Equality
There’s a lot of talk about socialism, whether the good old fashioned Karl Marx model, the Russian version of Communism, the equally death-inducing Chinese version, the Democratic Socialist version tried and abandoned by several more civilized countries who at least did not execute millions of their own people, or the as yet undefined Democratic Socialist flavor that an alarming faction of bored American society favors. While they can be forgiven for not living (with a few notable exceptions, Bernie) through the Cold War or not being taught actual History in school these last few decades, they cannot be allowed to skate entirely.
One of the eventual end goals of socialism is equal outcomes. You know, “From each according to their means, to each according to their needs.” (Talk about flattening a curve.) We’ve been hearing the call for equal outcomes in this country for some time. The American Way promises life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - equal opportunity for happiness, not happiness itself. What you do with that opportunity is up to you. And, yes, we cannot deny that there are still shortcomings here in the fulfillment of that promise of opportunity. But nobody said anything about equal outcomes in life.
Be very afraid of the pursuit of equal outcomes, as explained here in the brilliant six-page short story by the legendary Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron. Read it and come back. I’ll wait.
Okay. Any questions? Thought not.
Like George Orwell, who had seen the worst of the Spanish Revolution and the growing attraction of communism among bored, rich, British college kids in the 30s before writing Animal Farm, Vonnegut wrote Harrison Bergeron in 1961 after the Stalin era that lasted from WWII through the 50s left millions of Russian and related Soviet citizens dead or disappeared. These guys didn’t make sh*t up. Well, okay. They did make up talking animals and ballerinas wearing birdshot. But, like Aesop of ancient Greece and ancient cartoons, these were fables with morals, cautionary tales to warn of the crazy stuff that was potentially around the corner.
The stuff in Animal Farm played out in the Soviet Union (official moniker: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. USSR in English; CCCP in Cyrillic.) in the course of my lifetime. Ballets with sashweights are coming soon to a Zoom performance near you.
Socialism is an old, failed philosophy that ultimately requires forceful enforcement for the simple reason that it runs counter to human nature. It is human nature to wish to thrive, and to reap the fruits of your individual success to use as you see fit: to feed your family, to give to charity, to hoard until it rots in the barn. Doesn’t matter, you made it, you grew it, it’s yours. No matter what these guys say about Socialism based on Democratic freedom, it won’t end up that way. You think the Russian people were told they’d be starved, executed, and sent to gulags as part of the attractive sales pitch? Right. Promises are promises, and reality waits right around the corner.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not a historian or an economist. But I know what I know and I’m right. The fact that the Missus thinks exactly the same thing just makes it more right.
And go read Animal Farm. It’s short, too, although I’m not going to wait for you.
Just before I hit Publish on this thing, I flip on the TV and see the news about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. A fine lawyer, a real hero to women, and a controversial member of the Supreme Court. There’s no denying her love of country and accomplished career, and here’s hoping that the media and the politicians let her death pass with civility and respect for a few days. Then let the last big fight of the campaign begin, and we’ll see how the House will again try to insert itself into a process that constitutionally is the sole province of the President and the Senate.
Heard a great line the other day: If you think mail-in voting is safe, send an envelope with $500 in cash to yourself.
On a lighter note, tomorrow, September 19, is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Here’s a link that explains it all. It’s just good fun, unless you’re the scurvy knave what gits to walk the plank. Arrr.
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Tomorrow is also the fifth birthday of Mrs. F’s car. She remembers such things.
And one day next week is the second wedding anniversary of Daughter and Son-in-Law F. It was quite a party. We were there!
Keep smiling folks, but lock your doors.