Socialism/communism

I felt that it is necessary to review again the tenets of socialism/communism:

Marx described three necessary phases toward achieving his ideal state (Summarized from the communist manifesto).

Phase 1: A revolution must take place in order to overthrow the existing government. Marx emphasized the nee¬d for total destruction of the existing system in order to move on to Phase 2.

Phase 2: A dictator or elite leader (or leaders) must gain absolute control over the proletariat. During this phase, the new government exerts absolute control over the common citizen's personal choices -- including his or her education, religion, employment and even marriage. Collectivization of property and wealth must also take place.

Phase 3: Achievement of utopia. This phase has never been attained because it requires that all non-communists be destroyed in order for the Communist Party to achieve supreme equality. In a Marxist utopia, everyone would happily share property and wealth, free from the restrictions that class-based systems require. The government would control all means of production so that the one-class system would remain constant, with no possibility of any middle class citizens rising back to the top.

Marx also detailed the 10 essential tenets of communism:

• Central banking system

• Government controlled education

• Government controlled labor

• Government ownership of transportation and communication vehicles

• Government ownership of agricultural means and factories

• Total abolition of private property

• Property rights confiscation

• Heavy income tax on everyone

• Elimination of rights of inheritance

• Regional planning

Use this as a checklist with Congress, the Senate and CINCO.