I heard an interesting theory on this today from Marian Tupy from humanprogress.org.
He notes that the healthy nuclear family is actually a communist regime. Think about that one for a moment.
Now consider that it does not scale well beyond the nuclear family; because natural tendency is to favor your own offspring over first cousins, and first cousins over second cousins. And then your clan over other clans.
The structure breaks down very quickly beyond this for reasons that are very evolutionary (Ie, natural)
So the universal appeal of Communism may be a kind of nostalgia effect. And one that will be particularly strong in a population that has been systemically infantilized into the feeling that they are so fragile (or “oppressed”?) They need protection from everything.
And such a groomed mindset will find it very reasonable and even logical to grant sufficient power and authority to a governing agent to try to restore those childhood feelings of managed security.
Even at the cost of adult Freedom Liberty and accountability. (So how then can the governing agency be held accountable??)
Thoughts?
© 2026 – SoulSequel
8 responses to “The Universal Appeal (and trap) of Communism.”
While not a response per se, here’s an article about comfort i just ran across: https://medium.com/personal-growth/why-comfort-is-ruining-your-life-d85b136b3307
@Jear77
There are good aspects to that analysis. The contrast between the unconsciousness of the ocean in the enlightenment of the sun is good.
But he missed the analysis of Daedalus as the father-creator: not just of Icarus but of the means by which he could escape that which in imprisoned and would devour him.
But that great gift came with specific cautions regarding its improper use. Cautions which were not fully heeded. So the son departed not just from the father-creators presence, but from his advice as well. The fault was not in he who created the wings, but in he who misused them.
I found it interesting that he cited Jung, not inaccurately. But totally missed the terrifying chaotic aspects of the Great Mother; and also Jung’s concept of integration of the shadow that requires the diving deep into the Terrors of the great unknown ocean of subconscious to confront what lies in wait there: lest it rise up at a time of its choosing and devour you. (With an intentional dive with purpose, being different from the splashing around of intoxication or shallow distraction)
I think it is well stated that higher levels of consciousness bring greater awareness of pain/suffering. But an opportunity was missed to point out that sufficient meaning in life (Which maps onto taking full responsibility for oneself in their suffering), is what enables one to stand up to the existential Horrors a self conscious awareness.
But, under the communist umbrella of “family” are children that are growing out of it and dreaming of escape into a world where no one is telling you what to do and providing for you. The common people want out from under the thumb of government holding them down in poverty.
@ladybarbara
A good observation.
The collective entity of the nuclear family works because it involves those who cannot take care of themselves, and authority is ceded to an authority that ideally is motivated by true love (doing difficult things necessary for the long-term well-being of the child and not putting them off just to service the parent’s feelings).
I . . . understand the “thumb of government holding them down in poverty” from the US perspective. Just remember that other nations (Sweden and Canada included) have a far more burgeoning government yet poverty doesn’t seem the same issue as in the States.
I think the major drawback of a large government (functioning optimally ?) is that one is trading off (perhaps willingly?) greater degrees of freedom and liberty for greater security (social safety-net).
And also, a smaller government makes it feasibly easier to spot and deal with corruption — though it still does happen. (That one’s sort of a Human universal — as even the family unit that is suppose to be built on a foundation of true love, can become corrupt).
But it’s far easier to keep track of 6000 public servants than 6 million!
Actually the theme of this thread was trying to understand why, even after ALL the cautionary lessons of History, even people in the freest nations, taking the absolute most for granted . . . still seem enamored by it.
I think there’s good traction to the “nostalgia effect” theory. Well, better than any other I’ve heard!
Communism is just another rip off of Christianity, and is born from the socialist Christian ground where it sprung up. Preaching a message of deliverance to the poor, it is painfully obvious.
Nuclear families of robots are strict ‘do this, don’t do that’ lifestyles. They have no love beyond kin and kind, because they have no real love, at all. No transcendent love. Just physical love. They have no spirit.
The best society is one where all workers share profit in the products. This is not the way it works out now. It can not work this way now. Because of the way people are. No spirit, no life.
Just the illusion of real life.
They are incapable of thinking beyond their own fleshly needs, because they are flesh, without true soul or spirit.
These nuclear families are strict top down dictatorships.
Everyone must keep very busy doing “important” work, which is all mostly a waste of time. Simply hands on a clock turning around. Toy dancers spinning about in a child’s jewelry box.
@five2one
But we have the power to inject the Spirit into that which we would inject the Spirit.
And how does it then not become sanctified? This has been granted Us by grace.
With Christ comes a commonality.
But one the flash cannot comprehend because it knows not the Spirit of love.
I’m constantly amazed how far apart yet close together we are.
@griz I certainly believe that there are nuclear families which do not operate in the way I detailed. My own family does not operate in this manner. Believers’ children are sanctified. (Problem is so many who think they are believers, but are not.)
“I’m constantly amazed how far apart yet close together we are.”
I am not sure where you are at. I certainly do not always try and establish rapport, but often try to be challenging.
I do not believe there are very many “saved”, right now.
However, I do not believe that being saved now means this is a person’s only chance.
I believe that only a few are saved, so that they can be ahead, to help those who are not saved.
I certainly do not believe in forced conversion. What has happened from that, however, now that people are allowed to actually read Scripture, is a wider group of people can be brought to God.
What is called “Christianity” today, is much like what was called “Judaism” two thousand years ago. It is a fraud.
A nest of frauds spawning more nests of frauds.
This has been the creation of night. The deepest part of the night.
Night increases the value of light, but not always. Light can be blinding. Especially when their eyes are long accustomed to the darkness.
@five2one
I would suggest that all functional nuclear families operate this way. Especially Godly ones. They are a kind of soft self-expiring totalitarianism based on love not power; which renders them totally in the blind spot of postmodernists who can see only power struggle between oppressed and oppressor.
Dysfunctional families earn a “reward” that many many generations of children will have to pay for.