, not Marx.
That's the question that needs to be addressed.

The answers are easy..... asking the right questions is hard part...

We all see the same string, stop trying push the bloody thing!