Whenever I talk to people about socialism, I always used to say that socialism might work on a small scale. Recently I decided that I need to change that statement after reading some things about it. So far there has been no instance that I know of that socialism has been implemented and has been successful in the long term.
The thing that I read was about the Pilgrims when they first got to America. I read it in the book See, I told you so by Rush Limbaugh.
“The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well.” Source: Rush Limbaugh, See, I Told You So, pg.70
“[William] Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first hard winter, that had taken so many lives. He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace.”
Source: Rush Limbaugh, See, I Told You So, pg.71
[From William Bradford’s writings] “ for this community was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense… that was thought injustice.” Source: Rush Limbaugh, See, I Told You So, pg.71
So my statement about socialism working on a small scale is false. The Pilgrims tried it and quickly realized that it does not work. That was the small scale that I was thinking about, less than 1,000 people.
So Why Do People Want Socialism?
I suppose the reasons that people are fascinated with trying to implement socialism here in America is because of the “equality” factor. The equality that socialism offers is that of being poor and not having anything at all. If people realize this then they probably wouldn’t want socialism.
Equality in America is probably the best in the world. Everyone has the opportunity to make whatever they want of themselves. If someone wants to be a business owner they can work hard and achieve their dreams. If someone wants to be a bum, well then all they have to do is not work. Work hard to achieve your dreams. Everyone has the same opportunity to make it in America. If you do not believe this then your priorities are out of line. In the United States there are more Rags-to-Riches stories than anywhere else in the world.
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I still have yet to figure out why anyone would just hand over their life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to the government. All governments are a necessary evil, but giving it more authority than it needs to do its job is beyond me.
Socialism is a BROKEN THEORY
