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The False Promise Of Political Angels: Why Individual Freedom Outperforms Central Planning
American Thinker ^ | 4 Aug, 2026 | Christian Vezilj

Posted on 08/04/2026 4:34:11 AM PDT by MtnClimber

The platform and policies of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are presented as bold, modern solutions to the economic challenges facing Americans today. But in reality, their ideas are not new. Their central complaint—wealth inequality—has echoed through political movements for centuries. Their rallying cry for the “working man,” their insistence that capitalism is inherently exploitative, and their promise that government redistribution will create fairness are all familiar themes in political history. The DSA frames its agenda as a moral correction to the greed of capitalism, but it is simply the latest iteration of a very old argument.

The DSA platform centers on expansive government control over economic life: free college, free healthcare, free housing, guaranteed income, elimination of private profit in essential industries, and heavy taxation of the wealthy to fund these programs. They argue that capitalism rewards greed, exploits workers, and concentrates wealth in the hands of a few. Their solution is political redistribution—taking from those who have succeeded and reallocating resources through government programs. It is a vision of society organized from the top down, guided by planners who claim to act on behalf of the working class.

But this narrative is not unique to the DSA. It is the same narrative that animated socialist movements in Europe in the 19th century, the same rhetoric used by communist revolutionaries in the 20th century, and the same promises made by populist leaders throughout history. Wealth inequality has always been a political flashpoint, and every generation has produced movements that claim they can solve it through central planning. The DSA is simply the newest voice in a long chorus.

This is why the famous conversation between Milton Friedman and Phil Donahue in 1979 feels so relevant today. Donahue challenged capitalism on the grounds of greed and inequality

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: leftism

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1 posted on 08/04/2026 4:34:11 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

I would say that the DSA (and other leftists) are near the top of the greed Olympics podium. They have the lust for the power to control every aspect of people’s lives.


2 posted on 08/04/2026 4:34:53 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Synergy. When everybody is giving 110% to improve their lives, society improves by at least that, and more, because it accumulates between people.


3 posted on 08/04/2026 4:45:50 AM PDT by Jonty30 (When I go to the kitchen to find food, I get disappointed because all I find are ingredients.)
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To: sauropod

.


4 posted on 08/04/2026 4:47:54 AM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
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To: sauropod

Commie countries build walls, iron curtains, create neutral zones, kill zones etc etc etc to STOP CITIZENS FROM ESCAPING.

Free countries build walls to keep people OUT who want to break in...

When the above is understood it explains that people who fall for commie bullsh*t are effing idiots.


5 posted on 08/04/2026 4:58:09 AM PDT by GOPJ ("Illegals are NOT immigrants anymore than thieves are house guests")
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To: GOPJ

True enough.


6 posted on 08/04/2026 5:28:55 AM PDT by oldtech (oltech)
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To: MtnClimber

I call it “class hustling”. It’s easy to convince people they’re a victim. Whether it’s race, sex, or otherwise, telling people the reason for their financial troubles is some demographically related reason is appealing.

Of course, those that lust for power use this to attain wealth for themselves. Some may naively believe it will work, others are just out for themselves knowing it won’t. The leaders are never poor, only the masses. The “useful idiots” don’t see the poverty coming.

When you believe “money is wealth” and the government can just print money, you’re an easy target. Wealth must be constantly generated, so even when it is “distributed” (i.e. stolen) to the masses you’ll soon run out when the motivation to continue to produce wealth ends.

This is when everyone lives in equal misery.


7 posted on 08/04/2026 5:57:47 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: MtnClimber
MAGA =

1) SMALL gov't except for military, and

2) BIG individual constitutional freedom from gov't and gov't coercion.

Restore America's Free Constitutional Republic!!!!

8 posted on 08/04/2026 7:54:13 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA "by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: GOPJ

TRUE. On the spiritual level, Christians pray with you…Muslims pray against you 5x per day.


9 posted on 08/04/2026 8:47:46 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: MtnClimber; All

Thread BUMP


10 posted on 08/04/2026 8:49:44 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Jim W N

Trump’s investment in private corporations is socialism.

Trump’s trade guy Navarro wants government control of the economy which is a socialism.

DOGE, killing the Federal Dept of Ed is capitalism.

MAGA is a mixed bag and not consistent ideologically.


11 posted on 08/04/2026 9:55:34 AM PDT by spintreebob
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To: spintreebob

Many “conservatives” are convinced now we have to run things more like China does.


12 posted on 08/04/2026 9:57:43 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: spintreebob

I don’t care who runs it, Making America Great Again means SMALL gov’t except military, and BIG indiviual freedom from Gov’t coercion.


13 posted on 08/04/2026 10:30:45 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA "by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: Jim W N

👍


14 posted on 08/04/2026 10:40:52 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Jim W N

Big DHS/ICE is not small government. Trying to micro-manage the southern border is not small government.
Big tariffs is not small government.

DOGE is small government.
Eliminating the Dept of Ed is small government.
No intervention is Ukraine is small government.

Both MAGA and the larger Republican Party have one foot on each side.


15 posted on 08/04/2026 4:39:27 PM PDT by spintreebob
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To: spintreebob

I love Donald Trump mainly because Donald Trump loves America.

But that doesn’t mean I always agree with him.

He has stood up to the Left like no one else and done things like deport millions of unwanted illegal immagrants. That is a real problem. They HAVE to be deported.

Nevertheless, truly making America great agian, something at some point Trump doesn’t seem to get, is getting rid of the 80%+ unconstitutional federal gov’t. Restoration of America’s Free Constitutional Republic is essential and is true MAGA.

The Republican Party loves gov’t THEIR way. The MAGA movement loves Trump their way.

But true MAGA is restoration of our Free Constitutional Republic and abolishing the 80%+ unconstitutional portion of the federal gov’t. The beautiful U.S. Constitution must once again be the Supreme Law of the Land. Amen

From my lips to God’s ears...


16 posted on 08/04/2026 6:12:35 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA "by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: Jim W N

“getting rid of the 80%+ unconstitutional federal gov’t. “

That has to start with congress and there is no way any of that would get through the senate.


17 posted on 08/04/2026 6:15:34 PM PDT by TexasGator (1\'1/1.1Yn.11-1i11'./1)
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To: TexasGator
I didn't say it would be easy.

It's taken 125+ years to get here and will take some time for restoration.

But it's time for the Right to have an objective. Not anti-woke or anti-Dem or anti-Left, but what were fighting FOR.

And I submit what we're fighting for is nothing less than the restoration of America's Free Constitutional Republic.

Gotta start some where. Why not here and why not now?

18 posted on 08/04/2026 6:23:03 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA "by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: Jim W N

“I didn’t say it would be easy.”

You said Trump doesn’t get it. He gets it. But it has to start in congress and there is zero chance of anything reaching Trump’s desk.


19 posted on 08/04/2026 6:27:20 PM PDT by TexasGator (1\'1/1.1Yn.11-1i11'./1)
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