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Some thoughts on socialism

Some thoughts on socialism

Last updated on: October 21, 2017 at 9:35 pm by Dan Peterson

Some thoughts on socialism 2017-10-21T21:35:43-06:00 Dan Peterson

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Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) Wikimedia Commons public domain

Some quotations from one of the greatest economists — and, certainly, one of the greatest economists of the free market — of the twentieth century, Ludwig von Mises (whom, alas, I never met):

“The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.”

“Whoever wants peace among nations must seek to limit the state and its influence most strictly.”

“The champions of socialism call themselves progressives, but they recommend a system which is characterized by rigid observance of routine and by a resistance to every kind of improvement. They call themselves liberals, but they are intent upon abolishing liberty. They call themselves democrats, but they yearn for dictatorship. They call themselves revolutionaries, but they want to make the government omnipotent. They promise the blessings of the Garden of Eden, but they plan to transform the world into a gigantic post office. Every man but one a subordinate clerk in a bureau.”

“As a rule, capitalism is blamed for the undesired effects of a policy directed at its elimination. The man who sips his morning coffee does not say, “Capitalism has brought this beverage to my breakfast table.” But when he reads in the papers that the government of Brazil has ordered part of the coffee crop destroyed, he does not say, “That is government for you”; he exclaims, “That is capitalism for you.”

***

Here’s a nice, short little video that was, I think, brought to my attention by Doug Ealy:

“How’s Socialism Doing in Venezuela?: When ‘#FeelTheBern’ refers to hunger pains.”

Note Hugo Chavez’s use of the slogan “Hope and Change” — well before Barack Obama’s use of it.

***

Here’s a follow-up, in some ways, to my post “In some respects, the Mormon lifestyle may not be so bad AFTER all” from earlier this morning:

“Hollywood Confirms Plans To Continue Saying Conservatives Hate Women”

***

“Puerto Rico Issues Travel Ban on Malignant Narcissists”

It looks — see “Of politics, personality disorders, and me” — as if neither President Trump nor I will be visiting Puerto Rico anytime soon.

***

“Boy Scouts To Allow Old Men Into Cub Scouts Program”

***

I’m far from an uncritically enthusiastic fan of California’s perpetual governor, Jerry Brown, but there are and always have been things that I like about him. And I’m very pleased about his stance in this matter, which I think can almost fairly be described as heroic:

“Jerry Brown Vetoes a Bill to Curtail Religious Liberty, and the Left Reacts”

“Governor Brown Protects First Amendment Rights of Religious Organizations by Vetoing AB 569”

However, it’s sobering to realize that there was only one person — Jerry Brown — standing in the breach to thwart the California legislature’s imposition of what seems to me flagrant tyranny.

I lament what has happened to my beloved home state.

Posted from Carmel, Indiana

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