Reply #48: The definition of Communism

[0rganism]

Since you seem confused:

com·mu·nism n.
1. A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.

2. a) A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
...b) The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.

(courtesy of dictionary.com)

Communism is, in 2a, indistinguishable from authoritarian socialism. 2b refers to the final portion of a theoretical Marxist revolution, in which absolute authority of the proletariat is achieved and class warfare ceases. To my knowledge, this has never happened.

so·cial·ism n.
1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.

2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

(ibid)

I've underlined part of number 1, because it's important to understand that this doesn't apply narrowly. Socialism is a broad concept. Our own central government has been known to plan and control the economy to a significant extent, from time to time.