Was the old American South with slavery, Communist?
The institution of communism and slavery are remarkably similar (in a perverse sense). The slaver owner provided rudimentary housing, food, and clothing to the slaves he owned. The slave owner directed their activity in agriculture, similar to the central planners in communism.
However, what separate slavery from communism is the lack of personal freedom to leave, access to an education, or medical care. In no way am I suggesting that communism is exactly similar to slavery, a person has more free will to do anything under communism.
Now that we got that out the way, Let's compare activity in Communist Cuba to the South during slavery to demonstrate the similarities.
Comparison to Cuba...
Fidel wants to sell 100 cuban cigars to America, a worker that is provided housing, education, medical care, food, and other items grows the tobacco on state land, that isn't paid a salary based on directives from central planners. The tobacco is harvested and made into a cigar, that is shipped to the United States. Cash is exchanged which the Cuban government takes, that is used for a number of things such as housing or education.
In the South, the slave owner, directs a slave to grow tobacco similar to central planners in communism. The slave owner does not provide a salary but provides housing and food similar to a Communist state. The tobacco is grown and harvested and turned into cigarettes or a cigar. Cash is exchanged, however, the slave owner retains all of the money for himself. The slave lacks personal freedoms and is unable to leave the plantation. There is no exchange of cash, a hallmark of capitalism between the slave and the slaveowner. However there is housing and food provided similar to what is done under a communist state.
In a sense the United States (South), a supposed bastion of capitalism was a hybrid of Communism during slavery. Especially since, the slave population outnumbered the non-slave.
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