[caddie]

In a lot of ways, I agree with you in that Communism like crabgrass, B.O., and athlete's foot, will always be with us. Communism appeals to jealousy, greed, laziness, treachery, licentiousness, and other major vices. The appeal is strong, as is the human propensity for these things.

But my "Ashcan of History" optimism stems from this: When people see the natural conclusion of Communism, its death camps, its slavery, its dehumanization, its nihilism, which we ALL have seen this past century, people generally are wise enough to think about turning away from it.

This is an advantage we have now with a somewhat better informed populace and a religious revival emerging.

[MikelTackNailer]

[Steely Tom]

In a lot of ways, I agree with you in that Communism like crabgrass, B.O., and athlete's foot, will always be with us. Communism appeals to jealousy, greed, laziness, treachery, licentiousness, and other major vices. The appeal is strong, as is the human propensity for these things.

Yes, exactly. You've got it. Communism is just a package for human failings, like sloth and envy and the others you listed, made to look like an enlightened system of government. It fools only the stupid and those ignorant of history.

In no other system of thought are "useful idiots" an integral — perhaps even essential — component.