I’ve always argued that the left does not view life as intrinsically limited, but as a resource of the state.
You are 100% correct. Something that leftist don't seem to understand when they quote Marx is the context. If you include the context, their favorite quote actually reads, "From each, according to his abilities, in the service of The State, to each, according to his needs, while serving The State." Everything you produce must meet the needs of "The State," and "The State" will decide how much you must produce. And what you receive will be the minimum to keep up your production. Once you fall behind, you will be eliminated, since you're actually taking up valuable resources that could be of better use to "The State" by being granted to more productive workers."
They don't realize that perfect Marxism and Communism DO exist, just not where humans are involved. Perfect examples of Communism and Marxism are ant and bee hives. There's no such thing as a non-working "member." The closest thing the hives have are the drones, which are driven from the hives to die once the queen has been fertilized. From then on, every one and every resource serves "The Hive."
Mark