Comments on: The End of Collectivism http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/ Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:50:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ed Wallis http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259763 Ed Wallis Thu, 14 May 2009 17:16:50 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259763 G. Alston #130 - Sorry, but you're wrong on your last point <I>(ethically obliged, etc etc...)</I>: http://theconservativepost.com/WordPress/?p=322 G. Alston #130 –

Sorry, but you’re wrong on your last point (ethically obliged, etc etc…):

http://theconservativepost.com/WordPress/?p=322

]]> By: geoffgo http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259647 geoffgo Thu, 14 May 2009 14:27:31 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259647 The "frog-in-the-pot" analogy fails to convey the pace of the collectivist advance. Unless we realize it's already 200 degrees and act, we'll have no further chances to save the nation. Let's instead use that most American analogy: baseball. <b>STRIKE ONE</b> On this past April 15th, a vast majority of the producing class "voluntarily" paid their taxes at the proscribed rates. Ergo, the theft of the means of production continues unabated; in fact accelerates to mind-boggling levels. IE, we're funding the <i>political class</i> to enslave US ever faster, while threatening the perps with ONLY a full-boat retirement (pension, healthcare and protection) should we be fortunate enough to unseat them. Wow, that really scares'em. How about <b>trials</b> as the goal? If this "theft" isn't worthy of criminal prosecution (with at a minimum loss of all benefits for every legislature that voted FOR the Stimulus without reading it, and long jail terms for the leaders), then nothing ever will be. I vote for refurbishing Gitmo to accommodate 1,000 of these thieves, and electing Sheriff Joe to run it. Pink jumpsuits and baloney sandwiches. No TV. But, they would be provided with the Koran, the Bible and the Constitution for their idle time reading. <b>STRIKE TWO</b> Scope. Now the gov't at all levels is equipped with laws, regulations and the sanctioned use-of-force, plus the fully-committed support of mass media and absolute control over the means of communication. With almost half the voting population (alive and dead) relying on the gov't teet? It's about all US frogs being boiled simultaneously. Congress enacted 60,000 new laws last year, and is on schedule to pass 62,000+ new laws this year. About what? Yet each restricts individual freedom, to benefit some at the expense of all US citizens. This lawmaking machine is the tool of tyranny and the enabler of political corruption. Soon the <i>producing class</i> will be more broke, more threatened, more factionalized and increasingly demoralized. Also of course, we have external enemies. <b>STRIKE THREE</b> Awaiting news of Tea Parties in this struggle to save our Republic. More people showed up for the 0ne's Coronation in WDC, than we were able to muster in 50 states; so I guess we'll just keep on being too busy working and paying taxes, and unserious about the suicidal consequences of remaining civil. The “frog-in-the-pot” analogy fails to convey the pace of the collectivist advance. Unless we realize it’s already 200 degrees and act, we’ll have no further chances to save the nation. Let’s instead use that most American analogy: baseball.

STRIKE ONE

On this past April 15th, a vast majority of the producing class “voluntarily” paid their taxes at the proscribed rates. Ergo, the theft of the means of production continues unabated; in fact accelerates to mind-boggling levels. IE, we’re funding the political class to enslave US ever faster, while threatening the perps with ONLY a full-boat retirement (pension, healthcare and protection) should we be fortunate enough to unseat them. Wow, that really scares’em.

How about trials as the goal? If this “theft” isn’t worthy of criminal prosecution (with at a minimum loss of all benefits for every legislature that voted FOR the Stimulus without reading it, and long jail terms for the leaders), then nothing ever will be. I vote for refurbishing Gitmo to accommodate 1,000 of these thieves, and electing Sheriff Joe to run it. Pink jumpsuits and baloney sandwiches. No TV. But, they would be provided with the Koran, the Bible and the Constitution for their idle time reading.

STRIKE TWO

Scope. Now the gov’t at all levels is equipped with laws, regulations and the sanctioned use-of-force, plus the fully-committed support of mass media and absolute control over the means of communication. With almost half the voting population (alive and dead) relying on the gov’t teet? It’s about all US frogs being boiled simultaneously.

Congress enacted 60,000 new laws last year, and is on schedule to pass 62,000+ new laws this year. About what? Yet each restricts individual freedom, to benefit some at the expense of all US citizens. This lawmaking machine is the tool of tyranny and the enabler of political corruption. Soon the producing class will be more broke, more threatened, more factionalized and increasingly demoralized. Also of course, we have external enemies.

STRIKE THREE

Awaiting news of Tea Parties in this struggle to save our Republic. More people showed up for the 0ne’s Coronation in WDC, than we were able to muster in 50 states; so I guess we’ll just keep on being too busy working and paying taxes, and unserious about the suicidal consequences of remaining civil.

]]> By: G Alston http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259461 G Alston Thu, 14 May 2009 06:02:08 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259461 #36 bilgeman -- <i>#26 Derek: “You might as well be in 1934 saying social security won’t work,” It doesn’t. Look at the numbers. An increasingly long-lived population of retirees and a decreasing birth-rate, coupled with the offshoring of high-paying jobs…do the math.</i> Yes... in the universe where there is no such thing as a free market to invest in, you would be right. If I can figure out how to have enough money to retire on via investments, I'm sure the government could employ someone that can do likewise. #33 -- <i>I hope he is right, but again, when 50% of the American people pay less than 4% of the income tax burden of the nation you are preparing the road to serfdom, first, for the other 50%, and eventually for all. </i> That 50/50 split is interesting given that statistically half of us are below average. Somebody has to flip the burgers and pump the gas. One could argue that ethically the upper half are obligated to carry a bigger load, given that we're our brothers keepers: society is only as good as the lowest common denominator. At one time the US was able to hide the IQ disparity with manufacturing jobs. Since the US isn't in the mfg business any more, there aren't these types of jobs to use to prop up the lower half. So for our history the upper half has in fact carried a bigger load; it wasn't necessarily in the form of taxes, but providing jobs. This wasn't called collectivism when it was done in the form of jobs, so it's not likely collectivism now, either. #36 bilgeman — #26 Derek:
“You might as well be in 1934 saying social security won’t work,”

It doesn’t. Look at the numbers. An increasingly long-lived population of retirees and a decreasing birth-rate, coupled with the offshoring of high-paying jobs…do the math.

Yes… in the universe where there is no such thing as a free market to invest in, you would be right. If I can figure out how to have enough money to retire on via investments, I’m sure the government could employ someone that can do likewise.

#33 — I hope he is right, but again, when 50% of the American people pay less than 4% of the income tax burden of the nation you are preparing the road to serfdom, first, for the other 50%, and eventually for all.

That 50/50 split is interesting given that statistically half of us are below average. Somebody has to flip the burgers and pump the gas.

One could argue that ethically the upper half are obligated to carry a bigger load, given that we’re our brothers keepers: society is only as good as the lowest common denominator. At one time the US was able to hide the IQ disparity with manufacturing jobs. Since the US isn’t in the mfg business any more, there aren’t these types of jobs to use to prop up the lower half. So for our history the upper half has in fact carried a bigger load; it wasn’t necessarily in the form of taxes, but providing jobs.

This wasn’t called collectivism when it was done in the form of jobs, so it’s not likely collectivism now, either.

]]> By: WillDoMathForFood http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259410 WillDoMathForFood Thu, 14 May 2009 02:19:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259410 The author is sort of correct in the long run - the administration's policies just can't work indefinitely, after all - but that doesn't mean that either (1) America can be saved or (2) that collectivism will ever really die. As the author points out, it should have been self-evident to even the most brain-dead collectivist after the fall of the Soviet Union that collectivism's endpoint is bankruptcy, and yet here they are - back stronger than ever, within living memory of the USSR's collapse. You just can't tell some people that there isn't a Santa Claus. And as the author also points out, America is on the path to an horrific economic crash: and that's what it will take to PROVE, even for a short time, that Santa is an illusion. The alternative is to try to reverse all of Obama's promises, and since he has promised the world to 51% of the electorate, the other 49% are going to be perceived inevitably as Scrooges taking away entitlements. I think we're hosed. But I hope I'm wrong, and the author is right, and the endgame is not catastrophe. The author is sort of correct in the long run – the administration’s policies just can’t work indefinitely, after all – but that doesn’t mean that either (1) America can be saved or (2) that collectivism will ever really die. As the author points out, it should have been self-evident to even the most brain-dead collectivist after the fall of the Soviet Union that collectivism’s endpoint is bankruptcy, and yet here they are – back stronger than ever, within living memory of the USSR’s collapse. You just can’t tell some people that there isn’t a Santa Claus. And as the author also points out, America is on the path to an horrific economic crash: and that’s what it will take to PROVE, even for a short time, that Santa is an illusion. The alternative is to try to reverse all of Obama’s promises, and since he has promised the world to 51% of the electorate, the other 49% are going to be perceived inevitably as Scrooges taking away entitlements. I think we’re hosed. But I hope I’m wrong, and the author is right, and the endgame is not catastrophe.

]]> By: Dave Goin http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259404 Dave Goin Thu, 14 May 2009 01:58:02 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259404 A Nobel Peace Prize is a surefire sign that the winner is a leftist or and idiot, probably both. A Nobel Peace Prize is a surefire sign that the winner is a leftist or and idiot, probably both.

]]> By: Oakley http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259396 Oakley Thu, 14 May 2009 01:26:22 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259396 "The financial crisis is now understood as a symptom of a larger problem of government ineptitude and outright corruption." This quote says it all..., but really, how many Americans are paying attention to what is going on? It seems to me the ones who voted for "THE ONE" are still totally enamored with him (including the lapdog press). “The financial crisis is now understood as a symptom of a larger problem of government ineptitude and outright corruption.”

This quote says it all…, but really, how many Americans are paying attention to what is going on? It seems to me the ones who voted for “THE ONE” are still totally enamored with him (including the lapdog press).

]]> By: tanstaafl http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-259152 tanstaafl Wed, 13 May 2009 16:07:07 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-259152 <i>In each of these (collectivist) varieties, autocrats make and enforce their judgments in the name of the greater good. “Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of emergency.” ...(this) president ("only the federal government can fix the crisis") has to rely on the economic emergency for his march to collectivism.</i> I've never known of an advancer of collectivism (from the Soviets to any in America's current crowd of Progressives) who themselves lived the ideology they espouse. Collectivism is never an ideal met or lived by its proponents, but, simply and merely, a device for asserting power and control over "the masses". It is the ultimate "do as I say, not as I do" statement. The real target of collectivism is individual freedom and liberty. In each of these (collectivist) varieties, autocrats make and enforce their judgments in the name of the greater good. “Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of emergency.” …(this) president (“only the federal government can fix the crisis”) has to rely on the economic emergency for his march to collectivism.

I’ve never known of an advancer of collectivism (from the Soviets to any in America’s current crowd of Progressives) who themselves lived the ideology they espouse. Collectivism is never an ideal met or lived by its proponents, but, simply and merely, a device for asserting power and control over “the masses”. It is the ultimate “do as I say, not as I do” statement.

The real target of collectivism is individual freedom and liberty.

]]> By: sbourg55 http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-258993 sbourg55 Wed, 13 May 2009 11:10:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-258993 Very good. Yes, Obama/Pelosi are in a difficult situation.........but the MSM will try to pull them through no matter what. Let's just hope that the economy tanking for another 8 months will dampen Obama's efforts to get more and more dangerous "reform" for our economy. "Health-care for all" would be another huge nail in the coffin for our economy's chances for revitalization. Unfortunately, Obama wants to grow govt more than he wants to grow the private sector (which supports govt). What a dangerous semi-socialist idealogue he is! Very good. Yes, Obama/Pelosi are in a difficult situation………but the MSM will try to pull them through no matter what. Let’s just hope that the economy tanking for another 8 months will dampen Obama’s efforts to get more and more dangerous “reform” for our economy. “Health-care for all” would be another huge nail in the coffin for our economy’s chances for revitalization. Unfortunately, Obama wants to grow govt more than he wants to grow the private sector (which supports govt). What a dangerous semi-socialist idealogue he is!

]]> By: michael Reynolds http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-258930 michael Reynolds Wed, 13 May 2009 05:12:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-258930 #114 Sheila: Plus they were both basically good-looking men. But I don't think Mussolini could sink a three pointer. #114
Sheila:
Plus they were both basically good-looking men. But I don’t think Mussolini could sink a three pointer.

]]> By: Greenknight http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-end-of-collectivism/#comment-258919 Greenknight Wed, 13 May 2009 04:44:26 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=55594#comment-258919 Dispite my bloging other places about the collectivists in power, the democrats do some things right and Republicans do somethings wrong. Saddly, our new President has been set up for failure. This is unless his plans were all along to take over the System and declare himself the head of a statist totalitarian regime. The collectivists are going to do everything they can as soon as they can to unlevel the playing field. Will it be enough to stay in power for them? As exibit A, I give you Rahm Emanuel and the GPS census now being carried out by ACORN ( Are they really involved to such a great degree?), etc. for jerrymandering the congressional districts before 2010. I live in Massachusetts, and the GOP is a joke here and we live in a one party system, but that is no matter. I suggest everyone get out and campaign for your favorite conservative candidate next election. I am a registed independent, yet last election, I contributed, campaigned and voted for John McCain. If you want to curtail the Liberal Collectivists Moobattery, then you must do the same. Pray of President Obama and ask God to guide him to do the right thing for all Americans. I think he may be a decent man at heart, but he just grew up saturated by Marxism. Dispite my bloging other places about the collectivists in power, the democrats do some things right and Republicans do somethings wrong. Saddly, our new President has been set up for failure. This is unless his plans were all along to take over the System and declare himself the head of a statist totalitarian regime. The collectivists are going to do everything they can as soon as they can to unlevel the playing field. Will it be enough to stay in power for them? As exibit A, I give you Rahm Emanuel and the GPS census now being carried out by ACORN ( Are they really involved to such a great degree?), etc. for jerrymandering the congressional districts before 2010. I live in Massachusetts, and the GOP is a joke here and we live in a one party system, but that is no matter. I suggest everyone get out and campaign for your favorite conservative candidate next election. I am a registed independent, yet last election, I contributed, campaigned and voted for John McCain. If you want to curtail the Liberal Collectivists Moobattery, then you must do the same. Pray of President Obama and ask God to guide him to do the right thing for all Americans. I think he may be a decent man at heart, but he just grew up saturated by Marxism.

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