Yep, America is a Socialist Country

They've finally admitted it. In an Esquire article reprinted on MSNBC the author reports that "Generation O" doesn't care if you call them socialists. To me, that's a sure sign that we really have become a socialist country. It's also a sign that our educational system has failed in teaching the value and importance of liberty and responsibility and what the Declaration of Independence and Constitution really mean. Basically, we're screwed.

The article is entitled "What's So Bad About Socialism, Anyway?", which may be a valid question. Actually, I am OK, with a certain amount of socialism, in the form of laws and regulation that help keep people honest and keep greed in check--since is fairly obvious that people can't seem to do that themselves, as the Founding Fathers intended. However, I am opposed to government ownership of the means of production and distribution. The reason is simple: governments don't manage businesses very well.

If we are to use our resources efficiently and with as little waste as possible, then businesses must be managed in such a way as to maximize those resources and minimize waste. The best way to do that is via self-interest, the profit motive. Humans act differently when the consequences of the their actions are apparent, be they positive (like profit), or negative (like loss). If the government controls the means of production and distribution, then the profit motive goes away and the motives are up for grabs. When the profit motive is gone, the most likely motive becomes power. Those in control may or may not have our best interests in mind, and most likely they will have the interests of their own power structure in mind.

Under socialism, poverty and class distinctions grow, and civil liberties shrink, and prosperity suffers. The people have less time, money and other resources to put toward improving the quality of life and the advancement of society, and civilization withers. Capitalism with democracy, on the other hand, is a proven means of achieving prosperity and enlightenment, thus contributing to the advance of civilization. Capitalism can prevent wars, cure diseases and make the world a better place. Socialism, in some for or other, is responsible for all of the wars of the 20th century.

If there is any thing that we can learn from history (which apparently, isn't being taught properly anymore) it's that freedom is worth dying for, and power corrupts. Now, we can sit back and watch history repeat itself.