I’m making a stand. Unfortunately, I do not see reason to have much faith in my fellow citizens to do the same.
Ultimately, America’s success has bred complacency in its people. Our freedom has enabled an insidious scourge to take hold and corrupt the very meaning of freedom, as well as to confuse the clarity of our Constitution. A large number of American people are ever willing to give up their freedom for handouts. They are morons, and dare I say they will deserve what they receive in return.
Venerable theories of human psychology and behavior are consistent with your argument. If you satisfy the wants of someone, they have little motivation to pursue something more. Similarly, they have little motivation to defend the loss os something that isn’t an active need at that moment.
A lot of motivation for the masses comes from dislike for people not like them. Hence, politicians tell them it is the “wealthy” whom they will punish and they, the little people, will be given presents. The little people don’t notice that the politician is wealthy and is supported by very wealthy people who in reality want to acquire power and see the little people’s envy and shallow interpretations of the world as an opportunity.
Unfortunately, I think it is not so much “they” who will reap the pain of their indifference. It will be borne by those of us who have worked hard to build something of our lives. For example, take Cuba after 1959—those who were successful were driven out and saw their property confiscated. The little people became “littler” and have never recovered. Take China during the Cultural Revolution—the learned (most highly respected in the Chinese culture) were brought down to the level of laborers, or worse. The same for Cambodia under the Red Guard. Look to Russia after 1917, and look at the erasure of accomplishment and industriousness. Socialism has always pressed down on the best and soaked the masses in misery. Always. Can you name an example of socialism raising up the people? I cannot.
My question is, “How hard will a socialist government press down on the achievers and individualists to achieve a homogenous socialist society? Does socialism always result in violence to the people? Are threats enough? Will property confiscation through higher taxes and reduced control over personal property be enough? Will squelching of voices of freedom or differences of opinion be enough? All of these things seem inherent in socialist practice. Do you think these things will greet us in the new socialist society. We are already starting to see the first attempts.