IV. Misunderstandings of Marx
1. Misunderstanding 1: Since communism is supposed to abolish the State, Marx is an anarchist predicting that all government will disappear.
Correction: The State has a special meaning for Marx. It represents one political class oppressing another. So, in a classless society where the oppression disappears there is no longer a State, although there can still be some sort of governing taking place.
2. Misunderstanding 2: Marx’ call for the abolition of private property entails the elimination of all personal or private belongings.
Correction: Marx for and predicts the elimination of the system of private property – whereby individuals are able to exploit the labor of others for their own gain and do what they will with “their” property. But this does not mean that all personal possessions must go. What is acquired without exploitation or without a system of exploitation may be kept legitimately.
