Posted on 02/05/2020 5:28:56 AM PST by karpov
Socialist Bernie Sanders’s emergence as a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination is puzzling to many of us who have experienced socialism. We thought it dead—good riddance—when the Soviet empire collapsed 30 years ago. Our mistake.
One can only assume that the hardships endured by many millions of Russians, Chinese, Africans and Europeans have been forgotten, or never learned, by a new generation of Democratic voters. Mr. Sanders says he is a “democratic socialist,” whereas those unfortunates of the past were ruled by “communists.” He’s right that there are wide differences in degree. But although the postwar British Labour Party was freely elected, it brought Brits a more limited degree of the economic stagnation that afflicted the people of the undemocratic Soviet Union and its satellites.
For Mr. Sanders’s followers, the realities of 20th-century socialism have apparently been lost down the memory hole. What remains is the delusion, long embraced by theorists, that socialism is a morally superior system of governance, which fosters equality and compassion by transferring wealth from the rich to the poor— Robin Hood government. The reality has been tested by many millions, and found to be detestable. Government ownership destroys production.
Mr. Sanders’s pitch attracts idealistic young people, who draw an additional impetus from the natural rebelliousness of youth.
And millennials fear, for good reason, that they may not enjoy the financial security their elders do. But this danger has been foisted on them not by private capitalism but by proto-socialist policy excesses that already put the future viability of welfare-state benefits in doubt. It was Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress that expanded student lending, inviting young people to run up much of today’s $1.5 trillion in college debt.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Barney Frank has praised Castro and Chavez. He’s a Communist and not even a moderate one.
Didn’t bernie say something about legalizing marijuana the first day he was in office? what is actually wrong with this dude. his life has been fails, with him not doing anything but be an annoyance in politics. even his wife is a failure, that her school had went bankrupt.
Not paying to read, although I wouldn’t mind
“One taste...
Is never enough
of The Stuff!”
Socialism is far from the only previously discarded/discredited ideology that has recently been eagerly fished back out of the sewers, and “rescued”: given a bath, a shave, and a new coat of paint. There are plenty of others too.
young idiots are attracted
“””””””Didn’t bernie say something about legalizing marijuana the first day he was in office? “”””””””””
I agree with Bernie on this one. If I am going to be oppressed
and broke I will want to be stoned all the time.
its the 21st century. Practically, economically and ideologically socialism, which is merely a front for communism, belongs in the ash heap of history. It is not a liberating force for human freedom in any way shape or form
Anyone notice that it’s always young people from which the prophets of socialism get their power? Life is “hawrd”, and it was so easy when you lived with mom and dad.
Whoever wins the Rat nomination Trump is going to tear them a new one. Right now it looks like either Burny or Buttwipe. It’s going to be a worse defeat than McGovern in 72. When sane rational people see the plans that these commies have in store for America,they’ll pull the lever for Trump. So now while its obvious that the Rats are going to lose get out there and don’t be shy about your support for our President. Cook while the oven is hot.
“...Mr. Sanders says he is a “democratic socialist,” whereas those unfortunates of the past were ruled by “communists....”
A Socialist is nothing more than a communist that hasn’t decided to use his AK47 yet.
They always get around to it eventually, though... the first time someone says “No” to them.
Too bad for them that here, we can shoot back. And will.
These young kids don’t really want Socialism. They want a handout paid for by someone else. That’s what they all mean, including the Dems. Gimme gimme gimme and make “the rich” pay for it.
Good point——or a Commie who ran out of ammo.
“Anyone notice that it’s always young people from which the prophets of socialism get their power?”
The Obama years were harder for young people graduating from college and high school. They did not immediately get good jobs like than can now and they got propagandized by the Obama rhetoric for 8 years. And then they were convinced they should get free healthcare and the country should pay for their college loans because of all the rich billionaires’ money out there. Why didn’t their parents tell them that most people used to work their way through college?
“...a Commie who ran out of ammo....”
Ironically, ammo seems to be the ONLY thing the bastards never run short of.
The only thing socialists have EVER been good is spreading misery and death.
That’s the DEM way. Produce more hardship. Offer up solutions for the hardship. Create new hardships with the so-called solutions. Rinse and repeat.
It was obvious to me, wearing virginal white, Pelosi got royally screwed
What remains is the delusion, long embraced by theorists, that socialism is a morally superior system of governance, which fosters equality and compassion by transferring wealth from the rich to the poor— Robin Hood government.
+++++
That’s Step 1. Step 2 is a bit more severe. That happens when the rich have all joined the ranks of the poor and there is nothing left to redistribute.
And Step 3, when the wealth has been accumulated by the political class and the rulers, involves death sentences for anyone who objects to this cruel system.
No thanks Bernie.
Pay to read?! Yeah right. I’m sure the article is factual and best of all...written from experience.
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