“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff” is a saying that has been printed on many images, credited to American musician, composer and bandleader Frank Zappa (1940-1993).
 
From The Real Frank Zappa Book (1989) by Frank Zappa with Peter Occhiogrosso:
 
“Mr. Gorbachev has apparently stumbled onto one of the best-kept secrets in recent Soviet history: Communism doesn’t work. It’s against a basic law of nature: PEOPLE WANT TO OWN STUFF.”
 
“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff. Frank Zappa” was collected in the book The Fifth and Far Finer Than the First Four 637 Best Things Anybody Ever Said (1993) by Robert Byrne.
 
     
Wikipedia: Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (/ˈzæpə/ ZAP-ə; December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestral and musique concrète works; he also produced almost all of the 60-plus albums that he released with his band the Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. His work is characterized by nonconformity, improvisation sound experimentation, musical virtuosity and satire of American culture.
     
Google Books 
The Real Frank Zappa Book
By Frank Zappa with Peter Occhiogrosso
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster
1989
Pg. 330:
Communism
Mr. Gorbachev has apparently stumbled onto one of the best-kept secrets in recent Soviet history: Communism doesn’t work. It’s against a basic law of nature: PEOPLE WANT TO OWN STUFF.
 
Google Books
The Fifth and Far Finer Than the First Four 637 Best Things Anybody Ever Said
Chosen and arranged by Robert Byrne
New York, NY: Fawcett Columbine
1993
Pg. ?
443
Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff. Frank Zappa
 
Google Groups: nl.misc
stijgende verbazing
Chris Verhoef
Jun 5, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff.
—Frank Zappa
 
X/Twitter
Memphis Weather
@memweather
Frank Zappa: “Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff.” http://tinyurl.com/ytge5h
7:26 PM · Sep 1, 2007
 
X/Twitter
New Media Works NMW
@nmw
Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff. [Frank Zappa]
1:25 PM · Dec 1, 2007
   
X/Twitter
Daniel James Lee Morlan
@Mugen_Fuku_Riu
“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff. “- @zappa
7:04 PM · Jan 27, 2023
 
X/Twitter
🇨🇦Matthew. 🇺🇦🇮🇱
@jmwensley
Communism fails, to quote @zappa , because people like to own stuff. Marx made the mistake of assuming you could make general conclusions from n=1. That is, everyone is as altruistic as he seems to have been. And command economies fail as they cannot predict the desires of all.
8:24 PM · Sep 3, 2023

X/Twitter
Sal the Agorist
@SallyMayweather
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
“Communism doesn’t work
because people like to own
stuff.”
Frank Zappa
3:35 PM · Apr 28, 2024