How Communism Works In USA

Since 1917 October Revolution in Russia, western civilization has been associating Communism with violence, blood, murders and other extremely evil things. However, this perception is not even close to idea of Communism, as it was studied in Soviet Russia.

Today I see multiple examples of how this idea works and I consider it as a proof of concept. I’ll provide a few examples, where this concept fits as good as it could be in Communist society.

I’m not a communist and I don’t like how this idea was imposed in Russia or in other countries in form of organized and violent religion.

However, it’s amazing how communistic ideas grew in western society by themselves, especially if you know that USA and Western Europe have been spending so much energy and resources fighting Communism. At the end of the day, western world trends towards it anyway.

Terra Bite Lounge

It’s an upscale voluntary cafe / deli in Seattle. This is how they describe their business:

Patrons choose what to pay, and are encouraged to pay what they would elsewhere. You may use this as a convenience feature, e.g. get your daily coffee and drop in a $20 at the end of the week.

We also cheerfully serve those who cannot pay, in a non-stigmatizing customer setting, with no political or religious message, and with full-time availability.

Terra Bite shares profits with our baristas and will also donate profits to various charities. Those charities are strictly non-political, non-religious, and entirely non-controversial; they will be listed here on the web site.

The first space is in Kirkland, WA, on the corner of Kirkland Ave and State Street. If it works out we will open others in areas that actually need it.

We have free wifi access.

Terra Bite is also a console game boutique, offering free XBox/PS3 gaming and games for sale. The console games offer another draw for the public, introduce a greater social aspect to the space, add some revenue, and also let us balance the service and retail aspects of the space for zoning purposes.

Terra Bite is founded by Ervin Peretz and directed by Susan Allsup.

One interesting thing: Ervin Peretz is Google employee. Was the idea influenced by Google?

Open Source Software

You, probably, know that there are two major forces in software world: proprietary software companies and open source community. They are pretty opposite: one offers “black-box-style” products for money, other gives all source code for free.

Just think about it: people offer thousands of hours of their hard work just for free. You can go to www.sourceforge.net and choose a product you want: from large enterprise CRM to simple utilities. For free.

Try And Buy

This concept assumes that if you like, you buy it. Freeware, shareware and demo versions of software are using this concept. I’m not talking about adware of malware (which, certainly, exploit you as a user in some ways). I’m talking about products with no strings attached: you like it - you buy it.

Free Checking Accounts

Just about 30-40 years ago free checking account was if not impossible, but very rare thing. Banks had to charge at least a few dollars a month to upkeep it. Even today there are checking accounts which are not for free.

It’s kind of natural, when it’s free, isn’t it?

No Fee Credit Cards With 0% APR

Again, as of today, fee for credit cards are kind of… outdated. Customers already pay money to borrow other money. You borrow more - you pay more. You borrow less - pay less. If nothing is borrowed - it’s free - just in case, as a financial airbag.

It’s also interesting, how banks are offering 0% APR credit cards… It’s like: take our money, please.

I know the guy, who borrowed more than 100 000 dollars from multiple credit cards with 0% APR, then bought apartments in Moscow back in 2002. Today his flat costs more than 400 000 dollars on market and yet he paid 0 dollars and 0 cents to borrow this money. How? He happen to transfer his balances, to new cards with 0% APR.

Kind of nice to have a free loan, isn’t it?

Welfare

It’s kind of nice, when you got paid just because you exist. Isn’t it pure communist idea?

Of course, there are lots of legitimate reasons behind this, I’m not trying to question it or discuss it. I also know that there are people in need, who are not capable of working for money for variety of reasons.

However, it does not change a fact that people receive money (or equivalent of money) without actually earning it by working.

Sounds like Communism, doesn’t it?

Conclusion

So, from my point of view, attributes of Communism are:

- voluntary cafe and services;

- free / open source software;

- try and buy principle;

- free checking account / no financial fee services;

- welfare.

You see, it’s not necessarily bad or unpleasant things.

Now it’s time for some discussion. What do you think?

What other attributes of Communism you observe in US and other countries?