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Opinion: Progressives Don’t Fully Appreciate the Wonders of Socialism; It’s Scarier Than Their Young Hearts Can Imagine

Posted on Friday, March 22, 2019
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by Anthony Sellitti
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44 Comments
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Vice President Mike Pence says the left uses euphemisms and catchphrases to describe their progressive agendas. Pence told the recent CPAC gathering in the nation’s capital: “Bernie [Sanders] has been joined by a chorus of candidates and newly elected officials who have papered over the failed policies of socialism with bumper-sticker slogans and slick social-media campaigns.”

The reason they use shorthand to describe socialism is that it would scare the pants off of those millennial Democrats and even some seasoned party apparatchiks if the truth be told.  And, the truth is historic fact: socialism is the gateway drug that’ll hook you on the stronger stuff, namely Communism, if you let it.

Perhaps it is because progressive Young Turks – those millennials — are too young to appreciate the scope of the evil empire that was the USSR, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.  They think those countries that were captives of the Soviet Union joined up because it was an opportunity to provide better lives for their citizens.  They think Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and all the others wanted to be part of a way of life that was uplifting, forward looking and fair to each and every citizen whether they were members of government or just your average Joe.

A little more than a year ago, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, an organization created by a unanimous Act of Congress in 1993, conducted a survey that showed an alarming 44% of millennials say they would rather live in a socialist country than in a capitalist state.  Meanwhile, a Gallup poll showed that Democrats, in general, have a positive view of socialism.

Pravda was the official mouthpiece of the Soviets.  The newspaper’s sole mission was, not to inform, but to mislead gullible subscribers in the free world and the inmates of the Soviet-controlled homelands into thinking that the Central Committee had only good intentions.  Since the so-called fall of Communism in Russia, Pravda has modeled itself in the fashion of traditional Western media as a true source of information.

Not long ago, Pravda published an article describing what it was like to live in a Socialist state, noting that just like our own millennials, the younger generations in cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg have a delusional view of the Soviet system.  They actually think that life was better under the likes of Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev and their NKVD and KGB thugs [think Gestapo on steroids], who kept the citizenry in check.  But, the older folk, those who lived in fear during those “good old days,” know better.

“Life in the USSR was bad,” Pravda reported.  “Everyone was living in poverty throughout Soviet history, not only during the period of perestroika. In large cities, a customer in a food store could buy canned cod liver and smoked sausage, and that would be possible on a good day. Food stores in smaller towns and villages were empty. At the same time, radio and television would report record high milk yield and amazing achievements in the poultry industry. Food stores were selling liquid (diluted) sour cream out of huge dirty aluminum cans, as well as bitter herring (wrapped in newspaper), thin bluish whole chickens, brick-like bread and tasteless birch-tree juice.”

As Mr. Pence put it at the CPAC gathering, “Freedom encourages investments; socialism stifles growth.  Socialism demands conformity.   America was founded on liberty and independence, not government coercion.”

Pence’s message is a far cry from the notion former president, Barack Obama, offered up to youngsters at the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative in Buenos Aires in 2016. President Obama told that gathering that there really is no difference between our way of life and that of a socialist or communist.

In Barack Obama’s own words: “so often in the past there’s been a sharp division between left and right, between capitalist and communist or socialist.  And especially in the Americas, that’s been a big debate, right?  Oh, you know, you’re a capitalist Yankee dog, and oh, you know, you’re some crazy communist that’s going to take away everybody’s property.  And I mean, those are interesting intellectual arguments, but I think for your generation, you should be practical and just choose from what works.  You don’t have to worry about whether it neatly fits into socialist theory or capitalist theory — you should just decide what works.”

Cuba is no “intellectual argument,” neither is Venezuela or North Korea.  Life in those countries is the reality of what is the kind of existence we can expect if we capitalist Yankee dogs allow the crazy communists among us to prevail.

The USSR was the cradle of communism and its newspaper of record finally had to admit that life in the USSR – under communism or socialism, if you prefer – “was bad.”

The Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] is the nation’s largest Conservative senior advocacy organization with more than 1.7 million members.

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Jack Thomas
Jack Thomas
4 years ago

Someone once said, “Following the herd will lead you to the slaughterhouse.” This is precisely what happens when those who are either misinformed or willfully ignorant of the evils of socialism elect leaders who promise that the “Government” will fix all their problems and make everything better. It never works, as history has proven. The monthly income of the average Cuban citizen is far below what the average American earns in a free capitalist society. That’s because the Castro communist regime has always owned and controlled all means of production. In Venezuela today, the cost of socialism is so staggering, so unthinkably cruel that basic necessities of life have all but vanished under Nicolas Maduro’s iron grip. Sadly, Venezuela was once one of the most prosperous countries in the world, not just in the Western Hemisphere. There are many other examples, including the failure and ultimate collapse of the U.S.S.R., but you get the point: Socialism is a prescription for disaster and human misery. Always has been and always will be. It takes away individual initiative and replaces it with government control; it robs people of positive self-determination and dignity; it enslaves, it does not liberate; it creates more problems than it claims to solve. and worst of all, it usurps the blessings of God by crushing the human spirit. Capitalism, by contrast, is starkly different. Capitalism is rooted in liberty; it recognizes the need for positive self-determination, positive self-expectancy and self-direction, and self-governance. It does not rob a person of the dignity of work by enslaving them — it rewards the dignity of work. It does not replace individual initiative with Gov’t control; it shuns over-reaching Gov’t control. The victory of capitalism is simple: It has done more good for more people in the world than any system you can name.

As Ronald Reagan once said, “A government that can give you anything is a government that can take everything from you.”

Lyle Baldwin
Lyle Baldwin
5 years ago

I believe that one of the biggest reasons is because children are no longer taught American History, World History and American Government and civics. They have no basis for appreciation of what it took to become the awesome country we are today. No appreciation for the sacrifice of those who founded this country nor the sacrifice to keep it that way.

Kim
Kim
5 years ago

Progressive Democrats, inexperienced millennials, and socialist dreamers of all ages often use the term “FAIR” when describing the changes they demand in government legislation and in our culture.

Hard-working wealthy taxpayers need to pay 70%?–90%? of their income; this is considered their “fair share”. BUT, when those businesses have to cut costs in order to keep the companies afloat, how many of those laid off employees will think THAT’S fair?

President Trump and all of America were subjected to a 2 1/2 year investigation as a result of an “unfair election” that saw Hillary Clinton lose the presidency. BUT, what’s fair is a thorough investigation, under oath, of all those players (in high government offices and others colluding with them) who bent the rules to FRAME TRUMP, to SPY on American citizens, and to cause citizens to question whether they can TRUST the federal government.

Higher mandatory minimum wages that the private sector is expected to bear is a “fair wage”. BUT, how far will the government go when determining how the private sector should function?

Socialists think Universal Basic Income, reparations, Medicare for All, free college and/or student loans (which now amount to more than all the credit card debt in America), Obamaphones, dangerously open borders, anyone-can-vote-including-illegals, and government take-over of an increasing number of sectors of the private economy are “fair and just”. But, I OBJECT!!

PTY
PTY
5 years ago

It comes down to to two words…power and greed. Do as we say, not as we do! They know full well what they are doing. 1st , 2nd amendment under attack, control message through the media and the mental midgets incapable of critical thought on the issues.
The ultimate goal is a concentration of wealth and power leaving everyone else struggling for their basic needs, after all do not let a good crisis real or created go to waste in increasing the power of the Government and control over its people. The same Government that is 22 trillion in debt. Amazing how the elite apply fiscal discipline in their home by not spending more than they earn but that very same discipline is not applied with the tax money we have entrusted to them. Power brokers redistributing our wealth under the pretense of compassion. Socialism, the sharing of misery.

Todd Wingard Taylor
Todd Wingard Taylor
5 years ago

The youth are ignorant of the history of socialism. It is time for them to open their eyes and educate themselves.

ONTIME
ONTIME
5 years ago

The problem lies in the strangle hold on American knowledge and the education the schools hand out in these times…..I was schooled well in the opportunity offered by the American way of life, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness coupled with US history, Civics and US Government…I understood the diff between democracy and this representative Republic, I knew why the electoral college was so important and that no other country had this feature in their constitution…I thank my WWII teachers for this perseverance of their profession…The stint of military service enforced my education, gave me a comparative to a analogy, made me appreciate the nation as a whole and I lost comrades, school friends during this time and it seemed like ignorance gripped my country….The communist found a niche and infiltrated the ranks of the uneducated, it’s been a uphill battle since then….The spotlight that is now focusing on more failed socialist countries is a boon for us, now we need to return the favor and infiltrate their ranks to offer the ideas of moving to a democracy with safeguards to ensure the will to make the ideas permanent….We can speak of the American Dream but we had better have the working knowledge to defend it here and all over the world..it’s what you are obligated to to understand, it is God, Country and Honor that makes your sovereignty worth while….MAGA means making your schools and places of higher learning teach the values of America..

MariaRose
MariaRose
5 years ago

Because they choose to use selective wording, those listening to the “big talk” of how Socialism is beneficial to all, fail to see the problem of it, because those talking hide their wealth and tactics from the general public. (e.g. Bernie Saunders’ three houses). You can’t preach Socialism and not practice it, that is totally wrong because of the deception to the unknowing gullible public. “Free” anything always has a cost.

E. Garcia
E. Garcia
5 years ago

Nice article, except the title. It should be “the NIGHTMARES” of socialism, not the “Wonders”. The only real wonder is how could people be so oblivious to present socialist nightmarish realities and so placidly ignorant of all historical abuses, suffering and death brought about by those regimes. These younger generations fall in love at first sight with the socialist dream (read free college, free food, free medical care, free income, blah, blah) not realizing, like dumb fish, they’re looking at a bait that hides the hook that will trap them forever.

John NIce
John NIce
5 years ago

You mention Progressives. I prefer a stronger and more accurate designation for these people. Just study the goals and agenda of the so-called Progressives. They are almost to a word the same as the Communist Party USA goals and agenda. Progressivism is not progressive. It is regressive and totally anti-American, anti-Constitution and is rabidly against anything that doesn’t promote, espouse or push forward their ultimate goal of totalitarianism and socialism in the United States of America. Many of them could and should be brought up on charges of treason, convicted and sentenced as traitors of our nation

G Giant
G Giant
5 years ago

Here it is. Capitalism means you have to actually put out effort to get ahead. It would seem that the youth are more interested in illegal drugs, getting high or low, sex and getting “free” stuff, including stealing.
God help us.

Joe Bowin
Joe Bowin
5 years ago

The concept of socialism sounds great. But, the reality of it is the only ones that flourish from it are those that are in charge, relatives, and friends the rest are the ones that supply to those in charge. Here one can apply themselves and become most anything that they aspire towards. Socialism, communism, nazism are all really the same package with different wrapping. Children should be taught history in school such as we were taught for it is true that it tends to repeat itself as was the reason that it was taught to us.

Linda
Linda
5 years ago

Socialism would be a death knell to our way of life, our freedoms, our prosperity here in the U.S. Most recently just look at Venezuela a once rich & prosperous country until socialism took over. No way do I ever want to see that happen in America. If you don’t like the freedoms we have here then go live somewhere else.

Alan
Alan
5 years ago

There is only one Communist State that I would have been more than happy to have lived in. Eden. God created a world where the two humans had everything they wanted, they didn’t have to work for anything, they were absolutely healthy and it cost them nothing, except for one small request. Sadly, the two humans screwed that up. What, then, makes anyone believe that modern humans would be better at creating a “utopia” than God or that they would not, again, screw things up.

Honey
Honey
5 years ago

Unapologetically I hark back to the slogan, “Love it or leave it.”
All those who answer surveys and proclaim they would rather live in a socialist country, well, this ain’t one, and it was never meant to be one. So If you would rather live in one, go move to one.
America is the greatest country in the world by any measure. If you don’t know that , if you don’t realize it, and if you prefer socialism, move away to a socialist country.

Love it or leave it. Period!

Michael J
Michael J
5 years ago

You vote socialism in peacefully. But after you realize you’ve been duped, you have to physically fight to remove them. Socialist leaders always use violence to stay in power, but by then it’s all over.

Vernon L. Kirby
Vernon L. Kirby
5 years ago

Millennials have been brainwashed by the public schools, lied to by the agenda-driven mainstream media, anesthetized by their electronic toys and lobotomized by the entertainment industry. They must be rescued and redeemed.

Rexford O Ames
Rexford O Ames
5 years ago

I do believe that the so-called ” Millennials either, Democrat or Republican or unknowing independent, have no real education on what ” Socialism” is. Social Media has, for most of its existence, the medium for the Young! They create their own communication system, think it’s so cool or whatever their expression has morphed into. The Young do not listen to ” Adults” as a whole. They listen to each other, get accepted one way or another and convince themselves that whatever they say is ” True”? Live in a cocoon long enough and the cocoon becomes you. Grade school, Junior High, High School and maybe College or University. A Cocoon s just that, a Cocoon! Maybe I’ve seen too many, science fiction films, that describe, that kind of world. Ahh, I love science fiction and apparently, they do too!

Steph
Steph
5 years ago

I need to pray more actively and often for our country and President.

Janice Morrow
Janice Morrow
5 years ago

Well said. We know what good looks like and the younger generation has been kept from the truth through public school indoctrination

Kenneth Johnston
Kenneth Johnston
5 years ago

Keep up the good work!! Our youth and Democratic group don’t have a clue. God bless USA

Morbious
Morbious
5 years ago

The millenials have only a vague notion of the force involved in socialist countries. I suspect that they think said force when applied here in an dem regime would only be used to ensure environmental purity. The instant a heavy hand islaid on these kids they’re going to implode. When cute little fusion restaurants and craft beer are mandated out of existence by minimum wage and tax increases respectively the hissy fits will be fun to watch. Unfortunately, by that time the politburo of dem rulers will be nearly impossible to be rid of.

James
James
5 years ago

While on mission trips to Russia, I’ve seen first hand the destructive effects of socialism. In the socialist apartment houses of more than five floors there were elevators that would carry 1 or 2 adults and a 2 bags of groceries or such. Each apartment owned a toilet seat that they took to the smelly toilet on their floor that was shared with all apartments on that floor. The smell of burning trash and garbage permeates the building, the incinerator is on the first floor next to the front door of the building. I was told the major changes were families were now allowed to purchase the apartment they lived in. And the outside of the buildings were now not all the same color. Some were still the pale yellowish tan of USSR years. Most were unkempt. The grounds were swept dirt. Very few flowers or landscaping. Very drab and depressing. Some government buildings were landscaped and had elaborate statues.
Not a very uplifting sight.
Give me the rigors of a Captilist Society over socialism anytime. I’d much rather earn my way than have some socialist make my decisions.
James

Ronnie E Pike
Ronnie E Pike
5 years ago

The land of plenty and opportunities doesn’t coexist ( as the popular term is used) in the communist manefesto.
The individual gives up to the collective for the greater good. Sounds catchy but the loss of individual liberty per our bill of rights will not be realized until it is gone.

Peter
Peter
5 years ago

If you’ve ever had dealings with these people over long periods of time I don’t think you’d consider them much of a threat when you realize that they are mostly lonely people with underdeveloped and paranoid political awareness that would lead you to the conclusion they are merely aspiring SOCIALITES not socialists.. They seek more fluid social connections because their psychology predetermines very poor judge of character so they most often feel ripped off and “stuck”. After devastating you with some character assassination, backstabbing or murderous competitive “edge” they probably just go to bed thinking “I just want to be your friend”.. and as oblivious as that might seem maybe they’re being honest. Unfortunately that doesn’t qualify them in my respect as worthy of any follow up as friend or any other social much less economic connection and for now remain a most pronounced death trap.. “approach at your own risk”.. since patience for them is never an advisable option.. In their cases where there is no patience there is WAR.

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