What are Roger Water's political beliefs? Need help!!

Hi everyone. this is my first post on the board. I am writing a paper for school about musicians and their different political beliefs. I was wondering what Roger's political beliefs were. I remember reading in some interview that someone was talking about roger's socialist beliefs. Does this mean he supports socialism? Isn't that a form of communism? I would really like to know any information about this topic, for it will be of great use in my paper. thanks in advance

Hi Amused, welcome to the site!

Yes, you are right. Roger is a socialist; as I understand, he was taught to be so by his mother, who was apparently quite a socialist activist. Basically, socialism is a collective, all for one, one for all type of philosophy, where all contribute and share equally in the common wealth. Communism is socialism controlled by a central party who forces everyone to comply. Or else they shoot you. It's basically a societal prison, where all citizens are inmates. That's why they had a wall in Berlin, to keep people from escaping.

Anyway, that's a very brief overview. hope it helps.

well I don't know much about Rogers beliefs but i do know that yall have seemed to confuse Socialism and communism as being the same thing . . . their not. Socialism or Marxism as it is sometimes called actually calls for no sort of governing body, whereas commuinism (what the ussr created) is basically one government party ruling over the people . . . Communism is not Marxism (socialism) my friends . . .

Oh my God!!! USSR NEVER created communism. There was socialism, and it's motto was "everybody gives what he can, everybody gets what he did" I hope you'll understsnd my translation. Communism was an idea, an ultimate aim, and it's motto was "everybody gives what he can, everybody gets what he WANT". Utopia, nothing else. Socialism and communism both are types of social structure. Marxism is a doctrine, science. Marx described capitalism (BTW, better than anyone hitherto), which is opposite to communism. But he lived in period of primary capital accumulation (sorry if translation is bad) and the majority of social phenomenas he could watch was negative. So he made a conclusion that capitalism wouldn't exist for a long time. He said that a new social stucture must substitute capitalism. Lenin took occasion and said that this new structure should be communism.

Well said, even if the translation was off a bit. By the way, let him do his own homework, go get a book (preferably Nick Shaffner's Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Oddyssey) about Pink Floyd, find out about Waters (who was/is a socialist) then get an encyclopedia and find out what all those big words really mean.

Well said.

Btw, as the sign says, obladi (my 2nd fave Beatles tune), welcome to the PF fanNetwork, we want to see you smile, we want to see you beam.

Hi Obladi--good to hear from Kiev! Congratulations on your command of English, your post was well stated.

I believe the paraphrased english translation of Marx's creed was: "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

aww no one ever compliments me on my english.

That's because you talk funny, mate.

But as an anglicised Californian, I can attest to your remarkable command of the language...for a sceptic tank.

are you saying that Marxism is not a type of social structure, if that is what you are in fact saying i think you very wrong . . . Marx was attacking social structure in his writings (the Manifesto), so marixism is obviously about social structure, please clarify for me what it is you were saying if i misunderstood you.

thanks for that great compliment byron.

and all i know about communism is that i have yet to see it truly work.

Amused, do read Nick Schaffner's book, it's interesting and will answer a lot of questions for you. Until you get ahold of outside material though, you can learn some about Roger's politics by examining the lyrics of his songs. He's obviously very anti-war, possibly even a pacifist, since (per TFC) he would have allowed Argentina to keep the Falkland Islands, had he been calling the shots. Per ATD, you hear some less-than-subtle jabs at US involvement in the Gulf War, and at American capitalism as well. I always felt "Dogs" was about corporate climbers (capitalists again)---This is also reflected in Radio KAOS, where he hisses about "market forces" (capitalism)...anyway, you get the idea.

I wonder if he ever feels guilty about his great wealth, since in the model of the socialist "workers paradise" all the funds generated by his music would belong to all, and he would live in the same apartment complex as the janitors at the tractor factory, and drive a Trabant just like theirs, too. I think it's funny as hell to ponder.:grin:

Thanks a lot everyone for all the information. It certainly was a lot of help. I think Roger may feel guilty. There is an interview on this site where Roger said he goes through a thing where he thinks about all the good he could do by giving his money away, but he said he decides to keep it.

About socialism: I've come to the conclusion that socialism is definately not the same thing as communism. i've read there are many different kinds of socialism. Utopian socialism, christian socialism, democratic socialism and revolutionary socialism(similar to anarchy). It seems Roger falls into the democratic socialism category. Democratic socialism calls for the gradual evolution of society from capitalism to the worker state through education of the public and peaceful political change. So what does everyone think about the Roger and the democratic socialism conclusion? Again, thanks for all the help!

Erm...always a pleasure, never a chore?

(You know I was just joshing ya, mate, and that sceptic tank = Yank = American, yeah?)

You've probably nailed it.

I would modify "education of the Public" to read "dumbing-down of the Public", however.

Remember, kiddies, "He who robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on getting Paul's vote." Therefore, I'm afraid we're (USA)doomed.:sad: