Albert Einstein on socialism (1 Viewer)

[Moderate71]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

 

[bearpoker]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

What were Einstein's credentials in the field of economics?

 

[Tim the plumber]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

Well, he got that 90% wrong.

 

[Moderate71]

What were Einstein's credentials in the field of economics?

I'll try to find a link. I believe I have read that he was awarded an honorary degree in the history of economics. I believe he was actually given awards and honorary titles in many fields by people who admired him greatly.

 

[WillyPete]

Well, he got that 90% wrong.

Out of curiosity, which 10% do you agree with?

 

[Skeptic Bob]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever

Only one of those things is accurate.

 

[bearpoker]

I'll try to find a link. I believe I have read that he was awarded an honorary degree in the history of economics. I believe he was actually given awards and honorary titles in many fields by people who admired him greatly.

Hate to break it to you, but an honorary degree hardly qualifies him as a great economist.

 

[WCH]

He wanted a Democratic one world government also. Is he related to Soros?

 

[WCH]

Albert Einstein said after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945: "The secret of the bomb should be committed to a World Government and the U.S.A. should announce its readiness to give it to a World Government."

 

[Luckyone]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

One thing that needs to be explained is that Socialism is not the same as Communism. Socialism does work if done correctly. Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand are good examples of Socialist countries that are doing well and the people have high standards of life, both economically and emotionally, as well as high degree of happiness.

 

[Luckyone]

Well, he got that 90% wrong.

Tell me, Tim the Plumber, who are you to make such a determination?

Do you know more about economics than Einstein?

 

[jnug]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

With all due respect to Einstein, he is just flat wrong. Socialism does not eliminate the issues he expresses about Capitalism in his quote. At best, they are mitigated...maybe slightly redirected if only slightly in many if not most practical applications of Socialism.

Capitalist economies do have the issue of allowing business to leak into the areas of purview and domains that rightfully belong to the State. In this Constitutional Republic there are responsibilities that are the domain of the Individual and others that are the responsibility of the State be it the Federal Government, State or Local Governments. We end up allowing all sorts of nonsensical system mutations to come in through the back door when we ignore that very simple foundational principle. Most of those mutations are made up of some sort of nonsensical business activity.

I have posted in another thread that a single payer healthcare system is entirely in keeping within the spirit of a Capitalist System and a Constitutional Republic. It is as much or as little "Socialism" as National Defense being within the domain and purview of the Federal Government.

IMO, Einstein is just wrong. But then again, he is a theorist. I can see a theorist concluding that there is some utopian theoretical solution for what is often just plain old human nature.

 

[Tim the plumber]

Out of curiosity, which 10% do you agree with?

That there is a role, a small one, for central planning of the economy.

 

[Tim the plumber]

Tell me, Tim the Plumber, who are you to make such a determination?

Do you know more about economics than Einstein?

Apparently.

 

[Thoreau72]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

Albert was just too damn smart and perceptive for his own good.

I cannot help but wonder if this is another of those cases of speaking the truth in a time of universal deception.

 

[SonOfDaedalus]

This whole issue has been long settled both pure capitalism and pure socialism have utterly failed. Capitalism failed at the beginning of the 20th century when government was forced to step in in the US and socialist revolutions exploded around the world due to the horrors of naked capitalism.

What we have now are mixed economies.

Einstein is not wrong. It’s just that pure socialism is currently impractical. In the long run it’s inevitable that we’ll have a post scarcity socialist world government.


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[Anarchon]

This is evidence of how human intelligence can be compartmentalized, nothing more.

 

[jnug]

This whole issue has been long settled both pure capitalism and pure socialism have utterly failed. Capitalism failed at the beginning of the 20th century when government was forced to step in in the US and socialist revolutions exploded around the world due to the horrors of naked capitalism.

What we have now are mixed economies.

Einstein is not wrong. It’s just that pure socialism is currently impractical. In the long run it’s inevitable that we’ll have a post scarcity socialist world government.


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Now that is a fantasy. So scarcity will eliminate or even mitigate greed and selfishness.....Ah-huh

The only way that comes to pass is a cataclysmic event or phenomenon that takes the whole planet down at once. After that....who cares really. It is an entirely different world at that point where none of what we know currently as life on this planet survives. At that point, who really cares what the survivors devise. But even with that, if you are thinking, greed and selfishness dies......good luck with that one.

 

[DarkWizard12]

Tell me, Tim the Plumber, who are you to make such a determination?

Do you know more about economics than Einstein?

A lot of people know more about economics than einstein. He has earned no qualification in it. He was an astrophysicist, not an economist.

 

[apdst]

What were Einstein's credentials in the field of economics?

When Einstein bashed nationalism you people hailed him as a hero.

 

[Luckyone]

Apparently.

I do like people that have confidence! Then again, at some point you do have to prove you know more than Einstein. Prove it.

 

[ataraxia]

He wanted a Democratic one world government also. Is he related to Soros?

I am curious: what's wrong with a democratic one world government? Actually sounds like a great idea to me.

Right now, we have a small global village, and its shrinking more and more as technology advances and economies become ever more inter-dependent. But it's a village without a sheriff. Every village, town, neighborhood, workplace, etc... needs a set of clearly written rules, a means of enforcing them, and consequences for not doing so, ie, a system of government. Otherwise it's just dysfunctional. If you like the idea of law and order, an international federation of government to oversee and enforce international law, treaties, extraditions, etc... seems to be absolutely necessary.

It will also be good for business. Business does not do well with geopolitical instability and lawlessness. Think if there was one central, democratically elected international body with means of law enforcement, and then all the nations could divert all the resources they are pouring into national defense and ever more lethal weapons of mass destruction, to things like scientific research, space exploration, biomedical research like cancer and Alzheimer's disease, education of their citizens, vaccinations for all children, etc, etc....

An elected international government, with an internal system of checks and balances like the US federal government. A UN with teeth and actual law enforcement capability. It just sounds like an idea whose time has come. Not sure why it's such an evil idea.

As always, Einstein may have the last laugh yet.

 

[Luckyone]

A lot of people know more about economics than einstein. He has earned no qualification in it. He was an astrophysicist, not an economist.

I don't doubt that, but the question is whether Tim the Plummer knows more than Einstein or not.

You need to follow the thread before you opine.

 

[WillyPete]

The problem is, as always, human nature. Einstein had no solution for that.

He was able to rise above his own, but it's not the sort of thing that is easily taught or learned.

We'll stay Capitalist (I believe it's instinctual) until a crisis forces us to cooperate, and then we'll turn on each other again the moment it passes.

Socialism and Communism simply don't scale well beyond the small village level.

 

[Moderate Right]

One of the greatest scientists, economists, and political historians ever, Albert Einstein, had the following to say about capitalism and socialism.

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future."

"Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion."

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

Guess Einstein would have to re-evaluate if he were to see the socialist economies of today, such as Venezuela. Trouble is, whenever you have socialist economies they are always coupled with dicatatorships and these socialist economies are ALWAYS a disaster. There's never been one that hasn't. Trying to start a Socialist Democracy is like playing with fire. It just put's us one step closer to a dictatorship and has never worked economically anyway.