Communism vs. Capitalism, which is better? The debate still continues to this day, even after 40 plus years of this ideological and political debate being on the global battlefield. The arguments for Communism, a classless society where everyone works for the greater good, sounds ideologically wonderful in theory, but has many shortcomings and flaws in its application. With the conclusion of WWII, many Eastern European & Asian Marxist / Socialist countries came under control of Communist political parties and leadership. Cuba, Korea, China, The USSR, Laos, Angola, Mozambique, Bulgaria, Romanian, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Vietnam all fell under communist regimes around this time. Although some communist societies still remain today, namely Cuba (Columbia & India currently have strong communist based political movements), most of Communistic regimes have been abandoned. Communist took a huge blow in 1991 with the collapse of the Society Union, which separated into many smaller countries whom desired political autonomy. The causes and effects of the fall of Communism in China, which still has a strong communistic / socialist political party (The Communist Party of China) and Russia shared some commonalities. The major argument against communism is that it requires each individual be altruistic and to understand the The Tragedy Of The Commons, meaning people have to be willing to work for the greater good of society, not just themselves. They will not receive all of the fruits of their labor which creates a failure in the incentive mechanisms that as so basic to human nature. Some of the undesirable symptoms or effects of Communism are poverty, with an equal distribution of wealth, human rights abuses, and a lack of incentive for progress for individuals, which result in a slowly progressing society as a whole. Capitalism is currently thriving in the world today, but it does not come without its fault either. Capitalist societies suffer from poverty too, but in a different way as there is a vastly unequal distribution of wealth (a few people are rich, while most are poor), waste (garbage and a complete failure to recognize The Tragedy of The Commons), greed, injustice, and selfishness just to name a few. Topics on this DVD include:The Cold WarCommunism vs. CapitalismAnti Communism PropagandaTheory of CapitalismCapitalism / Democracy
Included Films:
A Look At Capitalism
A Look At Capitalism
Produced: 1955
Length: 13 Minutes
In this vintage 1950s film, university professor Clifton L. Ganus leads a classroom discussion to instill the values and importance of capitalism to his students. Dr. Ganus explains to his students that capitalism is a system where capital, items such as raw materials, energy, machinery, etc, are used to produce sales or new wealth. There are three pillars that make capitalism a unique system. The private ownership of property is a fundamental element to capitalism. Profit motive is also a key part. Lastly there is the open market principle which means that any one can sell items. The film continues to expound upon the virtues of capitalism. These factors make capitalism the best system for America. It allows American workers to earn more in a day than their counterparts abroad and also live at a higher standard. The key to ensuring the continued success of capitalism is in educating the American people of its importance. The film is informative but largely one sided, making it useful to learn about unilateral 1950s mainstream values.
In Our Hands
In Our Hands
Produced: 1950
Length: 57 Minutes
In Our Hands is an anti-communist four-part series that discusses the birth of the American way of life, how we could lose it, and how we must make sure we dont lose it. In part one, a couple and their baby are magically dropped down into a wilderness with no tools, in order to show how lost Americans would be without the privately owned means (tools) of production. The Lincoln Memorial, our founding fathers, and God, are invoked in this patriotic paean to capitalism. In part two, the films shows how even the simplest things in the American household, like Moms frying pan, are made by industries. It explains the freedoms Americans have thanks to capitalism. Scenes of iron industry, pan-manufacturing, farming, and more are shown. In part three, the film introduces a complex dramatization of how Americans could lose what we have. Two middle class couples are shown watching a political debate on TV featuring a fat, slimy communist-type candidate and a thin, scrappy, free-market candidate. Each makes the arguments for or against Big Government. The communist-type promises full employment and full security Were already on our way, he says, Weve partly socialized incomes. Were going ahead and socialize property, too! But what price freedom? cries the good candidate. You can have full employment and full security — in a penitentiary! Government cant control everything without controlling me! Tom, Mary, and their friends are seduced by the prospects of full employment and a master plan for the country. They vote for the evil candidate, and the free-market economy gives way to the parent state. A horrific scene ensues where Tom and Mary are informed by a cheeky relocation driver that their house is being given to two other families and theyre being transported to a new state and a new job. They argue in vain, as the evil party member that oversees their relocation says, You voted for it! As they are driven away with the few valuables theyve been allowed to retain, the driver tells them that he doesnt know whats going to happen with religion, but that theyd better button their lip about that kind of stuff. In the final part, the film presents a vague plan for protecting our natural resources and continuing to participate in a democratic government with a free-market economy. The whole series presents the forces for government regulation of industry, labor unions, and foreign socialist regimes as a dangerous, real, and imminent threat to the American way of life. According to the film, Big Government meant a complete loss of individual freedom and wealth, and it uses every scare tactic, generalization, and stereotype possible to drive the point home.
Communism vs. Capitalism
Communism vs. Capitalism
Produced: 1962
Length: 23 Minutes
This is a remarkable and fascinating lecture given by the president of Harding College in 1962. Dr. George Benson was leading a crusader against communism similar to McCarthy from the 50s. Benson argues that the communist push for peace fronts as a way to get Kennedy to eliminate the United States atomic arsenal was merely a way for them to prepare for a war where their superior numbers could overwhelm us without the protection of nukes, To the Communists, peace means destroy the capitalist countries. He brandishes communist writings and quotes luminaries such as Kennedy, Kruschev, Eisenhower, and Hoover. He warns that communist infiltration will corrupt the American worker against his employers, will enlist the help of womens organizations, and will appeal to blacks, or work with the colored, join them in any problem they have, be their friend under all circumstances, make the Communist party appear to be the party of the colored. Bensons an effective speaker, and his dated and often extreme views are spectacular opportunities for historical insight in this wonderful vintage film.
The Responsibilities of American Citizenship
The Responsibilities of American Citizenship
Produced: 1955
Length: 10 Minutes
This video is a comically serious anti-communism diatribe masquerading as an educational film. It contains the familiar notion that Americans who understand capitalism know that it is superior to all other forms of economic systems. It also contends that the average American should be aware of the ways in which socialist governments promote their philosophies abroad in order to be able to resist their propaganda and brain-washing techniques. As the narrator speaks, he sometimes adds flair with some low-tech visuals. For example, as he is explaining how communism would bring our economy crashing down, he knocks over a tower of blocks. Then, he holds his hand over a globe, creating a shadow over it, and explains how socialism is casting a shadow over the globe. Equal parts hilarity and horror, The Responsibilities of American Citizenship is cant-miss classic extremism.
