Socialism's march across America

World Net Daily ^ | 7/10/04 | Henry Lamb

[Mikey]

Socialism's march across America

Americans were appalled when Castro nationalized private property in Cuba, and led the nation into socialism. Many but not all Americans were appalled when the governments of Zimbabwe and Namibia confiscated private property for redistribution. But a new generation of Americans has emerged who never learned what socialism is, or why their fathers and grandfathers fought so hard to prevent it in America.

For the benefit of those who didn't learn it in school, < a href = http://www.merriam-webster.com/>Socialism is:

1). : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods;

2). a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property; b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state;

3). : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism.

Socialism is overwhelming capitalism in America because socialist policies are called "smart growth" or "environmental protection." The proponents of these policies either fail to recognize or don't care that they are systematically transferring private property to government ownership and control, and are empowering government to effectively "administer" the means of production.

This process is under way across America. Perhaps the most blatant example is in King County, Wash., where a decade-long comprehensive planning process has produced a plan that will . The people whose ownership is being confiscated by government see the plan as pure theft. Led by so-called environmental groups, proponents of the plan have no problem empowering government to take the property of others.

The sanctity of private property is no less violated in King County than it was in Cuba or in Zimbabwe. In other nations, the process is called confiscation or nationalization; in America, it is called "smart growth," or "environmental protection."

The Clinton/Gore administration launched a massive campaign through the President's Council on Sustainable Development to coerce state and local governments to implement the socialist policies recommended in Agenda 21. These policies have been developed through local "visioning councils" and "stakeholder councils," which bear a remarkable resemblance to soviets and are now being imposed on people who have never heard of Agenda 21.

A generation of Americans was never taught why socialism must not succeed in America. Instead, they were taught that the environment must be protected by government, without learning why government must never be allowed to confiscate private property or manipulate free markets. Consequently, private property is being transferred into government ownership or control at an unprecedented rate. Government is meddling in the administration of free markets to a degree that distorts the markets and restrains economic development.

Neither socialism nor communism can succeed as a system of governance; three fundamental faults doom any long-term success. First, no collection of policy-making individuals can muster the wisdom of leadership required to satisfy a diverse population. Second, enforcement of collectivist policies requires government to take from the producers and redistribute to the non-producers. Third, producers become non-producers when they realize the rewards for their efforts are redistributed to others. Ultimately, the system collapses under its own weight, as it did in the Soviet Union.

On the other hand, capitalism in a democratic republic allows the people to change their leadership at will to reflect the wishes of a diverse population. People are free to produce as much or as little as their ability allows in the knowledge that government can take no more than they are willing to pay.

Capitalism crumbles when the majority requires government to restrain the productivity and behavior of others to conform to their will. Both socialism and communism crumble when the majority of people become dependent upon government and demand that government meet their needs.

Socialism is marching across King County, and across America, under the flag of "smart growth," and "environmental protection." It's time to stop the parade.

_______________________

Henry Lamb is the executive vice president of the Environmental Conservation Organization and chairman of Sovereignty International.

[BC girl]

"We will take things away from you for the common good."
- hillary clinton


I'm sure her many advisors wish she had said that differently. There is no common good if everyone is broke, with bad teeth.

[BigAzzHam]

>>Why do the laws of economics mutate (and I have absolutely no idea what that means) depending on the type of good or service that is being delivered?

My point was that the laws of economics DO NOT mutate which means that all of the principles of supply and demand, competition apply equally to education and groceries. The government does not operate the school system based on market economics. It steals money through taxation, provides very limited choices and pays salaries in a non-competitive environment. This is why government schools are expensive and inept. There is no accountability and no recourse. On the other hand, if don't like Safeway then you can shop at A&P or hundreds of other places for groceries.

Do you know how much your local school district is spending annually on a per pupil basis? Here in Montgomery County, MD the schools spend about $12,000 per year per student. Amazing.

[DumpsterDiver]

My point was that the laws of economics DO NOT mutate which means that all of the principles of supply and demand,...

Now that I knew. I just didn't see where you were going in your other post.

Here in Montgomery County, MD the schools spend about $12,000 per year per student.

I'm not sure of the exact amount, but I do believe that Montgomery County is actually outspending Los Angeles Unified School District.

Amazing.

I think of it as jobs for campaign donors, cronies and assorted relatives.

[sweetliberty]

"capitalism in a democratic republic allows the people to change their leadership at will to reflect the wishes of a diverse population."

And sadly, what should be our greatest strength has become the weakest link, thanks to democRAT vote fraud, illegals and felons being allowed to vote, the dead vote and the fact that the democRATs will fight for the "right" of all those who are stupid enough and dependent enough on government handouts to promote their socialist agenda.

[B4Ranch]

Kerry-socialist
Bush-capitalist

\
Sorry but Bush is a globalist who supports the UN which is socialist. He's not quite as bad as Kerry but he certainly isn't a hero.

[Mikey]

"They are making Brown Shirts again but most people today don't know enough history to understand what a Brown Shirt is."

I used to drive an 18 wheeler years ago and one day while cruising down the highway and on the opposite side of the road was a D.O.T (Dept Of Tyranny) check point (Check point Berlin). At any rate, there were a bunch of D.O.T cops standing around trying to look menacing and important. Man they looked almost exactly like those old pictures of the SS and gestapo.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I live in King County.

We've been fighting a land-grab by homeless advocates who are trying to put tent encampments on public land in nice, low-crime eastside neighborhoods - and I can tell you that there are at least a couple of Democrats on the King County Council who have breathtaking disdain for ordinary, taxpaying, law-abiding folks - it's actually frightening to me.

[tacticalogic]

And just how do you propose that we accomplish that?

Take a hammer to the New Deal Commerce Clause and the Substantial Effects Doctrine, using the Constitution as an unyielding anvil.

[JOE43270]

I believe that!

[BigAzzHam]

>>And sadly, what should be our greatest strength has become the weakest link, thanks to democRAT

Why do you believe that it just the democrats supporting a Marxist agenda? Republicans have the presidency, house and senate and government continues to grow unabated. GWB even increased funding for the National Endownment for the Arts. We have a $7 TRILLION debt ($24,000 for every man, woman and child in the country ) and he increases funding for the NEA and signs on the stupid perscription drug benefit bill.

[tm22721]

Terrorists will unwittingly dismantle socialism by shocking our system back to its senses but first there will be a lot of pain in re-learning past lessons.

BUMP

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt