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[-] madowlx@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Socialism - Everyone contributes money to social programs that benefit everyone. Taxes are higher, but the money is used for the benefit of all. The government exists to oversee the programs that support the people. This HAS worked in many countries around the world. It is not about everyone being economically equal in society, it's about accessibility of care and benefit for everyone regardless of their starting point.

Communism - Everyone is to be on equal footing and wealth is to be evenly distributed among everyone. Everything is, in theory, shared and belongs to everyone. The government exists to oversee the transition of society, then is meant to step aside rather than remain above the rest of the people. This has NOT worked as no one has ever successfully established this and then stepped aside. It leaves the door wide open for abuse of power.

[-] madowlx@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago

More simply, socialism is about indirect redistribution of wealth through taxes paying for social programs that benefit everyone. Communism seeks literal redistribution of wealth to maintain equal economic status for all.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Socialism might also seek the direct redistribution of wealth via wealth taxes.

The difference is primarily in collecting wealth via taxes after the fact, rather than having a central body try and actively redistribute everything before payment.

[-] HoneyMustardGas@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Glad I learned something today. I didn't know the difference until now. Thanks.

[-] OilyArena@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

Just FYI, the 2 parent comments are completely wrong and you shouldn't remember these definitions.

Socialism = means of production are owned by society, but classes still exist (the working class rules over the former bourgeoisie)

When that process is finished and classes and contradictions that lead to them have been completely abolished, that's communism.

Which is the same society that Anarchists want to achieve, the only difference is that Anarchists don't have a coherent plan on how to get there.

[-] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

This is completely incorrect, cite any socialist or communist philosophers agreeing with you.

Socialism - any system of government where the workers own the means of production. This has nothing to do with welfare or healthcare or any of that, just that the working class owns the factories and other private property. (The marxist and original definition of private property is property that generates capital, not your toothbrush, which is personal property. Same with your home.)

communism - a post socialist system where the workers own the means of production, currency has been abolished, there are no class divisions or state (note the marxist concept of the state is probably not what you're thinking if this is new to you.)

[-] Wrrzag@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago

That's just social democracy, not socialism.

In your communism definition, the government is not supposed to step aside, it's supposed to stop having a function as classes are eliminated, because the state's purpose is the oppression of one class by the other.

this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2026
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