Sunday, September 30, 2018

'Democratic' socialism no less evil

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for August 29, 2018)




Over the next few years you're going to be tested. Socialism-- the politics of envy, parasitism, and entitlement-- is growing in popularity again. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have recently been its elder cheerleaders. Now socialism is being given a fresh make-over. It has a new, young, and apparently articulate voice in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

It's being re-branded as "democratic socialism" as if adding mob rule (democracy) to socialism makes it less evil. No matter who's pushing it this time, expect more attempts to portray socialism as kind, fair, and generous. As "common decency" toward the "less fortunate".

Don't be fooled-- it's still the same old evil under shiny new paint.

It's not kind or generous to give away what isn't yours to give, whether you got the ill-gotten goods in a mugging or by collecting a tax. Theft is theft even when you call it something else. And spending stolen money on popular things doesn't make theft right.

Socialism isn't "sharing" because non-consensual "sharing" doesn't exist. Socialism tries to build a society on a foundation of theft.

At some point, the people you are robbing are going to give up. Why put in all the work only to have your effort stolen? Right now most of these people say they would never go on the dole and will keep working. But they haven't had all hope pulled out from under them yet.

When they see themselves working to support more and more who aren't putting in any effort, at some point they'll decide it's not worth it anymore. Then who will keep your system afloat?

Sure, maybe the money can be created out of thin air. But more dollars in circulation, backed by nothing but promises, means each one of those dollars is worth less every day. Eventually, no one will accept those worthless dollars for products or services-- even if you can find someone still producing or serving. At that point your choice will be barter or starve.

It doesn't matter how many times people come up with the bright idea of socialism. It doesn't matter if you claim "real socialism" has never been given a chance. Neither has real capitalism.

Maybe the democratic socialists are right and all the failures of socialism in the past hundred years or so were "not real socialism", but the closer you get to real socialism, the deader everyone gets, while the closer you get to real capitalism the wealthier everyone gets. Choose your future, choose your fate.

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Economic realities and government "jobs"



I recently heard the claim that the economy is "going great". This doesn't match with the reality I'm experiencing, although I might not be representative. Nor is it what I'm seeing in some others I know. Some of them have even settled for government "jobs" because that's the only thing they could find.

I think it's a terrible shame when the economy is so bad that people are reduced to looking for, or accepting, government "jobs".

And I see this a lot. People can't find a job in the market, so they lower themselves and take a government "job".

They would deny this is lowering themselves.

But, to take a "job" financed with stolen money, which people don't get to opt out of funding-- or, in many cases, using, even if they don't want the "service"-- is low.

I know; you've got to make money. Food must be bought; bills must be paid. Believe me, I understand. Probably more than most. But there are certain "jobs" I just couldn't bring myself to do.

I couldn't live with myself if I had a government "job" which required me to impose the dictates of the State on people and violate their rights with violence. This means I couldn't be an armed government employee of any sort; I couldn't be a cop, or a forest ranger, or an IRS agent, or an employee of any other Alphabet Agency. I couldn't work for the DMV. Nor the military. I couldn't work for the TSA, nor any sort of "border security". I can't bring myself to use violence, or threats of violence against anyone on behalf of the State in exchange for money.

I also couldn't live with myself if I worked in a government "job" which violated people "nicely". I couldn't work in a government school, library, or other "helpful" service. The gun is still there, it's just hidden a little better.

Yes, this means that in this economy I am kind of screwed. I accept that reality. But I still won't violate you for money. Neither in a mugging, nor through a vulgar government "job".
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