Tag: Democratic Socialism

Understanding Socialism

Bernie Sanders

One of the biggest mistakes of my generation was somehow allowing much of American society to degenerate from rational opposition to blind acceptance of socialism. We have sat idle while our replacement generation has lost sight of the grave dangers of this political and economic system. The best we can do now is to make a bold attempt to expose this evil for what it really is. This post is a move in that direction.

Socialism in a nutshell is giving up individual freedom and allowing the government to provide for our needs in exchange for making our decisions for us. It is an economic and political system that depends on a powerful, autocratic government. Socialism came of age with Karl Marx’s theories written as the Communist Manifesto in 1848. The socialist government can be totalitarian (a dictator), oligarchic (a powerful committee), or even democratic. Regardless of the structure, such a government determines what the people need and controls all business production and services to meet those needs. This results in an equitable distribution of wealth and material resources among all people with no competitive buying and selling in the market. Citizens are totally dependent on and subject to the government.

Prominent historical examples include the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, while current examples are China, Cuba, and Venezuela. Although some socialist governments have maintained a robust economy by controlling production, those countries’ citizens are ultimately oppressed and have little incentive to pursue a better quality of life.

In this election year, we are being told that the socialism of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren is not the failed socialism of the past but rather “Democratic” socialism. They point to the Scandinavian countries as examples instead of China, Cuba, and Venezuela. Sanders says he is not anti-business and declares he supports free elections. However, his proposed system of government is pure socialism. He advocates free health care, free college education, controls on income, and major government subsistence for low income earners. The astronomic costs of these government programs would be funded by huge tax increases on everyone. Oh yes, he says he will tax the rich to provide these comforts. The problem is these costs could not begin to be funded by taxing the top American earners at 100 percent. Taxes would be raised tremendously on almost everyone, which is exactly what socialism does. If the socialist government decides the people need more, it takes more from the people in the form of taxes. A democratically elected socialist government is still a socialist government that preys on its citizens.

The truth is that socialism has never worked effectively as a political and economic system…never!  Even in the Scandinavian countries, it reduces efficiency and initiative in production. It can easily take root in a poor country with a chaotic government looking for something different. When it does, it is usually the result of a revolution that leaves a trail of violence and death. But the “utopia” is short lived as the citizens figure out they are under oppression without freedom to determine their own destiny. Then it is too late. To bring socialism into a thriving economy under-girded with individual freedoms would be absolutely disastrous and absurd.

Free market capitalism has made America the richest, healthiest, most powerful, and most productive country in the history of the world. A recent study shows the poorest 20 percent of Americans consume more goods and services than the national averages for all people in most affluent countries including western Europe. In other words, if America’s “poor” were a nation, it would be one of the world’s richest. This is why we have such an immigration problem. Millions of people dream of coming to America. The greatness of America is the result of God’s blessing through two essential concepts: capitalism as the driver of our economy and individual liberty as the standard of our society. Both must exist simultaneously for the ultimate benefit of the people.

Granted, there are some downsides to capitalism. It does not ensure economic equality. Those who work hardest and are most productive will gain more wealth than others. Incentive is rewarded with better quality of life, while lethargy lessens quality of life. American capitalism, however, makes provision for the less fortunate with social programs supported by reasonable taxes of the more affluent. A cursory study of the American free market and individual freedoms proves that, despite some problems still needing to be resolved, our society is superior to any other in the world. Then why is seemingly half our population ready to trade that life for a much lesser life?

I believe the answer lies in two realities. First, the education of our youth, both parental and institutional, has largely avoided the socioeconomic truths that formed this great nation. Instead of factual studies of constitutional democracy, economic history, and comparative government, millennials and younger have been fed a scholastic diet of liberal psychology and social radicalism. They have learned the weaknesses of America but not its overriding strengths. Secondly, technology, liberal media, family breakdown, and the devaluation of discipline have produced a sense of entitlement, false security, and irresponsibility in our younger generation. Why wouldn’t they want more free stuff without regard to its source and ultimate cost to society? That is their experience, and they have not been taught the consequences. The reality that nothing is really free has been lost on most of them.

The future of America as we know it will depend on freedom-loving Americans showing up on election day to put down the revolution of socialism. We must also make every attempt to instill the truth in our children and grandchildren. We have to replace their indoctrination with factual counter positions. The future of our nation hangs in the balance.

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The 2020 Election: Capitalism or Socialism

capitalism-socialism

For the first time in America’s history, the 2020 election will be a choice between capitalism and socialism as our future way of life. Most voters may think it’s still all about who will be President or the majority party in the House and Senate. But election results will more so determine whether we remain a free-market capitalist society or embrace the failed, oppressive socialist movement with which many Americans seem to be enamored.

Who could have predicted that America would ever be flirting with socialism? Yet, here we are, less than three decades from the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, with millions of citizens being duped by the empty promises of socialist advocates. In a 2016 Gallup poll, 55% of respondents 18 – 29 said they hold a positive view of socialism. A 2017 YouGov poll asked millennials whether they would prefer to live in a capitalist, socialist, fascist, or communist nation, with 44% answering socialist. Nearly one-third of 22-37 year-old Americans responded to a Maru-Blue study by saying their political leaning was toward socialism. None of these polls defined socialism, leaving the question of whether our younger generation understands what socialism really is.

The deception is almost entirely from the Democratic Party. This is the party that once was a legitimate alternative to the GOP in debating labor, social, and economic issues. But they have abandoned these practical advocacies. Now, with openly socialist candidates, the ideological center of the Democratic Party has shifted to the far left in just the last few years. They are sugar-coating the philosophy by calling it “democratic socialism” as if it is just a spin-off of democracy. This has misled the hearts and minds of easily impressionable Americans who haven’t lived through the cold war or studied history seriously.

The tempting fruits of Medicare for all, guaranteed income, and free college tuition seem like heaven on earth. The leftists conveniently disregard the inability of a socialist government to produce prosperity and its reliance on oppression to control economic objectives. They neglect to mention how a socialist government dictates terms of life, education, career choices, family autonomy, travel, associations, and political dialogue. We need to look no further than the ongoing starvation and chaos in Venezuela or the present upheaval in Hong Kong to see clearly the “success” of socialism.

The history of American capitalism is not without faults and missteps, but it is what made this nation the greatest in the history of mankind. We who have observed and experienced the hopelessness of socialism must somehow help others see through its facade. The new generation of voters who have not lived through the threat of an encroaching “evil empire” and who give little attention to modern-day oppressive governments must be convinced that warning about socialism is not a “new McCarthyism.”

Listen carefully to what the 20-plus Democratic presidential candidates are proposing. It doesn’t take a political science major to perceive they are promoting socialism as the new direction for our country. A Democratic-majority congress and/or a Democrat in the White House will swing the door wide open for America’s rush to abandon capitalism. Make the next eighteen months a period of close attention to the voices and actions of our political candidates. Seriously consider what is at stake for you, your children, and your grandchildren.

 

 

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Why America Must Stop Courting Socialism

The internal threat of socialism in America must be stopped now. The Democratic party has gone from flirting with this political cancer to inviting it into their ranks. A socialist America would be a lost America. Calling it Democratic Socialism is deceptive. There is no legitimacy in applying any label of socialism to our capitalist economy. Let’s look at how socialism is already threatening your income and quality of life.

Socialism has been categorized into four main levels. The traditional Marxist-Leninist socialism of communist countries, e.g., China and Cuba, is what many of us grew up despising. Non-communist socialist countries such as Greece subscribe to Marxist-Leninist tenets, but without the aggressive dictators. Then there is 21st Century socialism which has recently popped up in countries through radical upheavals of the democratic process. Most of these governments are in Latin America and are crumbling after just a few years. More recently, several governments have begun to call themselves Democratic Socialists. That is, there is a semblance of  governing by the people through elected representation and personally owned property. However, Democratic Socialist laws support socialist concepts such as wealth distribution through taxation, universal health care, free college, guaranteed income, prolific labor unions, production controls, etc.  I believe the Democratic Socialism moniker is no more than an attempt to soften the depressing nature of the system. It is a way to pass it off as not-your-grandfather’s Marxist-Leninist government. We must understand socialism for what it is regardless of the adjective placed before the name.

Whatever the title, socialism is woefully inferior to capitalism on every level and a dangerous system. Due to the expected brevity of a blog post, I will withhold comment on the immoral, oppressive, and disincentive aspects of socialism and address just the economics of the beast. I believe economics is the practical measure of a government system, since it affects about every other quality of life element. Socialism fails miserably in the economics test.

The long-proven success of capitalism has made America the most prosperous nation on earth. Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, is the accepted measure of a nation’s economy. It is the total dollar value of all goods and services produced within the country in a year. It is also essentially the total income of all Americans during the year. America’s projected GDP for 2018 is just over $20 trillion. The best measure of the quality of life for a country’s citizens is per capita GDP, or each person’s share of the GDP. It also roughly equates to average yearly individual income. America’s current per capita GDP is $56,432. In comparison, the UK GDP per capita is $39,720, and Japan’s is $38,428. Russia (technically not a socialist country anymore) has a per capita GDP of $10,743.

Now, let’s look at the per capita GDP of those “enviable”  26 countries that proclaim themselves socialist. You know, the one’s the Democrats are showcasing. The six Marxist-Leninist countries have an average per capita GDP of $3,638 (China, the highest, is at $10,099). The five non-communist socialist countries average $5,700. The three labeled 21st Century Socialist average $4,834. Twelve Democratic Socialist countries average $4,494. These current numbers are about what Americans were earning in the 1950s.

Socialism has never in history improved the economy or quality of life for its subjects. It kills economies. Not one Democrat in America can justify his or her socialist leaning economically. They are simply interested in growing a big government that takes resources from the people and gives them goods and services based on needs of the government. Voters for Democratic candidates need to either learn some basic economics or be satisfied with a per capita GDP of less than $10,000.

A few years ago, I would have never believed Americans would elect a declared socialist to Congress. Now, we have four, three of which are card-carrying members of the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA). We all know about Senator Bernie Sanders. Then, last November, Americans elected to the House of Representatives Rashida Tlaib , a Muslim and DSA member and, of course, DSA member and smash hit, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The other Muslim and DSA sympathizer elected last November is Ilhan Omar who is also an outspoken anti-Semitic. Furthermore, there are 66 other Democratic members of Congress who openly claim ties to DSA.

Free market capitalism, the economic experiment spanning over two centuries, has produced the greatest economy in the history of the world leading to the greatest quality of life in history for us Americans. We of the present generation are extremely blessed to have inherited this phenomenal advantage from the sacrifices of our predecessors. Any movement that would threaten that way of life must be stopped for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Listen closely to every word that proceeds from the mouths of Democrats. Their socialist agenda is obvious. Remember that at the voting booth.

 

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We Must Recognize the Democratic Party for What It Is

I have disagreed with the Democrat party for years, but have tried to accept it as a legitimate alternative voice in our government. However, I can no longer stomach its determined pursuit of socialism, devaluation of life, disdain for biblical truth, disruption of family, and disregard for civil order. The party has institutionalized evil. I am uncomfortable using that word, but darkness can only be overcome by light.

I first realized the Democrats’ blatant secularism during the 2012 Democratic convention when the DNC chairman proposed to reinsert the word “God” into the Democratic Platform. The chairman attempted three voice votes from the floor, and each time the vote was overwhelmingly against including “God.” The chairman finally ignored the obvious nay votes from the majority and declared the proposal as passed. The convention floor roared with shouts of anger. Now this week we learned that a key Democratic House committee has drafted new rules for the swearing in of investigation witnesses that leave out “so help me God.”

The character of a nation is largely defined by its spiritual awareness reflected in its politics. America is polarized between two philosophies of life or world views–Republican and Democratic. The Republican party is far from perfect and certainly has its share of moral lapses and wayward players. But as an institution, it generally holds to the biblical principles of freedom, peace, moderation, free market, patriotism, law and order, sanctity of life, and traditional family.

Conversely, the Democratic party has a history of promoting bondage, anarchy, extremism, socialism, rebellion, lawlessness, abortion, and LGBT activism. Although these characteristics of the party were evident as far back as the Kennedy era, they have become much more predominant in recent years. Just in the last decade, under President Obama, gay marriage became law, wealth was forcefully redistributed, our military served as the laboratory for radical social experiments, law enforcement was demonized, and thousands violently rioted in the streets over a legitimate election. Democratic obsession with so-called gender dysphoria created rampant confusion in children and young adults.

Many ungodly cultural shifts are being fostered through the liberal-leaning courts. The majority of current federal judges were appointed by Presidents Obama or Clinton, and the Senate Democrats are obstructing the confirmation of President Trump’s judicial appointments. The confirmation process for Judge Kavanaugh was a shameful spectacle of demonic-like behavior and contempt for law and order by Democrats on the Judicial Committee.

Just in the last few months, the mostly Democratic news media have made a celebrity of a socialist activist elected to the House of Representatives. Other newly elected Democratic Representatives spewed obscene hostilities against the President publicly. The early announcers for the 2020 presidential campaign are the most radically liberal candidates ever, making Bernie and Hillary seem angelic in comparison.

The Democratic personification of evil is not just in Washington. Hollywood, Broadway, and Nashville stars give us a daily dose of obscene hate speech against rightfully elected government officials. Some have threatened bodily harm or death. Almost all of these miscreants proudly claim allegiance to the Democratic party.

The five highest crime-rate cities in America–Detroit, St. Louis, Oakland, Memphis, and Birmingham–all have a long history of Democratic mayors. America’s highest poverty levels are almost all in cities led by Democrats. Again, leadership depravity results in the darkest environments.

These examples barely scratch the surface of Democratic iniquities. However, in my opinion, the epitome of evil acts by Democrats was the New York Assembly’s late-term abortion bill enacted just last week. New York joined seven other states, all with Democratic governments, in legalizing abortions up to the moment of birth. The assembly celebrated by standing ovation, and the governor lit up the new World Trade Center in honor of the “victory.” This law means a mother can go into labor and then decide to kill the baby just before delivery. Of course, that is no more despicable than a first trimester abortion, but it would have to require more emotional and spiritual numbness on the part of the mother and the abortionist. What possible sense does it make that, if a baby were born at 4:35, willfully killing him or her at 4:36 would be capital murder, but willfully killing him or her at 4:34 would have been perfectly legal and even applauded by many? New York’s legislature is 71% Democratic.

I believe many silent Americans see the lunacy in the Democrat party, but are afraid of being labeled politically incorrect. They are mesmerized by the liberal media’s promotion of the Democratic world view and fear being rejected by their peers. The heart of America is crying out for courageous men and women to stand up and be counted among those who truly love our country and who will fight to preserve all that is right, just, and good.

In labeling the Democratic party evil, I have had a few friends respond that some Democrats are moderate and do not agree with all of the party’s philosophy and platform. My retort is, if one identifies with any organization, he or she is supporting that organization’s values and principles. I believe the Democratic party has institutionalized evil and is destroying America from within. It is becoming the nation’s worst enemy. Democrats should be loved unconditionally as precious fellow men and women, but recognized for who they are and called out accordingly. There is a cultural war in America, and the battle is at the ballot box, not in violent reaction. We need to pray that America will come together in a spirit of civility recognizing our roots and faith that made us the greatest country in history. As for my fellow citizens associated with the Democratic party, I urge you to choose this day whom you will serve.

 

 

 

 

 

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