Why the Pilrims Aandoned Communism

[bobjam]

A Lesson From the Past: When We Tried Communism

Communism was once the norm in one part of our nation. Once upon a time, there was a village. The village had a few fields. The men worked in the fields- planting and maintaining crops for everyone. The women worked on preparing meals and doing other chores around the village. There was no private property; aside from personal items, everything was owned by the village. What happened to this communist utopia? It failed.

The experiment was such an abominable failure that in 1623, the governor of the village, William Bradford, partitioned the land amongst the families and told them to grow their own food. Plymouth Plantation would no longer be a communist village. Bradford described the reasons for this sudden change in his history of the colony, "Of Plymouth Plantation" (1643). He observed that there were many in the colony who did not wish to work as hard as others. Since everyone got the same reward, what was one man's incentive to work harder? Since their arrival in 1620, the pilgrims had been on the verge of starvation each winter. While none were as bad as the winter of 1620-1, they were indeed hard. Following the land reform of 1623 (which was similar to reforms made earlier by Capt. John Smith in Virginia), the colony began to prosper. Those who shirked suddenly found the desire to do their part.

Is this fact of history taught in school? No. School children are taught that the pilgrims would have starved if it weren't for the nice Indians who helped them out. Though they did get some help from two Indians, the real solution to the problem, according to the people who were actually there, was the land reform. Co,,unism failed in the 1600's, it failed in the 1900's, why do these lefties insist on trying it again?

[NotQuiteCricket]

Why do they keep on trying? Because they are the smartest people who have ever lived, and everyone else who has attempted communisim, didn't do it the "right" way.

Their way will be better than all other attempts - despite the repeated failure of a concept that isn't going to work, as long as humans have human nature. They are right, all others are wrong. period.

[kylaka]

There will always be the "new improved" and yet untested version of communism. It's sort of like Clinton's "new" Democrat mantra.

[Uncle Miltie]

Communism works! (for ants....right idea, wrong species...)

[xJones]

Why do they keep on trying? Because they are the smartest people who have ever lived, and everyone else who has attempted communisim, didn't do it the "right" way.

Yes, and of course it is understood that "they" will be in the leadership. Marx forbid that they would ever be among the toiling masses, their role is leadership. Orwell understood this very well.

[jim_trent]

The exact same thing happened to the Amanna Colonies in Iowa. They were founded on communistic (religious) principles. It took 50 to 60 years for them to give it up though. Now, they are a tourist trap a few miles off the Interstate.

[Incorrigible]

Ummm, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Communism is still the norm in Massachusetts.

;-)

[Moonman62]

Their way will be better than all other attempts - despite the repeated failure of a concept that isn't going to work, as long as humans have human nature. They are right, all others are wrong. period.

The Soviets got it to work a little better by sending slackers to the gulags. It still failed, though, and would have failed sooner if not for the leftists in this country helping to prop it up.

[americanSoul]

Yes, I remember reading about the Amanna experiment. I think it was mainly German immigrants into some kind of religion.

[Perseverando]

. . . . "why do these lefties insist on trying it again?

BECAUSE, IT'S THE UNION WAY!

[joesnuffy]

Until the "real" father of communism is thrown into the Lake of Fire
there will always be new and improved versions
erupting on the skin of the world...

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[pbear8]

Proud descendant of William Bradford - anti-communist BUMP!

[Enterprise]

This was the early identification of the differences between Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans did the work, and Democrats sat of their fat asses and wanted to be respected for their intellect, and they wanted to supervise. Of course, they never missed a meal.

[bigfootbob]

"The exact same thing happened to the Amanna Colonies in Iowa..."

Ditto on that to the Harmonists and the town they founded called New Harmony, Indiana.

[viaveritasvita]

...everyone else who has attempted communisim, didn't do it the "right" way.

Not only that, they didn't have enough tax $$ either!

[viaveritasvita]

...I believe Communism is still the norm in Massachusetts.

Not to mention Kalifornicate.

[tophat9000]

And in this case communist was not force on them ... in general if two the or what ever number want to join to together in a communal system I have no problem as long they don’t force me to join or take what I produce ... but even when all agree on it with no force communism flops