Some thoughts from a former American communist after experiencing the horrors of modern-day Afghanistan.

I am an American who got involved with socialism in 2016. I read books like "The Communist Manifesto" and "On Contradiction", I even lived in a socialist commune for a few years and I went to Cuba in 2018 to support the government and the revolution. I was even chosen to go to Venezuela as a delegate a few years ago, but backed out at the last minute. I went all in on the ideology. I enjoyed the feeling of community and solidarity that the ideology fosters, it's a really wonderful and comforting thing. But after living in a socialist commune I became disillusioned with the leaders and what they were doing. I saw the leaders enriching themselves and abusing their power, and I saw a general disregard for the environment and a disregard for the individual. The final nail in the coffin for me was when the leader of the commune said that he "would kill every bird on the planet if it meant achieving true socialism", I was really involved with animal welfare at the time and that really struck a nerve with me. I then distanced myself from the movement and explored other forms of government and societies. I later got a job working in Afghanistan. I've lived there for a few months now and have seen firsthand the dangers and horrors of an unstable country without a functioning government. Afghanistan is an anarchy. I'm an American ex-communist living in Afghanistan, and I've never valued the democracy and freedom that I have in my country more than I do now. <br><br>For those who don't know, the Taliban regained control in 2021 and since then the country has been a disaster. Women are barely allowed out of their houses, schools are hardly functional, work opportunities are scarce, journalists are persecuted, and the country is a war zone. As an American, I am not allowed to go outside without being armed, a local guard has to come with me (and even then it's not safe), and I have to be extremely careful not to do or say anything controversial. I've had a few close calls, and a few of my colleagues have been killed. It's a very intense and stressful environment. I feel like I'm in a war zone every time I leave the compound, it's a terrifying feeling. When the Taliban regained power, they promised to form a more moderate government, but that's all just been a lie. They have cracked down on free speech, and anyone who speaks out against them is persecuted. In Kabul, there are these "moral police" who go around enforcing Taliban law. If a woman is out without a burka, she will be beaten. If a man is caught listening to music, he will be beaten. These things happen all the time. There is also constant civil war in the Northern part of the country, there is an anti-Taliban resistance movement that regularly carries out attacks on Taliban forces. The country is a mess, and democracy is practically non-existent. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, and the country is now experiencing unprecedented levels of heroin addiction. I've seen children, 10 and 11 years old, who are already heroin addicts. The country is going through a very difficult time.<br><br>Last night, I was talking with some Afghans and I told them that I used to be a communist. They looked at me in shock, and said "but look at the situation we're in now. We don't need that kind of thinking here". I agreed with them of course. The last thing Afghanistan needs is more communist thinking. It's a very capitalistic culture already, and the only thing holding the country together is that people are motivated to make money. But there is no functioning state. If there were a functioning democratic state, then the situation wouldn't be quite so dire. There would be a strong rule of law, and there would be some kind of social safety net. As it is now, there is no functioning state and barely any rule of law. It's a very difficult situation. Afghanistan is an example of what happens when there is no functioning government. There is no rule of law, and the entire country is in disarray. <br><br>I have been reflecting on my experiences as a former American communist living in Afghanistan, and I have come to the conclusion that what I really want is a functioning democracy with a strong rule of law, and a free market economy that is regulated by the government. I don't think that true socialism or communism is possible, and I think that it's very utopian and naive to think that it ever will be. The closest thing to a socialist country that I think is successful is Sweden, and even Sweden has drifted more towards the right in recent years. <br><br>I value the freedom and democracy I have in the United States more than I ever have before. I am so grateful for the functioning government and the rule of law that we have. I know that there is a lot wrong with the United States, but after experiencing life in Afghanistan, I really do believe that it is one of the greatest countries in the world. <br><br>Communism, and socialism, do not work, and they never will.