I call myself a communist (and have since I was 14) for a number of reasons some of which I have listed below
1 The world communism says it will make seams nice. This is the biggest one tbh. The paradise promised to me by capitalism sounds like hell for the few who win and requires billions to lose.
2 The times it has been tried in the past it made life for the average person better in a short amount of time. (Some exceptions apply but generally literacy, infant mortality, foods, wealth inequality, ect improve)
3 the path to get to the end goal also involves direct improvements to my life, the people I care about lives, and honestly everyone except the ultra rich. Small steps like taxing the rich and universal healthcare while not true communism would still make millions of lives better.*
4 it's a philosophy of criticism to enable growth, questioning best practices and expanding and changing what the best way to accomplish a better life
But I am not strict about labels. Am I a Marxist? Idc he's dead now so I will never be sure but everything I read of his makes sense in its explanation of the world and systems of power that still exist today.
Am I a lenninist? A stanlist? a tankie? do I support mao or Ho chi minh? Fidel or Che? I don't think choosing is useful. Each one had valuable things to say and flaws to examine.
In summary I am a communist because it is the best label I have found so far that fits what I want the world to look like and the ways to get the most people there.
*this point is focused on improving the lives of poor americans but full communism should mean all people no matter where they live having the same access to opportunities.
