What is Left of Socialism

First Things ^ | October 2002 | Leszek Kolakowski

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[PatrickHenry]

Fraternity under compulsion is the most malignant idea devised in modern times; it is a perfect path to totalitarian tyranny. Socialism in this sense is tantamount to a kingdom of lies.

One could have a whole thread devoted to that.

[John Valentine]

Tom Sowell has trenchantly pointed out that ALL justice is social, for justice can have no relevance for a castaway on a desert island.

Adding the term "social" to "justice" to form a coupound phrase can only have a propaganidstic intent, since it can add nothing to the meaning already inherent in the single word - justice.

[beckett]

Second, he predicted not only the relative but also the absolute impoverishment of the working class. This prediction was already wrong in his lifetime.

For an excellent review of how the failed prediction of the impoverishment, or "immiseration," of the working class morphed into a Leftist claim of a "causal connection" between the success of advanced capitalist countries and the misery and poverty in the Third World, check out the article by Len Harris (author of the highly praised Al-Qaeda's Fantasy Ideolgy) in the current issue of Policy Review, The Intellectual Origins of America-Bashing.

And as a tonic and counterweight to Marxist delusions, Andrew Sullivan delivers a masterful lecture on the subject of his PhD dissertation, Michael Oakeshott, which asserts the value of skepticism in the face of all claims of perfection and certainty in politics and governance.

[LogicWings]

I hate to raise a contrary aspect to this issue but if you run an AltaVista search for 'social justice' the first 20 hits are almost all Catholic. Socialism may be dead or dying, but altruism is alive and well.

[Cicero]

Sometimes I find the laissez-faire arguments a little cold. But I'm inclined to agree that it's better to do charitable work through churches and voluntary organizations. Someone has to help people who are genuinely in trouble, widows and orphans, the sick and the old. I suppose no system is perfect. I was a little troubled by that part of the article too, but the critique of Marxism is right on.

[Cicero]

Catholic social justice is something I admire in theory, but the bishops sometimes seem to confuse proper charity with support of a corrupt welfare system.

Institutions like the Catholic schools and hospital systems are a real plus. Nothing is perfect, but the country would be a lot worse off without them.

[LogicWings]

Catholic social justice is something I admire in theory, but the bishops sometimes seem to confuse proper charity with support of a corrupt welfare system.

Yes, exactly. Sometimes they lose me altogether. I made this point elsewhere, so if it is redundant . . sorry

In the mid-1990s welfare reform was poised to take hold, the Bishops opposed it on the grounds that, if young girls couldn't get welfare they 'might' resort to abortion, so welfare reform was opposed on the basis of the possible increase of abortion. I have the priviledge of having my slavery increased (which is how I view welfare) because it 'might' increase something the bishops oppose, but I have no problem with.

Fortunately they were wrong on both counts. Without the incentive of welfare girls refrained from getting pregnant quite so easily and both pregnancies and abortions decreased. Doesn't matter what you call altruism, at heart it is the sacrifice of the individual to the ideals of those that claim to represent the collective.

Institutions like the Catholic schools and hospital systems are a real plus. Nothing is perfect, but the country would be a lot worse off without them.

Hypothesis Contrary to Fact. Maybe the country would have been better off without them because we would have been able to create better capitalistic systems in their place. We will never know.

[Capitalist Eric]

For the hell of it, what course is she teaching?

"Culture and Political Economies." Basically a class that looks at how capitalism changes different cultures, as they adapt to the modern world.

Funny thing- as an Economics student (finishing my BS in March), it is clear that she doesn't understand anything about economics, even though she's obviously had some of the basic courses...

My term paper basically states that those who, when they have the opportunity to invest in themselves with the money they make in a job or industry, prospers. Those who chase the easy money invariably fall flat on their faces, when the money dries up due to economic downturns in obsolescence... This applies across the board, from individuals to nations.

Bottom line is, your circumstances are dictated by the choices you make. Of course, she doesn't buy it- it's all the fault of evil, angry white males (like me)....

[thucydides]

One of the problems with the welfare state is that it has simply pre-empted much private activity. We all think of groups like Elk's Clubs, Mechanic's Clubs, and the like as purely social, but at one time they were private beneficial associations where workers provided for their own unemployment, health, and survivors insurance. They worked well, because there wasn't the moral hazard associated with welfare - workers knew who was needy among themselves, and no worker would think of cheating on his friends. No goldbricking would be tolerated, and people in trouble would get help and pressure to straighten themselves out, where needed. This sort of thing survives here and there, for example, among the Mormons. However, the use of the state to address welfare issues has enabled politicians to create huge patronage operations, reaping political contributions and support, and allowing the average citizen to shrug off any sense of obligation to help others - why bother when you can leave it to government?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

QUESTION: "What is left of Socialism?"

ANSWER: Actual and total control of what is left of Western Civilization.