As an independent voter, I am often frustrated by the two major parties. Because freedom is my prime value in judging political actions, both parties often fall short. They both favor legislation that grows government, increases the national debt, and makes real oversight virtually impossible. As a result, we often end up with no real solutions, massive waste, and more unsustainable debt.
Claiming to have real solutions, the so-called Democratic Socialists of America, campaigning under the Democratic Party banner, have entered the political arena. Since the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America openly states that they want to eventually nationalize key industries, I’ll refer to them henceforth as Communists because confiscating the means of production is what Communists do.
Socialism/Communism appeals to the worst in human nature by promoting two big lies: 1) you can get something for nothing, and 2) everyone can be truly equal.
Everything that politicians promise they can deliver for free comes with a hidden price–the loss of some freedom. Every good or service that is “free” is truly not free unless the good or service was produced, promoted, and delivered with donated labor and funded with a no strings attached gift. In the real world, people want to be paid for working and taking risks. Otherwise, they would not be free. In a free society, people willingly trade away some freedom by having government act as a proxy so that they can concentrate on fulfilling their dreams.
Under Communism, individual dreams are sacrificed for collective goals; the collective determines your job. Citizens (comrades) become dependent on the government for “free” stuff. Soon empty store shelves testify that competency, not ESG or DEI, is required to run things efficiently. Party leaders keep stealing from the rich until there are no rich. In effect, comrades become slaves to a new oligarchy, which lives like the rich they claim to despise. When it is too late, comrades realize that the only “equality” they have achieved is having to live at the same (lowest) standard of living. If they complain, they may be disappeared. In time, the system collapses.
The only country that succeeded in flirting with socialism before it became full blown communism is Sweden. Realizing that socialism was failing and that everything could only get worse, Sweden reverted to capitalism in time to avoid the inevitable repetition of history suffered by comrades in the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and Venezuela.
The reality of life is that there is no free lunch. Effort is required for survival, let alone prosperity. People vary in their abilities and ambitions. Therefore, in a truly free society, outcomes vary. Remember this when you are at the ballot box. Preserve what freedom you have. Don’t fall for the two big lies. And yes, it might be hard, but wise, to vote for the lesser of two evils.
Joe Cadrin,
Stuart
