[LICraig]

"from each according to his ability to each according to his needs".

In my view, this concept has no chance of ever being successfully implemented in any culture that values material goods. I believe that if you prevent a man from working to his own benefit - as opposed to the benefit of "the community" - his motivation to better himself and his environment will be significantly muted. Some of the concepts of Marxism sound good and plausible but stealing from the rich and giving the stolen goods to the poor is still, in my view, stealing.

On the whole, I believe we humans are compassionate enough to help our fellows in need if we are able, without a third party in between to take from one and decide who to give it to - and those in a position to decide who gets it have at least as many foibles as the rest of us and may well not be fair about their choices.