We’e had discussions with folks that have lived under real Socialism – almost all immigrated from the former Eastern Bloc countries. In each and every case, they just could not understand HOW and WHY native Americans can even think about wanting Socialism. They understand, all too well, that the blitherings of this doddering (but unrepentant) Socialist has no clue what happens to the people who are forced to live under a centrally planned and coercive State (which demands ALL is for The State) that treats its people as mere objects. They understand that the rhetoric spewed by their countries was mere propaganda – but certainly appealed to those that hold the idea that it was truth – the Utopia promised by Marx and his ilk had come to fruition. Our friends knew the real truth.
Like Gary Kasparov – former Soviet Union citizen and world champion chessmaster:
I’m enjoying the irony of American Sanders supporters lecturing me, a former Soviet citizen, on the glories of Socialism and what it really means! Socialism sounds great in speech soundbites and on Facebook, but please
keep it there. In practice, it corrodes not only the economy but the human spirit itself, and the ambition and achievement that made modern capitalism possible and brought billions of people out of poverty. Talking about Socialism is a huge luxury, a luxury that was paid for by the successes of capitalism. Income inequality is a huge problem, absolutely. But the idea that the solution is more government, more regulation, more debt, and less risk is dangerously absurd.
There is a cost to “free stuff” – TAANSTAFFL – and the price to play Socialism is Freedom. Always. For to carry out the Progressives mantra that TRUE Freedom is “freedom from want” it must be that Government MUST take stuff from others. Which means that Freedom is diminished from those that are “asked” to contribute more. Yeah, like this.
And folks like Bernie never ever admit to that. Instead, Bernie just makes them scapegoats.