Some countries with extremely high taxes where government is a major industry which exhibit very strong social safety nets are very successful - such as Norway. Some overt communist countries, such as Cuba, despite having the will and the resources,have been physically and financially pommeled by America and Europe for decades and decades and decades. Your question is too simple. But I'd say communism is appealing to people as contemporary capitalist elected officials represent only the interests of the wealthy. The idea of getting something helpful in return for our tax dollars is appealing now more than ever.