Reason.tv: The Meaning of Socialism – Q&A with National Review’s Kevin Williamson
by Reason TVWhat’s the real definition of socialism? How is it distinct from regulation and a social welfare state? Why are intellectuals still enamored of a system that brought us Stalin, Hitler, and more recently Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong-Il? And what can the United States learn from Sweden about free enterprise and capitalism?
Reason.tv’s Nick Gillespie sat down with Kevin Williamson, who is deputy managing editor of National Review and author of a new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Socialism, to discuss the meaning of socialism in history and the current moment.
About 5.30 minutes.
Camera by Jim Epstein and Anthony Fisher; edited by Epstein.
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36 Comments
The meaning of "socialism" is that you have NO rights – the State has all power over your "property" (which includes yourself), and that you MUST submit to the "will" of the collective… i.e. "Councils"; "Agencies"; "Departments" et.c. and that your life is NOT your own… I bet Obamacare will open some eyes…
Never forget that the Berlin Wall was meant to keep people from escaping the "Socialist Paradise" – not as a barrier to keep "those yearning to be free" out…
Capitalism is the ONLY moral economic system in all of human history…
Defend it vigorously or suffer the consequences…
An aside? Did that French "Socialist" rapist MF from the IMF live as a "common man"? HELL NO!!! Looked more like a comfortable life comparable to an… an… uhh… What's that word I'm searching for? "Aristocrat"? Like those who populate the British "House of LORDS"??? Ahh… the ruling class… Clearly our "betters", no?
Interesting video.
They mention "The Pickens Plan" at about 3:01 into the clip.
I commented on that same topic today, on Christopher Horners thread, several threads back.
Boone Pickens wants his socialized natural gas, through central planning, all at YOUR expense.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel or envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
"…its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Apparently, there will be more than enough of that to go around in the future.
We will all be blessed, with a double dose of the Obama Malaise.
Lets ask someone who needed a shave.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Communist_Manife...
"The book contains Marx and Engels' Marxist theories about the nature of society and politics, that in their own words, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." It also briefly features their ideas for how the capitalist society of the time would eventually be replaced by socialism, and then eventually communism."
They are still working on that last bit. They just never seem to get there.
I guess they think after all the failures, Obama can make it happen.
Obamas socialism?
I posted this earlier today http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1388179/R... . I am thinking about taking the summer off, and going walk-about with my camera. Between now, and next summer, right before the election, I know I can come up with a book of photographs, to be released right prior to election time. Entitle it "Obama's America".
It could tilt the election.
Kevin is both right and wrong on Obamacare – It is not "socialism" in the sense the the government will not "own" the hospitals and clinics and such – that is Fascism… However… Can anyone explain the practical difference between the two when under Fascism the "owners" have absolutely no "rights" other than those they can negotiate with the "government"?
Negotiable "rights" are negatable "rights", and thus constitute nothing more than a "privilege" subject to the whims of those with all the guns… i.e. – those with the power (The MAN???)
Those are some interesting pictures, I especially liked the train and the one of the Shasta dam.
That stuff was from the 40s.
Black Tuesday of course was 1929 and Smoot-Hawley 1930.
But you of course know all that.
I don't like that book title CL, sorry.
These political models are only scales, Obamacare is socialism. No it may not be direct public ownership of the property, but it is direct state control over the industry including by necessity, redistribution of wealth. Just as "socialism" is supposed to be a step along the way to communism, Obamacare is just a means to get to single payer, state health care.
When the state defines a minimum level of care it is only a matter of time until that level is the only level of care that is supplied to all – save for the elites. This is their goal, and it goes beyond socialism, it is Marxism.
Yes it is all statism and the key is the rejection of individual liberties and rights.
Reagan said this many years ago, "One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine." – Ronald Reagan
I fully understand the imagery that is intended Cowboy , but I agree…..
…the title is just not right and quite a bit unsettling.
Great idea, though.
"Never forget that the Berlin Wall was meant to keep people from escaping the "Socialist Paradise" – not as a barrier to keep "those yearning to be free" out…"
It is instructive that all these well meaning do gooders and their compassionate socialist programs always end up needing to be forced upon a people. It is only common sense to conclude that if such a system was so great this would not be necessary.
And yet there just seems to be such a total lack of common sense out there among the great unwashed.
You have of course seen this… very sad really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm1KOBMg1Y8
I think the title is very fitting.
I intend to show the most horrific scenes of Americana available.
Starving meth heads, living under highway overpasses in Chicago.
Dead gang members in Washington, DC.
Dust blowing through the once fertile cropland of California.
Broken infrastructure, crumbling buildings, rutted highways.
Contrasted with the glitz and glitter of Wall Street, and K Street Lobbyists.
Does that bring it into focus?
Of course and the title would make the point you are aiming for yes.
But remember also Obama is just one tool of the statist machine.
He is not a king, he did not cause these things by himself.
You know a lot of what you just described is all in Atlas Shrugged Pt I.
If you planning to roam the streets of DC I hope you bring some backup man.
Yep… "splitting hairs"; "mincing words"… whatever… All to the same practical effect. It is my understanding that the "difference" between Socialism/Communism and Fascism is that S/C means the State owns the "means of production" and all other property, whereas under Fascism private individuals or corporations "own" their "property", but have no rights to it as such… No real difference…
I could kick myself for losing the source because it so dramatically made your "description" point… Reds and Islamists (and a few other "historical groups") all used the same tactics of moving in on the populations of less developed or tribal communities and bought them off with "healthcare" and a little bit of technology (improved ag or animal husbandry tech), then got them to surrender their weapons, and finally killed or "disappeared" any villagers that raised opposition to their pogrom – er, program…
There is no "free lunch"…
I have not seen Part One of Atlas, but have read the book entirely through, several times throughout the years.
Obama is not a king?
Shhhh!
Don't tell him that.
He will be upset.
A perfect audience for The New York Banner and Ellsworth M. Toohey, eh?
After choking the bile back down I do thank you for such a "wonderful" video…
Two words; insect mentality.
Since the first human became self aware (or ate the apple, whatever) we, as a species, have been self serving. Nothing wrong with that, it's human nature. And a little bit of socialism (small 's') is a good thing, it serves the individual. Even the guy who throws himself on a grenade to save his buddies is serving himself in some way. His sense of honor won't let him do otherwise. But once the State takes precedent over the individual, all bets are off. When the State orders that same guy to throw himself on the grenade, chances are, he won't. Socialism not only robs you of your capital, and without some kind of capital you can't really be free, but it robs you of your honor, as well.
For the good of the hive, of course.
Socialism is a governments barrier insulating the government from the people's justice, compensation and due process. The proponents make sure it sings, smiles, dances, hugs and promises so for some people it seems so attractive. So normal and natural they feel it's humane!
More humane than anything else–or so it seems to people who are taken in by it.
Williamson's assessment of those who are in favor of socialism was brilliant. I've always felt the same but I couldn't articulate it. He hit it right on the head. Adolescents!
"It is instructive that all these well meaning do gooders and their compassionate socialist programs always end up needing to be forced upon a people."
Can we safely conclude, at this point, that these "well meaning do gooders" are, in fact, debauchees who but feign meaning well, and that their (false) "compassionate socialist programs" are, without exception, designed to be "forced upon a people," and in this particular instance, us. At what point will this Administration be openly acknowledged for the monstrous criminals that they are and just when will progressivism be recognized for the diabolical cult it is?
Just wondering.
"Socialism not only robs you of your capital, and without some kind of capital you can't really be free, but it robs you of your honor, as well."
And socialism, literally, extinguishes an individual's humanity. In socialism, we ultimately become insect-like because the person evaporates into the "people" or the "hive" (as it were).
Good observation.
Since absolutes are unobtainable such systems will always fail. They will always fail because "man" is imperfect. Someone will always emerge to become the tyrant. Someone will always emerge to overthrow the tyrant. Meanwhile, life will be miserable for the rest; nasty, brutish and short.
A well made explanation of Socialism. Williamson was dead on when he described that mind set as one of a child. Now a days, being a socialist is hip and trendy. Kids wear Che' T-shirts with pride without ever realizing the historical context behind him and his ideology.
To think that an argument as ironic as the one Marx made would be so fully embraced by so many is scary.
I mean… how the hell do you argue that in order to avoid man's estrangement from himself, man must estrange himself from free will? What the hell do you think the end result will be when no aspect of your life is immune to the influence of the State?
"…it robs you of your honor…"
And your dignity, sense of self-respect and value, your worth – and your sense of value toward others who have earned your respect…
Ever crush some ants? They come and collect the corpses – not for burial, but for consumption… Insect mentality is PERFECT – always admired that one from you… Spot on… di_dog done right 'gin with his excellent analysis…
I love me some Reason videos cross-posted here.
""…it robs you of your honor…"
And your dignity, sense of self-respect and value, your worth – and your sense of value toward others who have earned your respect…"
Heh heh heh. All that.
And your money to boot!
His windmill farm is a failure so he has to make up for that!!
Zombies??
I believe he intends to executive order himself another 4 years on the throne.
The first time I saw the Pickens Plan I was sort of in agreement, because he didn't mention getting the government to help. After I figured out he was looking for a government handout, I wondering why this billionaire couldn't just pay for it himself, if he didn't need the money. Soon after I just figured him to be another snake oil sales man and future articles talking about the scheme behind the Pickens Plan proved it.
If Obama care gets implemented, it will be too late for recovery. We will end up just like Greece or some other European country that can't stand on its own two feet. American exceptionalism will be a thing of the past if it isn't already.
Socialism is state control over the "means of production". Just what is this "means of production"? Is is some dusty gray factory that has just always been there somehow? No the "means of production" is you.
Socialism=Slavery.
If they take your property, they've stolen your past; if the put you in jail they've stolen your present; if they kill you, they've stolen your future. Socialism specializes in all of the above. As the "progressive" guru Saul Alinsky explains, the ends justifies the means.
It is the Borg. We will take your distinctiveness and make it our own. Yes, he (Picard) will make an excellent drone. Even the Borg had the ruling elite (hive queen…who eerily resembles the current First Lady…just look at the teeth and P90X biceps. Coincidence? I think not) who controlled the drones, to include sending them to their deaths when it suited the queen. We are the Borg. Resistance is futile.
Winston was right. good quote
Thanks. That's one of my favorite quotes. It kind of explains where liberals minds are at. This Kevin Williamson guy does a good job of that too.
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"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington
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