Why Isn't Socialism Dead

TCS Daily ^ | 5 May 2006 | Lee Harris

[RKV]

Long and informative article on the resurgence of populist socialism. MONEY QUOTE: "Men need myths -- and until capitalism can come up with a transformative myth of its own, it may well be that many men will prefer to find their myths in the same place they found them in the first part of the twentieth century -- the myth of revolutionary socialism."

[Clemenza]

As long as half the population is on the left side of the bell curve, and responds to populist idiocy that "I am a failure because the rice are taking it all", socialism will continue to thrive.

[CarrotAndStick]

Socialism will be alive as long as stupidity is popular.

[Semper Paratus]

Socialism may not be deat but Bolivia soon will be.

[LIConFem]

What have you got against rice???

;o)

[JimRed]

According to the American left, the right people haven't tried it yet. That would be them, I guess.

[OSHA]

TAX THE RICE!

[Clemenza]

LOL! I was thinking about what I was having for lunch today, Arborio rice with vegetables.

The damn rice have everything I tell ya! Especially the white rice!

[stopem]

Revolutionary socialism revival coming soon to a city near you.

Unfortunately the socialist libs are gaining strength thru the people they are supporting.

[keats5]

"Why isn't socialism dead?"

Because we live in a fallen world.

[Mikey_1962]

When you look at the history of Socialism (and a bloody one it is)you have to come to the conclusion that Socialism is as Socialism does.

And what it does is confiscate existing wealth, and institute policies that make future wealth almost impossible except for those instituting the Socialist policies.

[RKV]

Yep. Given the actual historical results, counting on socialism is a matter of faith, and not of reason.

[Psycho_Bunny]

As long as humans experience a period of needy immaturity in their life cycles, socialism will have a voice.

It is not until a person becomes mature and fully self-reliant that the inherent evil of socialism becomes apparent.

 

[6SJ7]

Bolivia needs these companies to tap its natural gas resources, because it is unable, at least at present, to operate the natural gas fields on its own.

Another Atlas Shrugged moment in the making.

[ClearCase_guy]

Men need myths -- and until capitalism can come up with a transformative myth of its own...

Capitalism is a philosophy of individual success, not group identities.

Socialism has myths of triumphant groups inheriting the earth. There is some power in that sort of myth. Capitalism's myths are of the Horatio Alger sort. But the academics try very hard to ridicule that. The great American industrialists of the late nineteenth century were all pilloried as "Robber Barons".

Everyone -- even many Conservatives -- wants to drag down the people at the top. Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Ken Lay, Martha Stewart -- they don't have too many friends. Achieving the dream of success under capitalism really puts a target on your back. Building a glorious myth out of that is hard.

But Ayn Rand did it, so it can be done.

[KC_Conspirator]

The reason its not dead is because its a religion to the left.

[RKV]

Ayn Rand was something of a prophetess, wasn't she?

[edpc]

What have you got against rice???; TAX THE RICE!

[LIConFem]

Hey, I didn't know Condi played football!!

;o)

[RKV]

Having been a 49er fan since I was quite young, I can assure you the Jerry Rice has been taxed - a lot. He made a chunk of change playing ball, and the IRS surely got a piece of the action. ;>)