What would a Communist America look like?

Can't see the CPUSA calling the shots either. For the USA, the only way for Communists to get big to win elections would be a far more successful fully unified Farmer-Labor Movement Party, that would be far more ‘anarcho-syndicalist' than Communist, and the problem that this group really had little use for the Communists, and that's before Stalin took over.

Once Stalin got into power the Soviets would back the CPUSA to throw out the other factions. They tried that in Republican Spain, and did very well.

And the Organs of State Security (the GPU-OGPU-GUGB and the Razvedupr-GRU [they changed names]) would be working covertly to secure power. The security services of the communist America would be focused on suppressing capitalist, religious, and other opposition, not their fraternal allies.
 
Another possibility is something like the Sanmmarinese communist party or the various indian Marxist governing parties-a notionally Marxist party gaining power thorugh the ballot box. Of course they wouldn't necessarily be able to impose long-term control, just govern for a while, but a communist party as a regular player in party politics could be interesting.
That sounds like an interesting idea!
 
I appeal to Radio Yerevan:

This is Armenian Radio; Radio Yerevan: Our listeners have asked us, "Is it possible to build communism in America?"

We answer: "Yes. Yes, it is possible to build communism in America. It's possible, but then who would we buy our grain from? Where would we get our bread?".



.
 
Well, IMHO, a Communist America would be (somewhat) democratic (in the sense that there are relatively free elections, albeit one where the choices are different flavors of left-wing) as unlike Russia or China, America has a strong democratic tradition and before anyone points to East Germany, this scenario assumes Communist America came about as a result of a homegrown revolution as opposed to being imposed by foreign bayonets.
 
A communist US would look like some mix of east germany, czechoslovakia or Hungary during the communist era if you want the most direct answer. Why? They're western countries under communism. Cuba doesn't work as an analogue because well too different from the US in level of development pre-communism.
 
The year is 1962. Most Americans seem very happy in the United Socialist States of America (USSA). From the election of President Long in 1936, the establishment of a just and equal American society had moved along at a rapid pace. While certainly "communist" the American version had a decidedly nationalistic twist. Interestingly, in the United States elections were preserved. In 1940, Long easily beat back a challenge from the Charles Lindbergh as the Republican nominee and then four years later he defeated John Bricker of Ohio. By 1950, the Republicans were a largely moribund political movement with the Share Our Wealth-New Deal-Democratic coalition as the biggest player on the political scene. Smartly, the coalition used the Farm-Labor label over Communist understanding its stronger political appeal. The people liked a guaranteed income and full employment. President Orville Freeman of Minnesota was facing a revolt in the South over civil rights and was making a tough choice whether to allow them to secede or to fight to keep them in the USSA.
 
Interestingly, in the United States elections were preserved

Well, Stalin had plenty of voting too, and OTL, for both chambers of the Supreme Soviet (the Soviet of the Union and Soviet of Nationalities after 1937) there actually was a lower rate of incumbents winning re-election than in the USA, and with the Electoral College, it's not exactly a direct election, either
 
I would imagine you would see an American version of Goulash Communism as one of the driving factors of the decision-making of the People's Congress. Mac'n'Cheese Communism maybe?
 
Well, IMHO, a Communist America would be (somewhat) democratic (in the sense that there are relatively free elections, albeit one where the choices are different flavors of left-wing) as unlike Russia or China, America has a strong democratic tradition and before anyone points to East Germany, this scenario assumes Communist America came about as a result of a homegrown revolution as opposed to being imposed by foreign bayonets.
So we're talking Iran's setup, but with communism instead of Shia Islam.
 
A communist US would look like some mix of east germany, czechoslovakia or Hungary during the communist era if you want the most direct answer. Why? They're western countries under communism. Cuba doesn't work as an analogue because well too different from the US in level of development pre-communism.
One problem: Communism there was imposed by Soviet bayonets while this scenario supposes that said commie US is the product of a home-grown revolution.
 
One problem: Communism there was imposed by Soviet bayonets while this scenario supposes that said commie US is the product of a home-grown revolution.
please explain how you plan on imposing communism on small farmers, small business owners and the south without use of bayonets
 
please explain how you plan on imposing communism on small farmers, small business owners and the south without use of bayonets
Well, what I'm trying to say with that post was that this scenario assumes America going communist isn't the result of foreign invaders/occupiers imposing their ideology on a new puppet state, but the result of a homegrown revolution caused by a worse alt-Great Depression.
 
Small farmers and some southerners would likely be among early supporters of American communism, assuming the PoD is before or during the Depression.
 
Communist USA probably wouldn't really be communist, just capitalist with communist rhetoric and an inclination towards market socialism. Property ownership would likely still continue in some way even if it is in a PRC-like fashion.
 
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One problem: Communism there was imposed by Soviet bayonets while this scenario supposes that said commie US is the product of a home-grown revolution.
The USSR was a homegrown revolution and still went authoritarian.

The "nicest" I can see a commie US is being Iran 2.0 in levels of democracy -- open, honest elections between various flavors of Communist Enough candidates to be approved by the government. Look at the difference between hardline and moderate candidates for what this would mean.
 
I think people are overlooking the various Communist parties that have had success in free elections, and haven't resulted in USSR-style dictatorships. Off the top of my head, the Indian state of Kerala and Nepal come to mind. Of course, how communist those two groupings are is a matter of debate, but the idea that a far-left government inevitably leads to dictatorship would seem to be disproven by those two examples. And, as was already mentioned, the US has a strong democratic tradition that would work against anybody trying to establish a dictatorship.

This, to me, shows that a democratic Communist revolution/government could exist in the US, despite all the naysayers. I agree that it'd be difficult, especially considering Canada and Stalin, but the US of the 30s is probably strong enough that it can hold its own and remain a democratic country, although I agree that the Overton Window would shift very strongly to the left. Maybe something like a "White Scare" that greatly reduces the right-wing, or a reverse COINTELPRO?
 
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