Albert Einstein on socialism

[jonny5]

When talking with people who don’t know the difference between socialism and communism, or think that every single scientific organization on the entire planet is wrong and global warming is just a Chinese hoax, or that the earth is only 6000 years old, it’s hard not to sound condescending. Sorry.

Doesnt sound like youre sorry.

 

[jonny5]

Early in the industrial revolution, there was no socialism. It was pure free market capitalism with no regulation or oversight. Every single country going through the process of industrialization, however, eventually learned that this was not sustainable. Things like the ever growing exploitation of child labor, or the rise of monopolies, led to situations where these countries were forced to develop regulations, oversight, and social safety nets, to prevent dangerous levels of social instability and dysfunction. Actually, it was exactly these commonsense measures which kept violent communist revolutions and worker revolts from overthrowing the capitalist system altogether.

The pure free-market capitalist system was not abandoned because it was working well.

It was abandoned because some people found out they could gain power by taking things from some people by force and giving it to others. Free markets work because everyone consents to it and follows the same rules.

 

[ataraxia]

Doesnt sound like youre sorry.

I’m trying.

 

[ataraxia]

It was abandoned because some people found out they could gain power by taking things from some people by force and giving it to others. Free markets work because everyone consents to it and follows the same rules.

They only consent to it when it benefits them. When they are not involved, and it’s someone else they don’t identify with, that’s when they consider it theft. Farmers don’t consider subsidies to them theft from other people. But if it’s anything to help anyone else, they tell us it’s theft. Wall Street types don’t consider it theft when they get bailed out of a recession, but try to help anyone else, and they consider it theft. Some Trump supporters think that federal money paid for drug programs in inner cities is theft, but federal money paid to help them with the drug problem in their communities is not. Do you remember those funny placards from the tea party days, held with such passionate and self righteous anger : “ stop socialized medicine and keep your government hands off my Medicare!”? LOL.

The point is, that governments have a basic responsibility to uphold the most basic dignity and security of their citizens- Basic human rights, as outlined in the 1948 Universal declaration of human rights, like access to food, clean water, a basic education, and Healthcare. You can’t leave people and their whole family out to die on the street when they hit hard times. That is the freedom of the jungle, not what you would consider freedom in a modern civil society.

 

[jonny5]

They only consent to it when it benefits them. When they are not involved, and it’s someone else they don’t identify with, that’s when they consider it theft. Farmers don’t consider subsidies to them theft from other people. But if it’s anything to help anyone else, they tell us it’s theft. Wall Street types don’t consider it theft when they get bailed out of a recession, but try to help anyone else, and they consider it theft. Some Trump supporters think that federal money paid for drug programs in inner cities is theft, but federal money paid to help them with the drug problem in their communities is not. Do you remember those funny placards from the tea party days, held with such passionate and self righteous anger : “ stop socialized medicine and keep your government hands off my Medicare!”? LOL.

The point is, that governments have a basic responsibility to uphold the most basic dignity and security of their citizens- Basic human rights, as outlined in the 1948 Universal declaration of human rights, like access to food, clean water, a basic education, and Healthcare. You can’t leave people and their whole family out to die on the street when they hit hard times. That is the freedom of the jungle, not what you would consider freedom in a modern civil society.

Exactly my point. Socialism inevitably leads to abuse because it fundamentally is against individual ownership. Farmers, Wall Street, trump supporters, tea party, government, citizens, YOU, all believe that you have a RIGHT to other peoples stuff and other peoples labor. Which ends in tyranny and collapse.

 

[ataraxia]

Exactly my point. Socialism inevitably leads to abuse because it fundamentally is against individual ownership. Farmers, Wall Street, trump supporters, tea party, government, citizens, YOU, all believe that you have a RIGHT to other peoples stuff and other peoples labor. Which ends in tyranny and collapse.

Every single developed and developing economy on the entire planet has very strong socialist safety nets and infrastructures. They seem to be doing fine.

When the founding fathers of this country were talking about freedom, surely they did not mean the freedom of the jungle.