Communism in Virginia

Eli Lapp: It's not our way.
John Book: It's my way.
--Witness

While the birth of communism is often associated with the writings of Marx and Engels in the mid 1800s, communistic societal structure had already been attempted around the globe for centuries, with predictably sad results.

Rothbard recounts communism in the Jamestown settlement originated in 1607. People contributed the fruits of their labor according to their ability, and withdrew from the storehouse according to their need. This communism was not voluntarily contracted by the colonists, but imposed on them by their master, the Virginia Company.

Results were as expected. Lack of incentive to work coupled with a hostile environment collapsed standard of living to an extent that survival rates were one in four or lower. Moreover, lack of compliance with the rules was met with torture or death.

It took more than 10 years before the social design was altered significantly toward representative government and respect for property rights.

Perhaps it was this authoritarian beginning that subsequently shaped Virginia into the most outspoken champions of liberty among the states.