[Drammach]

Where would we be if Karl Marx had never been born?
If there had never been any socialism?

Just my personal opinion, but I think this would have been a better world these last 100 years..

[The Raven]

>>Where would we be if Karl Marx had never been born?

Probably started with the French Revolution - at least that's the genesis of the modern Democrats (me thinks)

[RAY]

What happens if a "democratic" society simply keeps electing those that enact more and more social benefits? When does this become socialism? Is it possible, if it remains to the vote of the masses, socialism is inevitable - and, as always, followed by its inevitable failure?

Most, I understand, of the socialistic countries of Europe have very high tax rates (70%+) and are bankrupt.

[starfish923]

Where would we be if Karl Marx had never been born? If there had never been any socialism? Just my personal opinion, but I think this would have been a better world these last 100 years.

That's my opinion too.
Imagine Russia without the likes of Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin, with no Mao, Vietnam war, Castro (no Elian Gonzalez and family!), no Berlin wall, no Iron Curtain.
So MUCH of the entire planet suffered because of Marx's idea and those who adopted it.

Marx missed the whole point. He really believed that the middle/upper classes were so devoid of morality that they would NEVER help their brethern in need. He obviously didn't think much of their ability to embrace Chrisitan values.
He also believed that the working class was too stupid and devoid of backbone to help itself. It wasn't. It even unionized and made life better for itself.

Yes, his idea SHOULD have been an anathema. Too bad so many morons athiests people embraced it. Many Americans embraced it. The Communist Party WAS part and parcel of the Democrat party for a long time. Secularism masked the athiesm and hatred for our own Christian values.

[CyberAnt]

But .. there has always been good and evil in the world.

And .. GOD has always raised up a remnant who will defend GOD's ideals of freedom and democracy. While humans cannot produce perfection .. we at least try to make things better for people.

[CGVet58]

If not Marx, another would have risen up with the same idea.

You could make a point that the french revolution - in following the Rousseau model that claims Man does not need God and can perfect himself through reason and logic - is the starting point for all the "isms" that have come from that day to this. They all have two things in common: they all believe Man is master of his destiny (while denying God), and they all view the West (with our tenets based on individual freedom and inalienable rights which come from that same God they refute) as the enemy.

The struggle between the forces of freedom and the cloud of tyranny has been going on since time began - this is just the most recent page.