Why Socialism Always Fails

[Thursday]

Deomocratic socialists could be as left wing as Karl Marx, provided they submitted themselves to periodic re-election. Social Democrats are slightly to the left of centre, but the economies they oversee are essentially capitalist- just not as laissez-faire as in America.

Maybe you would like to educate yourself about how the world outside of America works.

These distinctions are arbitrary. A social democrat could move as far left as a democratic socialist.

 

[lesliedellow]

These distinctions are arbitrary. A social democrat could move as far left as a democratic socialist.

Mega Moth Trump could move as far to the left as Karl Marx.

It's not exactly likely, so what does that prove?

 

[J Cord]

Mega Moth Trump could move as far to the left as Karl Marx.

It's not exactly likely, so what does that prove?

How could you tell? The only value I've seen Trump consistently stand for is "I'm great, give me more". AFAIK, on every other issue he has spoken out of every side of his mouth.

 

[paul becke]

1. Socialism is the Big Lie of the twentieth century. While it promised prosperity, equality, and security, it delivered poverty, misery, and tyranny. Equality was achieved only in the sense that everyone was equal in his or her misery.

In the same way that a Ponzi scheme or chain letter initially succeeds but eventually collapses, socialism may show early signs of success. But any accomplishments quickly fade as the fundamental deficiencies of central planning emerge. It is the initial illusion of success that gives government intervention its pernicious, seductive appeal. In the long run, socialism has always proven to be a formula for tyranny and misery.

A pyramid scheme is ultimately unsustainable because it is based on faulty principles. Likewise, collectivism is unsustainable in the long run because it is a flawed theory. Socialism does not work because it is not consistent with fundamental principles of human behavior. The failure of socialism in countries around the world can be traced to one critical defect: it is a system that ignores incentives.

In a capitalist economy, incentives are of the utmost importance. Market prices, the profit-and-loss system of accounting, and private property rights provide an efficient, interrelated system of incentives to guide and direct economic behavior. Capitalism is based on the theory that incentives matter!

Under socialism, incentives either play a minimal role or are ignored totally. A centrally planned economy without market prices or profits, where property is owned by the state, is a system without an effective incentive mechanism to direct economic activity. By failing to emphasize incentives, socialism is a theory inconsistent with human nature and is therefore doomed to fail. Socialism is based on the theory that incentives don’t matter!



2. The strength of capitalism can be attributed to an incentive structure based upon the three Ps: (1) prices determined by market forces, (2) a profit-and-loss system of accounting and (3) private property rights. The failure of socialism can be traced to its neglect of these three incentive-enhancing components.



3. By their failure to foster, promote, and nurture the potential of their people through incentive-enhancing institutions, centrally planned economies deprive the human spirit of full development. Socialism fails because it kills and destroys the human spirit–just ask the people leaving Cuba in homemade rafts and boats [and those waiting in long lines today in Venezuela struggling, and often failing, to buy food].



4. The temptress of socialism is constantly luring us with the offer: “give up a little of your freedom and I will give you a little more security.” As the experience of this century has demonstrated, the bargain is tempting but never pays off. We end up losing both our freedom and our security.

Socialism will remain a constant temptation. We must be vigilant in our fight against socialism not only around the globe but also here in the United States.

The failure of socialism inspired a worldwide renaissance of freedom and liberty. For the first time in the history of the world, the day is coming very soon when a majority of the people in the world will live in free societies or societies rapidly moving toward freedom.

Capitalism will play a major role in the global revival of liberty and prosperity because it nurtures the human spirit, inspires human creativity, and promotes the spirit of enterprise. By providing a powerful system of incentives that promote thrift, hard work, and efficiency, capitalism creates wealth.

The main difference between capitalism and socialism is this: Capitalism works.
https://www.aei.org/publication/why-socialism-always-fails/

 

[paul becke]

Socialism, past present or future, could never be the cause of the unparalleled, global catastrophe that the mindless, materialistic greed of US-driven capitalism looks set to cause. Wake up to yourself. Did Jesus tout financial incentives ? No. On the contrary, he counselled us to covet the currency of heaven, instead : Charity, the wedding garment ... in our own hearts.

 

[paul becke]

No one is more greedy than a socialist party leader. Socialists never tire of finding new ways to spend other people's earnings.

... and you, a Catholic ...? Read this (especially, the quote from St Ambrose*) and weep :

http://www.catholicsocialteaching.o...ty/resources/encyclical-statements-poverty-2/

Structural change in the direction of a European-style welfare-state affords us the inestimable advantage of enabling us to pat ourselves on the back for our charitable giving only once every few years, when we vote ; Did not Jesus, himself, say that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing ?'

Moreover, personal income-tax, also, obviates the reliance of the poor on random acts of charity, when the fit takes a person. The poorer folk have enough stresses in their daily life without such uncertainty.

* 'It is not from your own possessions that you are bestowing aims on the poor, you are but restoring to them what is theirs by right. For what was given to everyone for the use of all, you have taken for your exclusive use. The earth belongs not to the rich, but to everyone. Thus, far from giving lavishly, you are but paying part of your debt.'
- St Ambrose

... and this from John-Paul II, no less ; hardly a life-long socialist. By the time he wrote it, like Solzhenytsin, he had wised up to the massive flaw underlying capitalism : rampant human greed.

'Faced with the tragic situation of persistent poverty which afflicts so many people in our world, how can we fail to see that the quest for profit at any cost and the lack of effective responsible concern for the common good have concentrated immense resources in the hands of a few while the rest of humanity suffers in poverty and neglect? Our goal should not be the benefit of a privileged few, but rather the improvement of the living conditions of all.
Pope John Paul II,
Lenten message 2003'

 

[Thursday]

Mega Moth Trump could move as far to the left as Karl Marx.

It's not exactly likely, so what does that prove?

Your ignorance. You are trying to make a distinction that doesn't exist.

 

[Thursday]

quest for profit at any cost

Who is advocating this?

Socialism hurts people. It slows economic growth and makes people less charitable.

 

[Thursday]

Socialism, past present or future, could never be the cause of the unparalleled, global catastrophe that the mindless, materialistic greed of US-driven capitalism looks set to cause. Wake up to yourself. Did Jesus tout financial incentives ? No. On the contrary, he counselled us to covet the currency of heaven, instead : Charity, the wedding garment ... in our own hearts.

More brainless propaganda from the left.

No facts, no morality, no intelligence in this comment.

 

[Picky Picky]

Your ignorance. You are trying to make a distinction that doesn't exist.

There is a very clear distinction between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy. If you don't know that, you are not qualified to comment.

 

[super animator]

Who is advocating this?

Anarcho-capitalism.

 

[paul becke]

More brainless propaganda from the left.

No facts, no morality, no intelligence in this comment.

I bow to your superior knowledge and understanding. Fortunately, people who want to know the score, know the score, so your cheap-rent advocacy of the grotesque machinations of the great malefactors of your society, wrong uns to a man/woman, will have caused much merriment, apart from my own.

 

[paul becke]

I bow to your superior knowledge and understanding. On a more serious note, fortunately, people who want to know the score, know the score, so your cheap-rent advocacy of the grotesque machinations of the great malefactors of your society, wrong uns to a man/woman, will have caused much merriment, apart from my own.

When a man claiming to be a Catholic so arrantly scorns Catholic Social Doctrine, it' s little wonder you have Satanists pushing for their prayers in Government meetings and schools.

 

[paul becke]

Who is advocating this?

Socialism hurts people. It slows economic growth and makes people less charitable.

Only joined Christian Forums this year eh ? Welcome !

 

[tatteredsoul]

Socialism, past present or future, could never be the cause of the unparalleled, global catastrophe that the mindless, materialistic greed of US-driven capitalism looks set to cause. Wake up to yourself. Did Jesus tout financial incentives ? No. On the contrary, he counselled us to covet the currency of heaven, instead : Charity, the wedding garment ... in our own hearts.

Socialism would actually be ideal if the leader is perfect.

A lot of right-winged, politically conservative Christians may be scared to find out Heaven will likely be a huge socialist/communist government - ruled by Christ. It will work because He is perfect, and His judges and kings will be too.

Capitalism is categorically "for greed," at any cost. Maximum profits is the only goal; family units, culture and building up person is not any goal of capitalism. As a matter of fact, Capitalists will destroy the world if it allows them a bit of profit (like almost every single war in history.)

 

[lesliedellow]

More brainless propaganda from the left.

No facts, no morality, no intelligence in this comment.

Here is a fact. Those oh so clever bankers very nearly brought the world's financial system to its knees in 2008. We are still living with the consequences eight years later.

 

[pescador]

Who is advocating this?

Socialism hurts people. It slows economic growth and makes people less charitable.

Easy to say but where is the proof?

 

[Thursday]

When a man claiming to be a Catholic so arrantly scorns Catholic Social Doctrine, it' s little wonder you have Satanists pushing for their prayers in Government meetings and schools.

You don't understand Catholic social doctrine.

 

[lesliedellow]

You don't understand Catholic social doctrine.

One would assume that it is based upon the New Testament. You know the sort of thing, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, comfort the sick, visit the prisoner. Sort of what a welfare state is designed to do.

 

[Belk]

More brainless propaganda from the left.

No facts, no morality, no intelligence in this comment.