Really, the socialist impulse is a hardy perennial. How could something so frequently and thoroughly discredited persist in the hearts of men? Some think it has something to do with the gullibility of the human animal, some (but I repeat myself) with the persistence of the utopian dream. I suspect there are many explanations, of which the raw desire for power plays an unedifying but also underrated role. I also favor the explanatory power of original sin, which has profound psychological as well as theological application to many of the more farcical aspects of human experience and what is more farcical than socialism?
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Commentary: The Endurance of an Ideological Paradox
I have written about the death and rebirth of socialism periodically over the years. But as André Gide said in another context, “Toutes choses sont dites déjà, mais comme personne n’écoute, il faut toujours recommencer” – “everything has already been said, but since no one was listening, it is necessary to say it again.”
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Personally, I think the ideas of Communism or Socialism are awesome...if it weren't for people. I call it the 'Some Jerk Principle'...there's always some jerk who wants more, or to do less, that blows the whole thing out of the water. Experience shows that this ALWAY happens. Maybe an independent AI with the option for capital punishment for those violating this might work, but can't imagine the people who believe socialism would actually work would ever go for that.
ReplyDeleteThe answer my friends is blowing in the human ability to reason wind and the wind says: Most people are emotionally reacting, instant gratification fantasy addicts. It's human nature to practice seek perfection and fairness. We want to believe others are motivated by the same moral principles as us and we judge them thusly. That’s how sociopathic critical thinkers gain the upper foot and rise to positions of power in both the corporate and governmental arenas. We can’t think or act like them and that’s our Achille’s heel. It’s the eternal king and peasant interaction where we peasants want socialism to be fair and live a safe, comfortable life and the kings want it to control and gain total power.
ReplyDeleteThe female brain is inherently socialistic and jealous, and prone to retaliation. Female brains in male bodies create and re-kindle the interest in socialized culture.
ReplyDeleteFail. Every. Time.
The idea of socialism will never die because each new generation has to deal with the facts of life. Some of the earliest words of youth are "It isn't fair." It just takes some longer than others to learn life is not fair. Some never learn.
ReplyDeleteSocialism and all it's variations is perennially popular because it appeals to the laziness in people. It promises them things they don't have to earn for themselves. There will always be vast numbers of lazy people who find these promises irresistible. Of course those making the promises have zero intentions of ever keeping those promises. But the gullible are always also ignorant of history. They are unaware of socialism's track record of never actual working as advertised. The notion of Socialism, like stupidity, will always be with us.
ReplyDeleteLooking for nirvana without having to work for it
ReplyDeleteJD
Ex liberal here. A big part of the appeal was when I was working for 4.25 an hour in the 90s AFTER I learned that thec15k I borrowed for college was useless because as it turned out Noone wanted to pay me to talk about biochemistry. Literally nearly starving to death was a big part of the appeal. I'm in walmart working and watching people buy food that I can't afford. Truth is though that under socialism there isn't enough for everyone. Our govt squandering taxes while infrastructure rots and privatized AND socialized medicine via a half dozen insurance cos is also bad.
ReplyDelete