Comments on: Fending Off the Egalitarian Impulses of the Socialist State http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/ Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:44:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-404698 Anonymous Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:50:50 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-404698 Using socialism very casually? Well, that's actually what socialists (a.k.a. commies) do until they have enough power to redistribute your property and throw you in the gulag. Using socialism very casually? Well, that’s actually what socialists (a.k.a. commies) do until they have enough power to redistribute your property and throw you in the gulag.

]]> By: Rhoderick Gates http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-403116 Rhoderick Gates Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:35:24 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-403116 Sir, you're using socialism very casually. And appear to mean state intervention. That's a ludicrous use, as well as deceptive Sir, you’re using socialism very casually. And appear to mean state intervention. That’s a ludicrous use, as well as deceptive

]]> By: Pervy Grin http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402620 Pervy Grin Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:37:14 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402620 <i>Yet, despite this reality, socialism is a persistent idea. My suspicion is that socialism is related to the belief that most people think they can be free-riders; they can get something for nothing by taking from the rich./<i> The losers and dysfunctional will always want to take what the successful have. Yet, despite this reality, socialism is a persistent idea. My suspicion is that socialism is related to the belief that most people think they can be free-riders; they can get something for nothing by taking from the rich./

The losers and dysfunctional will always want to take what the successful have.

]]> By: ray_g http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402518 ray_g Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:20:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402518 Socialism persists because it appeals to three groups. (A) the naive idealist, ("from each according to his ability, to each according to his need") (B) the envious and jealous, (class warfare, redistribution of weath) (C) those who want power for power's sake (they assume they will be at or near the top of the power structure of the resulting totalitarian state) Seperately these groups may be small, but together they can often have a majority of votes. Socialism persists because it appeals to three groups. (A) the naive idealist, (“from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”)
(B) the envious and jealous, (class warfare, redistribution of weath)
(C) those who want power for power’s sake (they assume they will be at or near the top of the power structure of the resulting totalitarian state)

Seperately these groups may be small, but together they can often have a majority of votes.

]]> By: Bernard Chapin http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402320 Bernard Chapin Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:55:16 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402320 Outstanding article Outstanding article

]]> By: Freedom Now http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402197 Freedom Now Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:04:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402197 It puzzles me that some people are confused about how Socialism can continue to be so popular. The poor will always have anger that can be manipulated by an elitist upper class of self-professed revolutionaries and populists. Remember that any Socialist society always has party bosses who steer the means of production into their own hands and/or secure their political positions by "speaking in the name of the people", channeling the anger of the poor to serve their own interests. As long as hate and envy remain powerful tools, Socialists will continue to use harness them to advance their political agenda... It puzzles me that some people are confused about how Socialism can continue to be so popular.

The poor will always have anger that can be manipulated by an elitist upper class of self-professed revolutionaries and populists.

Remember that any Socialist society always has party bosses who steer the means of production into their own hands and/or secure their political positions by “speaking in the name of the people”, channeling the anger of the poor to serve their own interests.

As long as hate and envy remain powerful tools, Socialists will continue to use harness them to advance their political agenda…

]]> By: imaCapitalist2 http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402165 imaCapitalist2 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:45:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402165 Competition strengthens and inspires innovation. Socialism inspires mediocrity and dependence. Capitalism is not evil or perfect but its mother's milk for me. Competition strengthens and inspires innovation. Socialism inspires mediocrity and dependence. Capitalism is not evil or perfect but its mother’s milk for me.

]]> By: Greying Wanderer http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402069 Greying Wanderer Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:36:30 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402069 You can't enforce equality without a totalitarian state. Marxists want a totalitarian state with them in charge. The championing of equality makes for a perfectly camouflaged and seemingly moral vehicle for what they want. There are also many similar but more diluted versions of the marxist line where various divisions within society can be exploited by individuals to enrich themselves. The divisions may exist in reality but the exploiters are only in it for personal gain and *require* those divisions to not be healed. Chicago marxism. Last but not least are decent people who think social considerations should be part of policy decisions but who have varying degrees of common sense. They're not all evil - but some most definitely and absolutely are. You can’t enforce equality without a totalitarian state. Marxists want a totalitarian state with them in charge. The championing of equality makes for a perfectly camouflaged and seemingly moral vehicle for what they want.

There are also many similar but more diluted versions of the marxist line where various divisions within society can be exploited by individuals to enrich themselves. The divisions may exist in reality but the exploiters are only in it for personal gain and *require* those divisions to not be healed. Chicago marxism.

Last but not least are decent people who think social considerations should be part of policy decisions but who have varying degrees of common sense.

They’re not all evil – but some most definitely and absolutely are.

]]> By: venividivici http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402005 venividivici Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:44:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402005 11 When I was in my Ph.D. program, I read an essay that pointed out that the most important question to ask yourself, if you are an aspiring academic, is "Can I picture myself working with people like this the rest of my life?" When the answer turned out to be "F*ck no!", I knew it was time to move on. Best decision I ever made. 11

When I was in my Ph.D. program, I read an essay that pointed out that the most important question to ask yourself, if you are an aspiring academic, is “Can I picture myself working with people like this the rest of my life?” When the answer turned out to be “F*ck no!”, I knew it was time to move on. Best decision I ever made.

]]> By: Lourep http://pjmedia.com/blog/fending-off-the-egalitarian-impulses-of-the-socialist-state/#comment-402002 Lourep Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:38:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=67275#comment-402002 Perhaps this topic might be expanded further to investigate why and at what point societies fall for the "egalitarian" socialist view. It seems that the rise and popularity of this view closely parallels the decline of ethics, of integrity and honor within our society. Our governments at all levels, our banks and businesses, are perceived as "on the take" and corrupt. We no longer seem able to even discuss ethical behavior, the honorable and right thing to do, or criticize actions based on those values. People gravitate to socialism when a capitalistic society's corruption becomes so egregious that it reaches deeply into the lives of its people. Perhaps this topic might be expanded further to investigate why and at what point societies fall for the “egalitarian” socialist view. It seems that the rise and popularity of this view closely parallels the decline of ethics, of integrity and honor within our society. Our governments at all levels, our banks and businesses, are perceived as “on the take” and corrupt. We no longer seem able to even discuss ethical behavior, the honorable and right thing to do, or criticize actions based on those values. People gravitate to socialism when a capitalistic society’s corruption becomes so egregious that it reaches deeply into the lives of its people.

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