Communism/Theocracy?

[Hosakawa Tito]

Bleh, back to me hermits' cave.

[Redleg]

I would be given a re-education in either circumstance in this poll.

[Kommodus]

Well, I would be part of the underground resistance in either regime. However, I voted "theocracy" because I think there may be more potential for change. The desire for freedom of conscience is so powerful that there would never be a shortage of people willing to rise up against the state-sponsored clerics.

A massive all-powerful communist state, controlling all the resources and making sure no one really stands out among the crowd, would be hard to rebel against. After a time, that kind of abuse causes people to act like battered children - living in fear, self-doubt, and despair.

Then again, I look at the Islamic states of the Middle East and wonder. Under such religious oppression, why aren't there more voices of dissent? Is the brainwashing caused by both the ruling powers and peer pressure even stronger than the conformity opposed by a communist state? Very possibly.

Nice poll; I've never seen such horrific choices! "Would you rather be burned alive or boiled in oil..."

[John86]

If were talking extremes, it would of course be Fascism.

Since the option is not available, Id choose religious theocracy, where the option for personal advancement is still a possibilty.

[DemonArchangel]

I would hang myself from the nearest tree.

[Rex_Pelasgorum]

Communism is the worst piece of crap in this world !
Why ? Because it appears so utopic, so wonderfull - when in fact is so monstruos. Communism killed many more people than fascism.

When speaking about theocracy, we should distinguish islamic fundamentalism from christian fundamentalism. Islam at its fundamental is an extremely bloody religion (we cannot deny the muslim conquest of the VI-VII century AD, and all the murderous things made by muslims against the christians and persian zoroastrians alike), it evolved, under the influence of christian ideas, into something more moderate with the course of time.

If anyone would choose to live in a Xth century , or XIIth century islamic state, would enjoy a freedom not found anywhere in the world at that time. Just look at that awesome Islamic civilization, at the Sufi school, at the wonderfull poetry... muslim people have achieved an extraordinary advance both in culture and in religious depht once they managed to put down the sword.

Christianity, on the other hand, started as a pacifistic and idealist religions, evolving into a bloody religion later, when christians assumed controls of the politics. Some traditions where made in christianity simply to justify theyr killings. What christians did during the Crusades or the Reconquista was terrible.... and very, very farr from the good old christian spirit.

I guess a presumed fundamentalist christian country, inspired by the spirit of the arhaic church (second and third century AD) where the laws are inspired by the church tradition, and by a good interepretation of the Scriptures would be one of the best possible places to live.

While i do agree that theocracy is obsolete in our times (due to the large variety of people`s opinion), at least i, personally, would agree with a true christian rulling of my country.

[Phatose]

Perhaps one might similarly argue that communism, as it has existed, was equally non-communistic, and that you're allowing for an idealized version of theocracy but a 'real' version of communism.

[TevashSzat]

Rex you are ignoring the time period in which Christianity and Islam evolved. Christianity developed during the Roman Empire when there was generally peace throughout the lands and no need for violence. Islam was developed after the peak of Roman Power and in an area with a power vaccum. If Muslims did not conquer their surrounding territories, they would've been taken over and Islam would probably not have been a major religion right now. If Christianity evolved under similar circumstances, there can be no doubt that it will be just as violent as Islam if not even more.

You are saying that real life communism is worse than ideal theocracy which is certainley the truth, but that is like comparing apples to oranges. I personally would much rather live in a realistic communistic gov instead of a realistic theocratic one

[Mikeus Caesar]

Communism is the worst piece of crap in this world !
Why ? Because it appears so utopic, so wonderfull - when in fact is so monstruos. Communism killed many more people than fascism.

Communism hasn't killed more people than fascism - just one particular nutjob called Stalin. If i recall, Khruschev denounced Stalin as soon as he took power - that is how much he was hated.

Anyway, go communism. Can't stand religion.

[Kralizec]

Both suck, in varying degrees. It makes a lot of difference if it's Vatican city vs. Stalin's USSR, or if it's the Paris commune vs. Iran.

Does fascism even have a definable ideology? Take Mussolini for an example, first he was a socialist then he went on to appease the middle-class and oppose the socialists, when asked what the political goals of the fascists were the answer was: "We want to rule Italy!"

Fascism is best described by summing up what it isn't. It's, at its core, anti-capitalist, anti-communist, anti-liberalist and most of all, anti-individualist. Fascism is certainly on the bottom of my list (or National Socialism, if you want to differentiate between the two), theocracy and marxist-leninism sharing a place just above it.

[ShadeHonestus]

I'd do my best to increase global warming...mostly by breathing heavily over my harem of 40 of the most beautiful servants err wives I mean women...so it would all end rather quickly.... oh wait