Is World Wide Socialism Inevitable?
For years I have pondered the interesting question of generation spanning goals. It used to seem ridiculous to me that the next generation would further the goals of the previous generation when the final objective would benefit generations in some far off, nebulous future. Who cares; once we're gone, we're gone. As selfish as it is to say what happens to the world can be of no consequence to us if our life is already over. Why sacrifice our own health, wealth and happiness in the here and now for someone elses children's children?
Obviously having children of my own has helped bring some things into sharp focus. We are sacrificing our own health, wealth and happiness for the kids. Yet, even if we are going to bequeath to our children a storied family name with wealth and prestige or a spectacularly successful business why would we care about the politics and the sociology of a world we have already departed?
Clearly the founders of all the powerful and lasting institutions could not have had such an attitude. It was their challenge to train and teach (indoctrinate, if you will) the next generation to carry on their traditions and goals. Most of them sacrificed greatly with their own blood and treasure. They would probably all say it was done for the good of their children and their children’s children. Still, is that enough for us to toil endlessly and do without during our own time on Earth?
A thousand years from now no one will remember the minions who fought today's social battles any more than we remember the soldiers who fought off the Mongol hordes, or fought for King and country during the Hundred Years War. One difference being in those times the minions often had little choice but to fight and die for "the cause". For the last 150 years most free men have had a choice. But have we really? Is some hidden hand guiding humans through history and to what end?
Since the beginning of recorded history there has been a battle for the hearts and minds - and souls - of man. Some would say it is a battle between good and evil. Others among us would say the labels of good and evil are interchangeable and the battle is really self-interest pitted against everything else. It seems to me that there's a hole in that logic. What self-interest is there once you’re dead? The idea that self-interest could be driving generational goals makes as much sense as the supernatural forces of good and evil controlling the fate of humanity. Perhaps the labels of good and evil are interchangeable depending on your beliefs. The lines blur because mankind is of two natures, both exist inside each of us, not one of us is pure and free of guile. And so, the battle rages on.
Consider the socialist movement and their goals. These goals have been slowly realized over many generations for well over a century now. Today they sit at the edge of victory; all the pieces are in place. How did they get this far? Is global socialism inevitable? Do they work for the side of good or the side of evil?
To answer that we have to examine who they have been battling. Boiled down to its essence socialism is at war with the individual. It targets everything that aides humanity to rely on itself rather than the state or the collective. It is a war against self-interest. It is a war against free market capitalism. It is a war against family. It is most definitely a war against religion. Socialism’s defenders and advocates will always attempt to turn the tables by using the duality of these institutions to define their own intentions as perfectly honorable. Individualism and self-interest are selfishness. Capitalism is unfair. Family is cruelty. Religion is intolerance.
Just saying socialism is at war with these institutions is pointless without exploration. If we examine the strategy they’ve employed we find it has always been one of separation. Despite the fact that the “separation of Church and State" doesn't officially exist in any constitutional documents it has been used to separate society from its religions. Public schools have been used to separate children from their parents. Social programs have been stunningly successful at separating families from their fathers, grandparents and beneficial fraternal organizations. Government bureaucracy is used to separate us from our money and business from its autonomy. Individuals are targeted by tax policy in order to quell their own self-interest. Dependency on the state instead of on the individual is encouraged wherever possible. Specific examples of these assertions are too numerous to count. Yet, every one of these claims is countered with tearful or outrageous anecdotes and simplistic slogans. "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" has been used to shame society into self-defeating action without any true examination of the consequences. It is always that way. There is a perceived injustice and a government solution is offered as the only cure regardless of any actual facts to the contrary. Once a foothold is gained it is never relinquished (willingly) despite clear demonstration of its folly. Welfare reform is passed or taxes are lowered but the underlying truth of the evidence is never acknowledged and the battle is taken up again when the socialists have the advantage again. Socialism is a relentless assault on individualism.
So what's so great about individualism? Defined as a social theory that advocates the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual, individualism is a belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not necessarily for society as a whole. The supposition that the goals of the individual played out by individual actions en masse create a benefit for society has been proven time and again. When group rights are elevated over the rights of an individual then true injustice has taken place. We are all individuals. We are born alone and we die alone - we are not simply a part of a collective organism. Rather, society is a collection of individuals. In an individualistic society common interests are agreed upon by individuals, not forced down by a group of elites.
It seems the ultimate goal of the socialist elites is the reduction of the number of people on this planet. Everything they attack or support is geared toward population reduction. They attack the family by advocating for abortion and so-called family planning. They attack marriage with the false promises of feminism, easy divorce and a relentless denigration and feminization of men. They vociferously attack the Church - specifically the Catholic Church - because of the Church's stance on abortion and procreation. They attack business and capitalism using social injustice and environmental arguments. They use the failings of these institutions as proof of their illegitimacy beyond a shadow of a doubt. Wherever socialism has taken root in modern industrial societies the number of deaths eclipses the number of babies born. Europe, Japan, Russia even Canada and Australia are close to or past the point of no return. They do not produce enough children to sustain their populations.
Despite socialism's horrendous record (or stupendous, depending on your point of view) over the past 150 years it is so close to victory. There is only one thing that stands between the socialists and world domination - the United States. Because of the inborn and ingrained sense of individualism in the American psyche it has never been easy for the socialists in this country. Yet, they have persevered and are perched on the cusp of total victory. Electing Barack Obama and an overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress was essential to the cause. The set up was years, actually, decades in the making. Despite the dismissal by the media and pundits of those who question the background of Mr. Obama, concerns over his place of birth, his early education, his college transcripts, his meteoric rise from the ranks of community organizer though some nefarious associations, even how he got a Social Security number from the Connecticut pool instead of from Hawaii are all legitimate and deserve examination.
Just how the Democrats thought they could elevate such an unknown, unrevealed and inexperienced man to the highest office in the land was a mystery. Then George W. Bush handed them a gift - many gifts in fact. He offered the olive branch of education, campaign finance reform as well Medicare expansion to the Democrats who only hated him more for it. He overreached in his response to 9/11 and under reached in his response to Hurricane Katrina. He failed to adequately defend himself or his party. Despite numerous attempts he failed to convince anyone of the looming financial crisis that manifested itself in the eventual collapse of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Wall Street. Thus a silver platter was handed to the Democrats and their socialist masters.
Under President Obama they've wasted no time. Giant financial and major manufacturing businesses have been brought under the control of or have been taken over outright by the Federal government. Labor unions and their pensions have been saved from needed restructuring. The Student Loan system has been taken over. A beast called Health Care Reform that threatens to bankrupt the country was passed. When the bill comes due for this reform rationing will be implemented despite their protestations that it won't, there will be no choice. Crippling financial reform looms, reform that does nothing to prevent further financial catastrophes. Their every action increases the power of the state and reduces the power of the individual. They are doing all of this regardless of the concerns of the governed. They don't care. They never have.
They were so impressed with themselves and their slogans that never saw the backlash coming. It’s not as if they care, any setback now is temporary. The Tea Party movement is an authentic response to government overreach. It was not created in the backrooms of GOP headquarters. It may well be too late, but it is an indication that Americans will not roll over as easily as the Europeans did. Again, the socialists don't care, they never have. They have managed to maintain their goals over generations, a truly remarkable feat.
I asked the question earlier whether the socialists work for the side of good or evil (neither of which they acknowledge). If, as God has commanded for humanity to go forth and be fruitful and multiple, to take dominion over the Earth and its creatures is something the socialists reject then I'd say it's clear which side they are on...
CW
I keep hearing that the Euro, the currency of a dozen or more European countries is living on borrowed time. Many analysts are intimating that the European Union itself could collapse. They claim the message is clear: the welfare state is unsustainable. Well no kidding. You know it, I know it and the American people know it. But don't think that means they don't want a welfare state right here.
