It's an Emotional Thing.
John Lennon's song Imagine was a hymn to the Communist ideal which did not match its horrible reality. I'll admit the vision in that song is a beautiful thing but so is the thought of certain beautiful women on my arm, and about as likely.
I am against Communism, not ONLY because it is immoral (though that is a problem) but for a much more practical reason. It simply does not work and all the talk, work, and dreaming of a workers paradise is just a pipe dream. Communism is based on a flawed understanding of human nature. Humans are intrinsically selfish and will work only for their own benefits. When we operate according to the beautiful dream of from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, abilities become minimal and needs become maximum as everyone tries to get as much out of the system as they can while putting as little into the system as they can get away with.
Capitalism, while flawed, has the advantage that while hard work does not guarantee success, it does improve the odds, thus one is motivated to work and work hard. Hard work creates wealth even if the worker does not see it (though a wise employer will make sure the workers share his success.)
A lot of people who would prefer the communist world have admitted that it is flawed and will never work. What is troubling is to watch these people talk about it. An elderly gentleman I know, who is a Greek immigrant from the late 1940s was practically in tears as he discussed the failure of Communism. "I have no dreams left. There is nothing to hope for. It failed." were words he told me when the Berlin Wall fell. He knew Communism would never work and this led him to despair.
I know a few other people who have an emotional love of Communism (or at least strong love-hate feelings) and it is saddening to talk to them. Their eyes glaze over at the dream that will never be because they now know it's impossible.
The sad thing is that they have hated Capitalism for so long that it is now rooted deep in their souls. What works, albeit imperfectly, is something they hate while they are in love with an illusion and they know it.
What hope is there for such people?
I am against Communism, not ONLY because it is immoral (though that is a problem) but for a much more practical reason. It simply does not work and all the talk, work, and dreaming of a workers paradise is just a pipe dream. Communism is based on a flawed understanding of human nature. Humans are intrinsically selfish and will work only for their own benefits. When we operate according to the beautiful dream of from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, abilities become minimal and needs become maximum as everyone tries to get as much out of the system as they can while putting as little into the system as they can get away with.
Capitalism, while flawed, has the advantage that while hard work does not guarantee success, it does improve the odds, thus one is motivated to work and work hard. Hard work creates wealth even if the worker does not see it (though a wise employer will make sure the workers share his success.)
A lot of people who would prefer the communist world have admitted that it is flawed and will never work. What is troubling is to watch these people talk about it. An elderly gentleman I know, who is a Greek immigrant from the late 1940s was practically in tears as he discussed the failure of Communism. "I have no dreams left. There is nothing to hope for. It failed." were words he told me when the Berlin Wall fell. He knew Communism would never work and this led him to despair.
I know a few other people who have an emotional love of Communism (or at least strong love-hate feelings) and it is saddening to talk to them. Their eyes glaze over at the dream that will never be because they now know it's impossible.
The sad thing is that they have hated Capitalism for so long that it is now rooted deep in their souls. What works, albeit imperfectly, is something they hate while they are in love with an illusion and they know it.
What hope is there for such people?
posted by shoprat at 9:08 PM
10 Comments:
Lenin called the dreamers "leftwing communists" and hated them. I call them Marxist/John Lennonists. What the dreamers won't admit is that communism/socialism can only come about by coercion. The opposite of communism isn't capitalism. It's freedom. Capitalism is simply one aspect of freedom.
Communists live in a false reality, their working to keep someone else happy and haven't realized it yet. I have a tendency to look at a lot of unions the same way.
What hope is there for such people? Well, a boat and a one-way ticket to North Korea would be a good start.
Or perhaps since most of these hippy wankers helped the Veitcong, we should send them to the paradise they helped create. It only seems fair to let them live their dreams.
Well said Shoprat! I agree with everythinig you've written except for the likelyhood of a beautiful woman on your arm. You're smart enough to figure out how to have one of those, but I believe you want more and that is harder to find than beauty.
Your words remind me of how my views changed when I read Atlas Shrugged. So many things became clearer after that. There is a way that seems right to a man...
We have to deal with reality, no matter how hard it is. These people that "operate according to the beautiful dream" are escaping reality.
I've looked for "true love" in much the same way. Because I agree that humans are "intrinsically selfish" I've come to believe true love is not possible and the only way to be happy is to realize that, and accept what God chooses for me.
Now, if I could just do it.
BTW, I like your picture. I've been in la la land and don't know exactly when you put it up, but I'm glad you did.
((What hope is there for such people? Well, a boat and a one-way ticket to North Korea would be a good start.))
I like your style Mother Jug a Rum! If these commie loving bastards after being shipped to North Korea don't cry and beg to come back to the United States, then there's no hope for them.
If they don't want to go to North Korea, they can still emigrate to Cuba and smoke those cigars & drink the rum...
Very good read ShopRat. I like to live in yester-year. Forget about Socialism, which this country has now subcum to. Forget Capitalism/ Communistic ideologies. Even forget Democracy, because this Nation was founded on none of the above. It WAS a Republic and I choose to be defiant. I believe that way and live that way I'll die thinking that is was. That's why my views constantly rub people wrong, but my views reflect our forefathers diagram for government more than most.
Semper Fi. Navy? OOH-RAH! Got a lot of personal respect for the Navy.
Dude, I think LP is DEFINATELY interested.
But seriously, all forms of govt. have thier pluses and minuses. Having been in a communist country (East Germany), I will say that even though it was a failed system, there are certain things that we could adopt to make our system better.
1) Universal health care. I still think that those who can afford "private" insurance should be allowed to do so and thereby get priemium service. There should at the very least be a floor that guarantees at least a minimum of coverage to the working poor. It is a disgrace that 40 million Americans have no health insurance.
2)Universal university education IF YOU HAVE THE GRADES. If you were smart enough, your college education should be provided for by govt. funded tuiton. That being said, if you goof off you get the boot.
3) Youth recreation centers. This helps keep young people away from drugs and gangs, and gives them a place to go to hang out with friends even if they don't have money.
Yes, our system is far superior, but they did do a lot of things that I think it would not hurt us to look at. Also, Communists did beat the Nazis (granted, with our help, but they did all heavy lifting and most of the dying).
Tim I will grant that 2 is a good idea, and 3 should be done, but NOT by the government. 1 I am skeptical of.
gunz Thanks for the visit and the comment. Yes we are a Republic but a question is not only what do you have but what do you do with it?
jug a rum, black canuke, and tom. They would rather mess with our system to make theirs work rather than go to one that is following their system to its logical conclusion.
pjc and abf We all have dreams and dreams are important but we also need reality and to face what can and can't happen.
lp I put the picture up last night so it hasn't been long. And you are right, facing a hard reality is preferable to escaping into a beautifyl dream.
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