What is the difference between communism and liberalism?

Answer 1

Communism--pure communism--is the political theory that people will thrive best under their own rule, meaning there are no bosses. Everyone decides communally what is best. There isn't much difference, in fact, between pure communism and pure democracy: one person, one vote. However, in pure communism, it is the duty of the individual to do what is best for the collective: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need....Pure communism differs from pure democracy in its belief that people will put aside their own selfishness for the communal good. There haven't been many examples of pure communism put in practice. Countries calling themselves communist have almost always been forcefully led by a small group who profited off the minority. Liberal is defined by the dictionary as that which is broad-minded and seeks improvement for the common good as opposed to conservative, which according to the dictionary, means seeking to maintain the status quo. These terms have become distorted by the modern culture to stand for or against certain beliefs, irrespective of the status quo or for that matter the common good. An entire treatise could be written about how ill-conceived notions of communism and liberalism have distorted public trust, each in their turn, but they are not the same and neither is inherently evil unless misused.