Analysis for Critical Thinkers

The headline writer seemed shocked. The results of a recent Rasmussen Poll showed that only 53% of Americans say that capitalism is better than socialism. What is surprising to me is that this should be surprising at all. All one needs to do is  look at the last presidential election to see the percentage of votes cast for Barack Obama. All of a sudden, what is surprising is that it was as high as 53% that prefer capitalism. 

Now it is true that many people polled probably did not really know what socialism is anyway, let alone its political and economic consequences, but this poll does not surprise me in the least. “If it’s for free it’s for me” is pretty catchy, but of course, nothing is for free. I knew during the presidential election that the promise of something for nothing is too much to resist for too many people. What we are left with is a majority of the populace believing that someone else should pay their way.

People who prefer socialism likely are the ones who look at their successful neighbors and say that it is not fair that someone should make more or have more than someone else. Interestingly, it is exactly these successful people that are paying for all of these entitlement programs in the first place. More and more people are going around being indignant that people who have more are not sharing it with those that have less. More and more people are trying to act offended at the notion that “rich” people are not paying their “fair share” to support everybody else who have perhaps contributed nothing to society or to themselves. Clearly, being dependent on government and complaining that people are not doing more for you is much easier than doing something constructive to improve your standard of living.

There is nothing more satisfying than making it on your own. You work hard, you struggle,  you study, you perservere, you roll with the punches and you enjoy the successes. You also get to keep some of that money that you have earned to spend on yourself. This is liberty and this is freedom. You realize though that freedom, although cherished and hard won, is not a guarantee for success. Many a person has spent too much time wringing their hands in frustration if at first they do not succeed. It is too easy to sit around and think about who can be blamed for your position – your boss, the government, rich evil people. “This is America dammit – I am entitled!” or so they say. The freedom of a free market does make it hard to admit that YOU are the main factor in your success or your failure.

I was recently touring the historic mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. These “summer cottages” of the mega-rich have been turned into museums that you can tour. It is not uncommon to hear people demonize these rich families for what many may consider “excesses” during the construction of their houses. This, of course, is none of your business how someone else chooses to spend their money. It is their money. What is it about private property that socialists find so repulsive?

“That money should be given to poor people.”
“Why should they have such a nice house when others can’t afford to pay their mortgage?”

I say, “Buy your own house if you want one”. If you cannot afford it, welcome to reality. People usually have to struggle to buy a house. Think of ways, as distasteful as they may seem, where you may try to improve your own lot in life. Time is wasted complaining about how everything is everybody else’s fault and that the government should be taking more from others to give more stuff to you. This jealosy and greed of those that would like rich people to buy them things has got to stop. It is of no consequence that rich successful businessmen spend money on themselves and do not want to give so much to you.

Socialism sounds good to people who are the recipients and bad to the people who are the providers. The idea that everybody should be provided for, everybody should get the same and make the same money, everybody should rely on government for their employment, health care, retirement — all of this is not freedom. Especially to the people who are being forced to pay for all of this. I am amused by people who claim to be history experts and proclaim that the current financial situation shows that “capitalism and the free market do not work”. Yet these same self-proclaimed “experts” cannot point to an instance in history where socialism has flourished.

 If your profits and the fruits of your labor are going to be seized and distributed to everybody else, then why bother trying to be successful? Then where will we all be?

My fellow Americans, I come to you this evening with a matter of the greatest importance. Our economy is in crisis and drastic steps must be taken as quickly as possible to prevent the collapse of the United States. Before I go on, I want to remind you that none of this was my fault. I inherited this all from the previous administration who, as everybody knows, caused this entire crisis. If anything bad happens to the country – even after my bold and courageous actions have become law – it is all due to the incompetence of my predecessor. Some have pointed out quite correctly that Congress has been properly under the control of our party for the past two years, but I must remind you all tonight, that any bad events are clearly the result of the prior President. Any bad that comes – it is not my fault – or the fault of my party colleagues that control Congress. Any good that may come is certainly because of my boldness and decisive actions. That being said, let me now outline my plan to save the economy.

We will immediately begin penalizing any and all corporations that are showing profits for this year. We will seize their assets through taxation – as well as the assets of all productive members of society – and distribute that money to all failing companies who can show that they cannot make any money on their own. Corporate greed cannot continue unchecked, and my plan will ensure that all new tax dollars collected from solvent businesses will go only to businesses who have shown their imcompetence. Prosperous people on Wall Street as well as Main Street must be put on notice – you will be forced into investing in the failed dealings of your neighbors because it is not fair that they should suffer while you continue to count your profits.

The Government shall now have oversight into the running of all businesses to ensure that all people will have the same as everybody else. Those that try to get ahead will be penalized. Those that fail to keep up will be given more financial assistance. We in Government did not get here by accident. It was only through our knowledge and wisdom that we became involved in politics and rose to the positions we now hold. Corporate America, formerly run by business degree holders in the failed “free market” model that they clung to for so long, need to realize that their facade is coming to an end. Bureaucracy is in a much better position to run a business as evidenced by all of the Federal Government agencies we have today – which by the way – we plan on expanding more and more each year.

We do not have time to read or debate any of the spending bills that are coming up for a vote. This is far too important for that. We have reached across the aisle time and time again only to be greeted by those that would resist the immediate expenditure of record amounts of government money. Sure, I’ve heard it all before. People say that we cannot spend money that we don’t even have. But lots of Presidents have done that in the past, so why can’t I? Some have publicly challenged me by saying that this latest Bill had over 9000 earmarks in it despite my earlier pledge to end all earmarks. I personally did not have time to read the Bill that I signed into law, but so what if it does have earmarks? Sometimes they can be very important and I didn’t want to waste precious time on something that would only cost a few billion dollars anyway. Others have said that we in the Federal Government are constitutionally prohibited from running the economy and private enterprise. But we cannot let the aging and outdated Constitution impede our journey towards complete governmental oversight.

So I ask you here tonight for your support. Believe in your Government and realize that you can count on your Government for all of your needs. Do not be lead astray by the greedy, by those who think that they can achieve prosperity on their own. It is only through bureaucracy, taxation, regulation and honest oversight that we can succeed as a nation.

Thank you and good night.

C.R.