by Robert M. Traxler
As we move toward a socialist state, I decided to spend a few days reading and studying the socialist concept, why it works for short periods (short in a historical time frame) and why it always fails over time.
Socialism is in the eye of the beholder; Google types of socialism and you come up with eight basic types with hundreds of variants of the basic eight.
2. Revolutionary Socialism
An argument can be made we currently have a socialist nation; heck, an argument can be made that anything is socialism. The definitions are so broad and prophylactic in nature that socialism is a vague term, not a firm concept. Christian socialism (a new one for me) is defined as “Christian teachings of brotherhood are the same values expressed by socialism”; want to bet that most (not all) folks on the left will not line up in support of this type of socialism?
The basic tenet of socialism is that the government is not just a force for good, but the only allowable force for good. It also stresses that people are inherently good, only made bad by an unjust government. The tenet of socialism is that hard work is its own reward, so those who work harder do not deserve more than those who do little; it is a bedrock of socialism. Not equal opportunity, but equal outcome.
In arguing against socialism, people find themselves arguing against a concept that is a wisp of smoke. Folks like Senator Bernie Sanders state he wants “democratic socialism;” when was the last time he gave us a definition of his brand of socialism? OK, he wants Medicare for all, free college for all, not technical training? No tech schools? The instructors are not as dedicated to socialism as colleges. Technical schools do not donate to Democrats and provide free labor to Democratic campaigns like colleges do.
Wealth redistribution, punishing anyone who works hard, saves and has a savings account that has more in it than the government believes it should, will be taxed on the balance you have, not what you spend. Over a lifetime you accumulate assets; careful, socialists want to tax you additionally on net worth.
Working hard and sacrificing to pass on assets to your kids or grandkids? Not allowed, a big portion of the business or farm belongs to the government upon your death, the ultimate death tax. That is if the asset tax has left you with anything to pass on.
Socialists throughout history have limited free speech; criticizing the government or its policies is limited, as the government is the ultimate force for good. If you read the Townbroadcast you know some on the left are anti-advertising; let the government control media, and propaganda will replace product and services advertising.
If we have “free college” for all, the government will run the colleges. History has proven that when the government pays the bills, the money comes with restrictions, lots of restrictions. If you feel as I do that colleges ban politically incorrect speech, currently you have seen nothing yet: wait until the socialist government holds the purse strings and controls thought.
Why does socialism work for short periods of time? Because it is flush with cash it takes from the haves and it purchases loyalty from the have nots. Life for most is great until they run out of other folks’ money. Socialism is a credit card: life is good until you hit the limit then the bills come due.
The American Constitution was a very radical document when it was adopted, and remains a radical document today. Its main objective was/is to control government and protect the people from an over reaching government. Socialism is the ultimate in loco parentis, government control of our lives.
Senator Sanders has said that the United States is the worst nation in the world. Thanks to our Constitution I feel it is the best nation in the world.
Next time you speak with a socialist ask for the details; ask how what they wish to do will be sustained over time, ask what happens when they spend all the money others have earned. Good luck getting an answer.
Socialism is so popular with educated dolts, I’m surprised no one has refuted your claims yet.
Don’t Tread on Me,
Thanks for the comment.
Ask most what socialism stands for and they answer, free stuff and punishing the successful/rich. Some may say social justice, what that is, most have no idea.
It seems to me that by the conservative move to weaponize the term “socialism” we are going to have to refer to that -ism like we do communism, specifically capital C Communism vs. small c communism, and capital S Socialism vs. small s socialism.
I am more troubled than I can express that a perfectly good philosophy is being twisted into something evil just to create fear in the American public. Joe McCarthy did it with Communism in the 1950s. Communal practices have been employed with varying degrees of success since time began, and they continue to do so today. So, too, have socialist endeavors.
The problem lies in any -ism being taken to extreme. Just as capital C Communism is a poor system of governing a nation, so too is capital C Capitalism a prescription for disaster in a nation like the United States.
Let’s be adults here, people, and understand that there are virtues and vices in any form of structuring society. The key is to be prudent and reasonable in applying those templates to our citizenry.