Socialism 101

Published on March 28, 2009 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Democrat

Ok, dust off your history books. I've got a quote and a story for you.

Let's start with the quote from Norman Matton Thomas (Nov 29, 1884-Dec 19-1968). He was a leading American Socialist, pacifist and six time Presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. He was an ordained Presbyterian Minister in 1911. As a candidate for President of the U.S. Thomas said in a 1944 speech:

""The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism", they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democratic Party has adopted our platform."

Now let's have a history lesson. Sent to me by a friend; not sure if it's true or not but interesting to think about nonetheless. Here's the story:

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student before but had, once, failed an entire class. The majority of the class had insisted that socialism was a better system as no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism.

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second Test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else. All failed to their great surprise and the professor told them that socialism would ultimately fail because the harder to succeed the greater the reward but when a government takes all the reward away; no one will try or succeed.

Comments (Page 2)

cactoblasta

on Mar 31, 2009

It's an ideal to aspire to because its presence makes for a better society. Socialism and capitalism will always both be present, society can but choose in which direction it wants to move.

I'm unconvinced that there's a linear relationship between political/economic socialism and political/economic capitalism, but sure, most societies choose a middle path. Capitalism for the good times, socialism for the bad times.

I can see a place for both, and think at times a country can benefit from an increased dose of either. For example a socialist practice such as a public education system can be beneficial in a country with limited domestic capital and poor literacy rates. But capitalist freedoms can quickly clear a market of dead wood (eg the automotive industry in the US would be reborn if not for the socialism of the US congress and president). Capitalism can also lead to lower prices where you have a great many companies in the one industry and an unassociated company to keep them on their toes.

Georgism is interesting; I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to read up on it more.

Several tens of millions is what I have heard, including immediate victims of his experiments.

Oh there's little doubt about Mao's slaughters, but what I was failing to suggest is that only a very motivated Christian would be aware of how many people were never born/killed through state encouragement of birth control and family planning. Excluding immigration, the US has an increasing population but the rest of the first world (in the main vastly more socialist) is in population decline. It might be a factor of politics and state policy.

PS. I clearly wasn't very motivated yesterday. Pinochet is from Peru? Where did I get that from?

Leauki

on Mar 31, 2009

cactoblasta

reply 16

Georgism is interesting; I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to read up on it more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_george

It's, if you will, a real middle way between ideal capitalism and ideal socialism. What nature provides is seen as common property, what man provides is seen as man's property.

Other middle ways are defined by the degree of property rights they recognise. Georgism recognises a 100% private property right in the created by man and a 0% private property right in the created by G-d.

The theory was very popular in Ireland in the late 19th century.

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