General Discussion

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts) Sat Mar 1, 2014, 06:00 PM Mar 2014

What is your opinion about Marxism? [View all]

43 votes, 2 passes \| Time left: Unlimited
	It is the science of societal behavior both past and present
	3 (7%)
	It is a totalitarian system that has no place in the world of today
	1 (2%)
	It is a very valuable social theory that accurately explains a great deal of history and current events. But it is far from an exact science.
	18 (42%)
	It is an outdated and utterly flawed theory that holds little if any relevance for understanding the world of today
	16 (37%)
	To be honest, I really don't know enough about Marxism to venture a fair opinion.
	3 (7%)
	One of the things I miss most about Europe is authentic Hungarian goulash soup like you find in those wonderful train station restaurants.
	2 (5%)
	2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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106 replies

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Highlight:

What is your opinion about Marxism? [View all] Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 OP

Like all social science, far from exact nadinbrzezinski Mar 2014 #1

I picked 3, however BainsBane Mar 2014 #2

Not a fan. Throd Mar 2014 #3

As far from an exact science as any socioeconomic theory. Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #4

It is almost as obsolete as capitalism FarCenter Mar 2014 #5

marxist economic analysis of capitalism is good. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #6

I basically agree with this.... Nicely put. NT Adrahil Mar 2014 #11

Well said but when it comes to analysing reality malaise Mar 2014 #13

I agree. I am a social democrat because nothing else works Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #15

+1 cinnabonbon Mar 2014 #90

Capitalism is much better because it's much more efficient LittleBlue Mar 2014 #7

How does it lead to inefficient economic models that make everyone poor? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #12

It leads to economies that unproductively make the wrong stuff LittleBlue Mar 2014 #16

Capitalism serves to produce at whatever cost, regardless of actual demand. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #17

Social democracies are not Marxist. DireStrike Mar 2014 #58

Social democracies are absolutely reformist Marxism. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #62

This may be a terminology issue. The end goal is what's important. DireStrike Mar 2014 #64

There are alternative explanations for the failure of certain states than "Marxism doesn't work" DireStrike Mar 2014 #40

Groucho or Harpo? Bluenorthwest Mar 2014 #8

Shemp dlwickham Mar 2014 #27

those are not the only options, you know Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #33

Awww!!!! Ya beat me to it! LongTomH Mar 2014 #53

I love Marx-a-Lot! Indelible impression. Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #65

No option for me. Here's what I think... Adrahil Mar 2014 #9

It is the most important collection of socio-economic theory in human history. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #10

I originally picked 3, but switched to one. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #14

The lack of falsifiability LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #18

Not Marxism, conflict theory. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #23

I agree conflict theory is laundry_queen Mar 2014 #24

It is falsifiable. It's simply difficult to interpret. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #25

Agree, there is so much data and much of it is hidden DireStrike Mar 2014 #41

Marx and Engels lived in a time before modern quantitative analysis... Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #47

The same people who decry Marxist totalitarianism are perfectly OK with corporatist totalitarianism. baldguy Mar 2014 #19

Yeah, I've noticed that too. Those same people also......... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #21

I like that libertarians are trying the "Crony capitalism" argument DireStrike Mar 2014 #61

YES! I've noticed some of the libertarians on FB....... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #70

bingo.... mike_c Mar 2014 #51

Pretty interesting results. Of course I picked option 1...... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #20

It may be a rebellion against the hijacking of the term "socialist" Curmudgeoness Mar 2014 #28

Oh I actually think that there are a LOT of social democrats...... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #44

Oh, how can I forget that the RW consider Obama a socialist! Curmudgeoness Mar 2014 #48

I honestly didn't know what to expect. I am frankly surprised by both the number who think Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #31

Not me. Nothing surprises me about the result so far of this poll........ socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #45

I don't think they're very democratic at all. Maybe demaGOGIC, based on their tactics here. DireStrike Mar 2014 #60

True, but since I capitalized the "Democratic"........ socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #71

"Marxism leads you to think long term" joshcryer Mar 2014 #75

So, I'm a disruptor? brooklynite Mar 2014 #91

I didn't call anyone out specifically....... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #96

a revealing poll. nt NoGOPZone Mar 2014 #22

Useful, but a bit old-fashioned... Deep13 Mar 2014 #26

I didn't read any until I was nearly 40. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #29

Marxism is fatally flawed. kwassa Mar 2014 #30

human nature Puzzledtraveller Mar 2014 #37

Good at identifying the problem, less so at arriving at a realistic solution. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2014 #32

good observation Puzzledtraveller Mar 2014 #39

+1 JustAnotherGen Mar 2014 #55

Excellent response. sibelian Mar 2014 #56

looked ok on paper, but wasn't in practice... dionysus Mar 2014 #34

I think it is a good discussion to have. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #35

I need some stuff, those of you that have more than I Puzzledtraveller Mar 2014 #36

So you are against progressive taxation? DireStrike Mar 2014 #42

Karl Marx Is the World’s Most Influential Scholar Ichingcarpenter Mar 2014 #38

hard to say -- because to a certain extent -- we're all marxists. xchrom Mar 2014 #43

Now see, this is something I've thought (and said before)........ socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #46

A system of dialectical materialism Recursion Mar 2014 #49

Yet another thing Marx was right about: it was offside! DireStrike Mar 2014 #59

I think you're thinking of this clip BelgianMadCow Mar 2014 #97

Yes, the dialectical materialism is somewhat cartoonish and the predictions mostly wrong Chathamization Mar 2014 #80

I Make FANTASTIC Goulash! Dirty Socialist Mar 2014 #50

parsley root? I will have to remember that Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #57

Don't Forget Dirty Socialist Mar 2014 #68

Ha! I had no idea. pangaia Mar 2014 #103

Sometimes useful as an analytical tool, worthless as a source of solutions nt geek tragedy Mar 2014 #52

Hooray for Captain Spaulding! JHB Mar 2014 #54

Marxism is the philosophical system responsible for the greatest death toll in human history kwassa Mar 2014 #63

Claims made by one author of one book. idendoit Mar 2014 #66

50 million in the Inquisition? Oh, please. kwassa Mar 2014 #67

The period mentioned covers 1300 years. Link below. idendoit Mar 2014 #69

Um, your source is a computer scientist, not a historian. kwassa Mar 2014 #72

Neither apparently are the authors of the book you link to. idendoit Mar 2014 #76

wow, you are so clever. kwassa Mar 2014 #77

Don't you wish you were. idendoit Mar 2014 #81

Regardless of the variance in the numbers, Marxism still wins in the death category. kwassa Mar 2014 #84

No one remotely comes close to the Catholic Church. idendoit Mar 2014 #98

sorry, that is an absurd comparison. kwassa Mar 2014 #99

You first. idendoit Mar 2014 #100

It is your assertion to prove. kwassa Mar 2014 #102

You claimed Marxism was resposible for 94 million deaths. idendoit Mar 2014 #104

No, you played games by posting false information. kwassa Mar 2014 #105

After you had posted false information... idendoit Mar 2014 #106

The Inquisition wasn't founded until the 1150s, though Recursion Mar 2014 #82

Matthew White has the best statistics: joshcryer Mar 2014 #74

What part of Marxism was responsible for that death toll? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #79

The part of Marxism practiced by Communist countries, of course. kwassa Mar 2014 #85

You didn't answer my question. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #86

The application part. kwassa Mar 2014 #88

Would you please elaborate in more than three words? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #92

well, this dictatorship of the proletariat. kwassa Mar 2014 #95

Isn't it incumbent in these discussions to first establish LanternWaste Mar 2014 #89

Marx was right about almost every fucking thing. joshcryer Mar 2014 #73

My opinion is, Marxism >>>>>>>>>>>>> Capitalism. eom PowerToThePeople Mar 2014 #78

I think it fails in almost every way. unreadierLizard Mar 2014 #83

Another in a long line of imaginary forces we predicate our decisions and our lives on. LanternWaste Mar 2014 #87

I passed, but anti-Semitism seems to me - to some extent - closeupready Mar 2014 #93

It's also interesting that Marx is supposedly the anti-Christ, yet Engels closeupready Mar 2014 #94

I wonder how many of the people who responded negatively Warpy Mar 2014 #101