The Monster’s Head: A Historical Tour of Socialism

Real Clear History ^ | October 26, 2026 | Jim Stemple

[artichokegrower]

The flaw in socialism is both obvious and fatal. Because while socialism produces, ships, and sells nothing, it still assumes that these economic systems will continue functioning at consistently high levels in order to continue distributing the funds it desires to those it chooses.

Wish my California neighbors would read this

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TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS:

[artichokegrower]

Economic systems consist of operational structures for production (farms, factories, etc.), distribution (trucking, shipping, trains, as examples), and consumption (wholesale and retail outlets).

Socialism, on the other hand, offers none of these, because, as stated, it is not an economic system. Socialism is the idea of taking (or taxing) producers, distributers, retailers, and well-to-do individuals at exorbitant rates in order to redistribute their earnings to classes that are considered aggrieved.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Sicon]

Americans apparently don’t understand that small business and free enterprise are capitalistic endeavors, which suggests they don’t truly understand what capitalism even is. Which raises another question: Do Americans really understand socialism, either?

No, they do not, and that is by design. Our educational system, along with plenty of lying politicians and propagandist media, have done everything possible to muddy the waters.

[mjp]

people who want the unearned and undeserved want socialism

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Economics is a unique social science. There are elements that are based in philosophy - Karl Marx actually relies heavily on Adam Smith for the Labor Theory of Value. Smith, in turn, relies heavily on John Locke and it goes on and on through philosophical history. But there also is a very practical component that allows for testing. Hence, you get those who live in fantasyland of high philosophy espousing what “should” be with Socialism. And you have the practical economic reality that can be tested. And, lo and behold, it has been tested on a massive scale as Communism was imposed on certain countries and what passed for Capitalism was allowed in certain countries. Which counties became wealthy? Capitalist countries 100% of the time. There are hundreds of examples but some of the best are Hong Kong under the UK vs. Red China. North and South Korea. West and East Germany. But today, you see how Socialism retards the Western counties that have it. Canada and the UK have fallen further and further behind the US in terms of standard of living. Poland has leapt above Western European counties in terms of standard of living. But will the Socialists learn? No.

[No name given]

That’s because those people had awful parents who mollycoddled them from birth.

[Gritty]

Socialism is based on the violation the Biblical 10th Commandment. It is "envy" and the forced stealing of your neighbor's property but by governmental force rather than individual effort.

It is a secondhand crime done via the force of government for the "common good" - which is never common nor good. It enriches the envious rulers who wield the power of the government system over the labor and property rights of the individual. The method salves the conscience of covetous individuals wanting to profit from it but to do it "legally" through government force and "legal" means instead of individually or in the dark of night.

It is theft disguised as charity, equitability, or justice. It is simply another type of sin: theft through force disguised as a "social good".

[castlebrew]

"Socialism is the idea of taking (or taxing) producers, distributers, retailers, and well-to-do individuals at exorbitant rates in order to redistribute their earnings to classes that are suitable as constituencies to put and keep the socialists in power considered aggrieved."

Seizing, maintaining, and retaining power by the few over the individual is the driving force of socialism.

[frog in a pot]

Seizing, maintaining, and retaining power by the few over the individual is the driving force of socialism.

See for instance, the well-paid multibillionaire ruler of North Korea and his family.

[joshua c]

its not a flaw

it is the goal

socialism like all collectivist systems

makes the state primary

the socialist leaders know this and want this

they hold out the socialism carrots to the socialist suckers

to get them to go along

until the cell door is slammed shut(state has total control)

and they are slaves to the state