I find it dismaying that while many "communist" countries are heading towards capitalism and quasi-democracy, our own Nation is heading in the opposite direction. I blame it on the 60's generation. Robert Bork's book, "Sliding Into Gommorah" clearly illustrates how the over-indulged 60's Woodstock generation started our downfall into socialism.
First they were kids for love and peace. Naive, but not so bad for teenagers, but then they became educators and continue to teach their communal thinking to the next generations. Slide into Gommarah we did and continue.
As I've stated many times of this and other forums, I personally experienced a commune during the 60's (not a member) and understand why each one failed and don't exist today, other than some Amazon tribes. It all started out as superficial love, peace, comradeship, and shared efforts while developing Utopia on Earth.
After a while, some noticed that others weren't pulling their weight in tilling gardens, maintaining the facilities, while wanting more veggies for less work. Some thought it their right in Utopia. After all, Utopia should be all things to all people. Eventually, the "workers/producers" got fed up with the "non-performing takers" and everyone just drifted away. Does this sound familiar?
What's the two words for the above? FAILED COMMUNISM. It simply astounds me that we have a communist caucus in Congress. Although not highly educated, my commonsense and little knowledge of history always shows it's a failed societal system.
But then, commonsense is a dying characteristic or value, much like honesty, honor, integrity (self honesty when no one's looking), shame, accountability, courtesy, manners, kindness...must I go on about this failing society? I'm so glad I'm rounding the back stretch so as not to see what my once beautiful nation/society will become.
But since I have some years left, I recently bought a 1958 Chevy Impala and will be cruising while listening to Chuck Berry, Elvis, Shirelles, Supremes, Four Tops, Temps, Stones (that always confused my friends - ha), Zepplin, et al. Smell the roses. I didn't really say that...haha.
Dear Navy Vet,
The author’s line of: “Communism was a transnational ideology imposed on nationalist movements.”, is a very cock-eyed persoanl view. According to the author’s bio, his first published piece appeared in 1998, ten years after The Fall of The Berlin Wall, and during which time, he might have had trouble finding something to use his Schick blade upon.
“I find it dismaying that while many “communist” countries are heading towards capitalism and quasi-democracy, our own Nation is heading in the opposite direction.”
—I find this same unsttling fact true, myself. However, I take exception to the target of your placing blame, and here is why. Woodstock was 1968. The assassination of RFK was 1968. I was a sophomore in high school in 1968, but I am counted among ‘the 60’s generation’. I looked at how America was, and I saw no need for all that changing that was being sought after, by those hippie kids. I shared classes with some students that were those ‘independent learning’ curriculums, i.e., finished the State requirements for college already, but still had to hang out a semester or two to graduate. I heard some of what they said, both from conservatives and the ones I thought were dangerous, i.e., liberals. I had teachers that were U.S. Army interrogators at Nurenburg, U.S. Army armed guards of prisoners in Paris, American R.A.F. pilots, and a colonel who fought through Chatteau-Thierry (sp), and a fellow that came from that language school in San Francisco, where you spoke ‘that’ language, from first day, till you graduated. (Even then, I wondered what he was doing in a school district, where his chosen language (Russian), might have been better served, in a different capacity. A month after my graduation, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. 13 months after that, I began a 3 year assignment in SouthEast Asia, and then the next 7 years in a Cold War capacity, but I am still counted among ‘the 60’s generation’..
“It simply astounds me that we have a communist caucus in Congress.”
—AS it does me, as well. Maybe the repeal of Anti-Communist Acts of the 1950’s was a bad thing? To think, decorated WW2 veteran gravel-voiced Charley Rangel is on that list!