During the 2016 presidential campaign many scoffed at Bernie Sanders and his call for Socialism. Today Democrats announcing their candidacy for President shout Sanders’ 2016 ideas as main stream. Do you wonder why that is? Does that bother you?
Did you know that Socialism was tried in America and the people starved?
The Pilgrims came to America for religious freedom and were financed by wealthy merchants in England. The English merchants had the Pilgrims sign a document that placed them into a communal agreement. The Plymouth Colony was communally owned and cultivated. This caused dissension because the lazy got the same as the hardworking. (FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEED) In 1623 the Pilgrims faced famine because of this socialist commune.
Governor William Bradford knew that something had to change, and after counsel each family was given a parcel of land and corn to manage as their own. This change saved the colony because productivity increased.
The main vice of capitalism is the uneven distribution of prosperity. The main vice of socialism is the even distribution of misery. Winston Churchill
Socialism: A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. There is a lot to digest in the definition but a key phrase is SHOULD BE OWNED OR REGULATED BY THE COMMUNITY, and to me that is synonymous for MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
Have you talked politics with your Millennial 35 & under children or grandchildren lately? Millennial’s may have more formal education than we do but have not spent as much time in the school of hard knocks. At times their formal education gives them an arrogance to believe that they are pure as the wind driven snow, and they will never repeat history, and sinful human nature will never be their downfall. Therefore they will do Socialism the right way and never make the same mistakes as Castro or Hugo Chavez.
Supporters of Socialism will calm your fears and tell you that your credit union, Social Security, Medicare and even a business that is employee owned is socialism. By the definition above they are correct. Do not fear Socialism because America and several European countries have Socialism. But that is not the Socialism that we fear.
If you’re not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you’re not a conservative at forty, you have no brain. Winston Churchill
My point has always been that these social programs are only sustainable because of free market and capitalism. You might be told you are fear mongering, and you are not as traveled as the supporters of Socialism, and you do not have a big picture worldview. Democrats say they do not support Socialism, but then why do so many support Socialism type ideas? Have you read the Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio Cortez that is endorsed by many of the 2020 Democratic Presidential candidates?
So who or what is the cause for this millennial swing towards socialism? Is it education, society, church, family or social media? The majority of the college professors are liberal, but studies show that busy students in the classroom do not change their political leanings much. Students that spend less time with academic endeavors and are more involved in student organizations in, on, and around campus learn socialism as a means to tangible immediate victories.
What about the slow removal and diminished importance of Christianity from the public forum? I raise Christianity because Democrats and Socialists create class warfare, division, envy and jealously. There are commandments and teachings in the Bible against this behavior. But you cannot raise the Bible in the public forum because of the left saying separation of church and state.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill
Children have not changed but parents have. Back in the day Mother remained at home to raise the family. What about today’s two income family? In recent years society has changed. Why? Trophies for everyone, do not keep score, equal playing time for everyone to be fair to everyone and so on. Remember Socialism promises fairness.
Many Millennial’s grew up in a protected society where their feelings were protected by helicopter parents. Today these protected kids go to college, and if the protection or fairness they seek is not there they organize and protest. The administration and faculty gives in to their demands giving them immediate, tangible and perceived fairness. They expect the government to provide this fairness and protection after college. Socialism is their go-to safe space.
So how much government is too much? How much individual freedom are you willing to give up to the government? Be careful in your criticism of Socialism because you will be accused of exaggerations, not using credible claims and of course fear mongering. If America wants Socialism they can certainly have it.
Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it. John Adams