<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Some people credit George Santayana, a Spanish-American philosopher with having originated this saying. Others say it was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The originator of the phrase is secondary to its relevance in the USA today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You and I are fortunate to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth. The chances that some of the greatest free thinkers in the world would congregate in the 13 original colonies at the same time must be astronomical. That they would risk their lives to create what is now the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever seen seems providential. Thanks to our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, an undying belief in capitalism, and an immeasurable number of patriots, in less than 250 years the USA became a global superpower. Sadly, that too many young Americans don’t understand this paragraph as well as their elders was completely predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are years into the indoctrination of our children. Fewer and fewer schools require students to take Civics classes. We have no right to expect young people to understand the workings of our government, complex as they are, if they weren’t introduced to them. K-12 students today receive few hours of World History. We, therefore, have no right to expect young people to possess the information to make an educated decision about capitalism vs. socialism. They were never told of the horrors of socialism that cost hundreds of millions of innocent people their lives in the 20th century. Instead, our young people are fed propaganda that aggrandizes the tenets of socialism. We shouldn’t expect the uninitiated to turn away from “free” stuff. (Informed people understand there is no such thing as “free” stuff. Before the government can give something to someone who hasn’t earned it, it must first confiscate it from those who did earn it). That explains why a growing number of young people, approaching 50%, say they prefer socialism to capitalism. That is like asking 4 year olds if they had to choose just one food to eat for the rest of their lives, would they choose ice cream or brussels sprouts? Our kids are no longer being taught how to think, they are being taught what to think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are other, more recent litmus tests for deciding which is better, capitalism, or socialism. In 1948, Korea split into 2 countries, the Republic of South Korea supported by the U.S., (capitalist) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, supported by the USSR (socialist). It would be fair to assume that people in both countries were approximately equal at that time. Today, the S. Korean people enjoy the fruits of a bustling economy and freedom abounds. They are major exporters to the rest of the world. Meanwhile, 42% of N. Koreans are undernourished and less than 1% have access to an open internet. Do our young people know this? How would they survive if 99% of them were to lose access to the internet? I’m not saying it would happen here. I’m saying it is happening elsewhere. Right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the conclusion of WWII, Germany was split into 2 countries. The Federal Republic of Germany (West) was supported by the U.S. (capitalist), and the German Democratic Republic (East) supported by the USSR (socialist). East Germany built the 27 mile long Berlin Wall dividing the 2 countries. The difference in the 2 economic systems could be summed up by the auto industry during the ensuing Cold War, 1947-1991. West Germans were busy building and exporting high value BMWs, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen vehicles. East Germans were building the Trabant. It was a homely little auto powered by a 2-cycle engine. (Think chain saws, outboard motors, and snowmobiles). East Berliners waited for years on a waiting list to receive their little “Trabis”. There is only one thing we should be telling our young people about the Berlin Wall. When the Wall separating the 2 countries came down in 1991, Germans fled from the East to the West, not from the West to the East. Need I say more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the late 1950s and early 1960s both Cuba and Singapore experienced dramatic changes in leadership. At that time Cuba was far wealthier than Singapore. Today, Singapore is rich while Cuba is destitute. The major difference is that Singapore chose free markets and low taxes (capitalism) while Cuba chose central planning and governmental control (socialism). Again, the right question to ask those who think socialism is better than capitalism is this: If socialism is so good, why do people risk their lives every day trying to come to the U.S. from Cuba in rafts they build out of anything that will float? And why are there no rafts going in the other direction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 1989 Poland had spent 4 decades under the socialist rule of the USSR. In 1990 they said enough is enough, and fought their way out. At that same time, Venezuela was among the richest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Poland turned to a free market economy and today it is one of the 25 largest economies in the world. In 1990 Venezuela had the highest standard of living in Latin America. In the late 90s socialists took control of all forms of business and production. When they took control of the country Venezuela was producing 3.45 million barrels of oil a day. As of 2020, thanks to the gross inefficiencies of government control, it was producing 310,000 barrels a day. A 2019-2020 National Survey of Living Conditions study found that 96% of Venezuelans live in poverty with 90% lacking reliable electricity. Socialism ultimately produces its goal of equality. Everyone except the leaders are equally poor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of their unquenchable thirst for power, and a dearth of popular policies, the Dem. Party has chosen to annex the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). While Dems. believe they will be able to control new DSA congressional members, the socialists understand that it never works that way. In 2020 there were 101 members of the DSA elected to public offices in the U.S. As of 2025 the number stood at 250, and 90% of them have been elected since 2019. The number is almost certainly larger since last week’s election. As the DSA representation continues to grow, aided by cover given by Democrats, their power in the party will grow too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One definition of the term useful idiots is: Naive or credulous people who are easily manipulated to support a political cause without understanding how they are being used. It is a term historically applied to individuals exploited for propaganda or political advantage. If ever there was a group of people that fits this definition, it is the Democrat Party right now. Members of the DSA understand they can’t get a foothold in American politics if they run under the label of DSA. So they attach themselves to an existing host like a tick to a dog. They suggest the relationship is symbiotic. But the tick causes distress and irritates the host. When the time is right their plan is to exit the host when it is no longer of use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no economic system that can simultaneously improve the lot of mankind while ensuring equality for all. But history has proven, I list some of that proof above, that no economic system has succeeded in lifting more people out of poverty than capitalism. I am not suggesting that capitalism is a perfect system. Like anything else, we must work to make it better. I am suggesting that capitalism loses its positive effects when it is diluted with socialism. We must never forget that. We must take on the challenge of informing our children and grandchildren of the wonder that is capitalism. To do less is to doom those children to a dark future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. Bob <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Some people credit George Santayana, a Spanish-American philosopher with having originated this saying. Others say it was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The originator of the phrase is secondary to its relevance in the USA today. 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