DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM TO COMMUNISM

Joe Rogan, the most popular podcaster in the United States took aim at the most prominent Socialist Democrat in the country, Senator Bernie Sanders (IVT).

“Bernie Sanders changed his target from millionaires and billionaires to only billionaires once he became a millionaire himself. Rogan said that it’s adorable. It’s adorable in its transparency.”

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“Democratic socialism is no longer a fringe movement confined to college campuses, activist organizations and the far-left corners of American politics. Its influence is growing inside the Democratic Party, where socialist-aligned candidates are winning elections, attracting young voters and challenging longtime party leaders” – Lucretia Hughes Klucken

According to the “Short Handbook of Communist Ideology,” published in 2011, the socialist social order is only the first stage of that new, just society, the establishment of which is the final goal of the working class. “The workers – once having established socialism – forge, under the leadership of the Marxist-Leninist Party, ahead to the construction of Communism. There is no wall between Socialism and Communism. They are not two different types of society, but two phases of one and the same social formation, which differ as to their degree of maturity.”

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In both communism and socialism, people own the factors of economic production. The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state. Under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically elected government.

Basic philosophy

•  Communism, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
• Socialism, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his contribution.”

Economy Planned By

• Communism, “Central government.”
• Socialism, “Central government.”

Ownership of Economic Resources

• Communism, “All economic resources are publicly owned and controlled by the government. Individuals hold no personal property or assets.”
• Socialism, “Individuals own personal property, but all industrial and production capacity is communally owned and managed by a democratically elected government.”

Distribution of Economic Production

• Communism, “Production is intended to meet all basic human needs and is distributed to the people at no charge.”
• Socialism, “Production is intended to meet individual and social needs and is distributed according to individual ability and contribution.”

Class Distinction

• Communism, “Class is abolished. The ability to earn more than other workers is almost nonexistent.”
• Socialism, “Classes exist but differences are diminished. It is possiblefor some people to earn more than others.”

Religion

• Communism, “Religion is effectively abolished.”
• Socialism, “Freedom of religion is allowed.”

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Communism has failed in every country in the world.

Communism has consistently failed in various countries due to economic inefficiencies, political repression, and human suffering leading to eventual collapse or significant reform in those nations. Historical examples illustrate that the implementation of communist ideologies often resulted in adverse outcomes undermining the initial goals of equality and prosperity.

Reasons for failure of Communism can be attributed to several key factors:

• Centralized planning often led to resource misallocation and shortages, as seen in the Soviet Union.
• Communist regimes resorted to authoritarian measures to maintain control, resulting in widespread human rights abuse.
• The implementation of communist policies frequently resulted in famine and poverty notably during the “Great Leap Forward” in China when millions of people perished.
• The absence of personal incentives in a communist system stifled innovation and productivity contributing to economic decline.
• Each attempt at communism faced unique challenges, but the overarching trend had been failure or significant modification of the ideology.

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A SNAPSHOT of the existing communist nations and their government leaders, including the former founder of the Soviet Union – Russia.

China – Population 1.4 billion

• As of early 2026, China has approximately 1,110 billionaires, surpassing the United States (989) in billionaire count.
• Supreme Leader, Xi Jinping – Forbes estimates his net worth to be at approximately $1.4 billion.
• Zhongnanhai is a large compound central to the lives of China’s political elite. Government elites, including Xi Jinping, often enjoy high-end shopping, fine dining, and exclusive social clubs. Entry to Zhongnanhai is highly restricted, underscoring the security and privacy of its residents.
• Poverty – approximately 21% of China’s population (300 million people) live in poverty – almost equivalent to the entire population of the United States. The poverty numbers do not include the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities (over 1 million) held in concentration camps. The United States government has formerly characterized China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide and crimes against humanity. Its human rights reporting has cited mass detention, forced labor, coercive reproductive policies, disappearances, torture and other abuses.
• State Control – China has installed over 700 million surveillance cameras, providing extensive monitoring of its population across the country. Advanced technologies like facial recognition, object and clothing recognition, crowd analysis, tracking peoples movement, identification of particular individuals across different locations are integrated into the surveillance system – enhancing tracking capabilities. Over half of the world’s surveillance cameras are located in China.

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Russia – Population 200 million

• As of 2026 there are 155 billionaires in Russia.
• Alexey Mordaskov is considered the wealthiest Oligarch, with a net worth of $36.9 billion.
• President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has ruled Russia since 2000. His personal wealth is estimated at $200 billion even though his salary has been at $140,000 annually. Much of his wealth is believed to come from investments in energy and natural resources. He possesses a $1.4 billion palace, a 250-foot yacht, and extensive land holdings.
• Elites in Russia primarily reside in affluent areas like Rublevka – often referred to as the Russian Beverly Hills. This area is famous for its high-end dachas owned by oligarchs.
• Poverty – As of 2026, approximately 9.1% (13.3 million) of the Russian population of 144 million live in poverty.
• State Control – Russia has implemented an extensive surveillance system, with over a million cameras currently in operation. The government plans to expand this network to five million cameras by 2030. Surveillance extends beyond public spaces, including monitoring of social media accounts, affecting both activists and ordinary citizens.

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Cuba – Population 11million

• As of 2026, the population of Cuba is approximately 11 million people.
• Poverty – approximately 89% (9.79 million people) of the population lives in extreme poverty.
• Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party, has an estimated personal wealth of $900 million. His wealth is attributed to his control over many key industries.
• Cuba’s wealthiest individuals are typically millionaires. Estimates suggest that there are 112,000 millionaires in Cuba.
• Members of the Cuban government and elites primarily reside in Havana. Many elites reside in affluent neighborhoods such as Miramar and Vedado – known for better infrastructure and amenities. Housing is often provided by the state, with privileges that include access to better resources compared to ordinary citizens. The living conditions of these elites starkly contrast with the struggles faced by average Cubans, highlighting economic disparities.
• State Control – Millions of surveillance cameras have been installed across Cuba to monitor public spaces and citizens. The state employs systematic digital surveillance that affects personal and family lives. The telecommunications company ETECSA plays a crucial role in facilitating state surveillance.

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North Korea – Population 26.63 million

• Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un – As of 2025, Kim Jong Un’s net worth is approximately $5 billion. His wealth comes from control over state enterprises and luxury assets.
• Most elites live in Pyongyang, specifically in districts like Samtaesong and Pyonghatten, which are reserved for the powerful. These residences often feature modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing, luxury goods, and access to better food options. The government maintains strict control over these areas, ensuring that the elite are shielded from the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
• Songbun System – Social status is largely determined by an individual’s songbun, or socio-economic background, affecting access to elite neighborhoods.
• Poverty – Estimates suggest that approximately 60% of the population lives below the poverty level. Widespread food insecurity exacerbates poverty, affecting a significant portion of the population.
• State Control – North Korea is significantly increasing its surveillance capabilities by installing millions of cameras across the country, particularly in schools and workplaces to monitor its citizens more closely and gather biometric data. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance state control and promote loyalty to the regime.

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Laos – Population 7.5 million

• As of 2026 there are 1,000 millionaires in Laos and no billionaires.
• Supreme Leader of the Communist Party, Thongloun Sisoulith, is one of the millionaires in the country. His actual wealth is not publicly disclosed.
• Laos is classified as one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia.
• Poverty – The poverty rate in Laos is at 15%. Certain ethnic groups, like Hmong-Lumien and Mon-Khmer are disproportionally affected by poverty.
• State Control – The Laotian government employs various methods to monitor and control its citizens. The Laotian government has increased the coverage of CCTV cameras to improve crime monitoring and surveillance to maintain order.

Vietnam – Population 102 million

• As of 2026, Vietnam has eight individuals listed on Forbes list of billionaires. Pham Nhat Vuong is listed as 93 in the world ranking. The source of his wealth is real estate, retail, automotive, and healthcare.
• Members of the Politburo and other government elites typically reside in Hanoi, where many government buildings and official residences are located. These residences are often situated in secure areas, reflecting their status and roles within the Communist Party of Vietnam.
• Poverty – approximately 5.7% of Vietnam’s population lives below the national poverty line.
• State Control – Vietnam is rapidly expanding its surveillance camera network, with projections indicating over 20 million cameras will be operational by 2050. Currently there are 800,000 compromised surveillance cameras in Vietnam, highlighting security vulnerabilities. Hundreds of AI-powered cameras are being deployed in Hanoi with advanced technology including facial recognition.

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Historically, communist revolutions promised to abolish class domination, private ownership of productive wealth and economic exploitation. Yet when revolutionary parties obtained power, they generally replaced the old economic elite with a politically privileged party-state bureaucracy that controlled the nation’s productive resources.

As stated earlier, the “Short Handbook of Communist Ideology” proclaims that, there is no wall between Socialism and Communism. They are not two different types of society, but two phases of one and the same social formation, which differ as to their degree of maturity.”

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This new generation of left-wing political leaders led by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zohran Mamdani, and others describe their philosophy as Democratic Socialism.

If they follow the path of previous socialist/communist revolutionaries who have created Communist states – the end result of their efforts, will be the same.

Like previous communist revolutionaries, they promise greater economic equality, expanded government services, publicly operated facilities, government-directed housing, universal benefits, and increased public ownership of essential industries. Their speeches are carefully worded. “We are not abolishing democracy,” they insist. “We are expanding it.” But if given a chance a more radical faction will emerge. Its leaders will openly speak of eventually creating a society in which private ownership of major industries will disappear, and economic decisions will be made collectively through the state. The word communism, once politically toxic, will begin to appear in university lectures, political demonstrations, and the manifestos of several newly formed political organizations. If successful, they will create a regime like the communist nations that exist today. A nation led by a few powerful, wealthy elites and a population suppressed, poverty-stricken, and doomed to a life of human suffering.

“What is the likelihood that if Bernie Sanders and his followers were to come to power, that Bernie would happily give up one or two of his three houses to the state? – in the Communist spirit of wealth re-distribution.”

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In summary, it is highly unlikely that the United States will ever become a socialist or communist nation. One of the most significant differences between the United States and the seven communist nations is citizen ownership of guns. The communist forces outlawed citizen ownership of guns – that made it easier to seize power and suppress resistance.

In 2026, the population of the United States is approximately 349 million. There are between 400 and 500 million privately owned guns in America. 1.4 guns per U.S. citizen. There are also over a million American combat veterans, although aging, but still more than capable of pulling a trigger.

James Peifer