Socialism, Marxism, and Communism are forms of cruelty

When I read, and re-read how delegates at the Copenhagen climate change conference broke into applause at Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez’s attack on capitalism my strongest reaction has nothing to do with climate change nor the wealth transfer that motivated so much of the conference. I am appalled at the cruelty of those delegates. I am still, days later, astounded at the utter inhumanity of people that would burst into applause in support of an economic and political system noted for shortages, long lines, and tyrants like Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Castro.

What those people applauded for was a political class that could keep the masses in check, in gray uniforms, gray housing, and educated to not question but to meet the needs of the state. It was applause for the old Soviet Union, the former East Germany, the KGB, the Stasi, and the Gulag. It was a denunciation of the human potential to rise, to soar, and to achieve success, to lift oneself out of poverty and to lend a helping hand to friend and family. The applause was acceptance that there must be a privileged political class, a special class of people to rule over and keep excellence in check when it is not for the state, and to reward mediocrity, even sloth when the state chooses.

To the people all over the world that read this blog, in socialist nations and in nations like the U.S. that are rapidly moving toward becoming socialist societies, I have to ask, do you not see in yourself and the people around you the ability to rise, to soar, and to achieve success?

I know that capitalism is far from perfect, but is the answer to problems of capitalism the denunciation of the best in human nature and human potential? Did the delegates that cheered for Chavez really desire to purge people of the opportunity to lift themselves up to a better life? Did those delegates believe that the world would be a better place if more governments possessed the power to use force to keep their citizenry in line? Did those that cheered really believe that it is better to live in a world where disagreeing with those in power means prison, even death?

Because that folks is what Socialism, Marxism, and Communism really mean. These systems marry the economic and political sectors of a society, thus placing enormous power in the hands of the government. Human nature and history prove the truth that power corrupts and the power of Socialist and Communists government corrupts absolutely. If the ruling class finds favor with you then all is good for you. If the ruling class decides not to show you favor or simply does a poor job of ruling, your life is bad. There are no options under that sort of rule unless those in power grant options or the appearance of options. You either gain favor with those in power or you languish.

As DougRoss@Journal challenges in an Open Letter to Marxists:

So, is your end game merely a compromise? – accepting dictatorship and the enormous police state necessary to prevent the citizenry from trying to improve their individual circumstances. And then there’s the problem of production incentives, including forced labor, because of the unsustainable economic (un-)dynamic created by communism when individuals cannot profit from their own labor.

The answer to capitalism’s faults is to teach the values of education, self reliance, and accomplishment because individuals under freedom have the best lives, the best chance to better themselves, and the greatest potential to solve the world’s problems. Applause for tyrants like Chavez is simply cruelty to those less fortunate; the masses trapped in all powerful states.

Tagged as: berlin, berlin wall, capitalism, castro, chavez, china, communism, communist, copenhagen, Cuba, democratic socialism, east german, east germany, fidel castro, former soviet union, global warming, hugo chavez, iron curtain, kgb, mao, marx, marxism, marxist, socialism, socialist, soviet union, stalin, stasi, u.s.s.r, UN, United Nations, ussr, venezuela