All I've ever seen in my lifetime from Communist states is a dictator ruling with an iron fist.

I think that may be why you're arguing so vociferously that Communism doesn't work. Communism, as it has been implemented on a national scale has never been a total success, and usually a complete failure. However, that doesn't mean that the theory or ideology behind it is flawed. Communism is socialism taken to extreme, and there are plenty of nations with socialistic leanings that show it has potential. Communism and Democracy are not mutually exclusive concepts. I think to see a successful Communist society, you need to look on a smaller scale -- the Hutterites, Shakers, monastaries/convents, etc. The difficulty in implementing Communism on a national scale isn't the leaders -- that's a seperate issue altogether -- but in uniting such a disparate group of people to work towards a common interest.