2.May.2009 at 2 | xn
Socialism and Babel
“For socialism is not merely the labor question, it is before all things the atheistic question, the question of the form taken by atheism today, the question of the tower of Babel built without God, not to mount to Heaven from earth but to set up Heaven on earth.” -Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamozov
I often focus on the economic shortcomings of socialism, but not its atheistic nature. I think Dostoevsky should know a thing or two about it.
It’s not primarily about economics.
More lives have been taken in the name of “Heaven on earth” than have ever been taken in the name of God. Ironic that the most bloody regimes ever seen on earth all began with the sincere belief that man can acheive utopia, equality, and peace.
Hi Christian,
I’m just wondering why you are posting about socialism? Would you say that this is a real ‘threat’ given the new political climate in America? I think using the term socialism for some of the choices Obama is making might be a way to make people scared, because socialism is so closely associated with communism, and we all know what that can lead to…
Living in The Netherlands, I know what it’s like to live in a country with Big Government and strong social agendas and policies. I wouldn’t call it a socialist country though, because the ideology of creating a socialist state is not there. The past decades there has been no socialist rule, in fact I don’t believe the socialist parties have ever been ‘in charge’, but the social policies have been formed by Christian parties with a strong sense of responsibility for the ‘least of these’.
Hoi Mark! Hoe gaat het?
Great question. Yes, I do see socialism as a real “threat”, but a backdoor threat, not a frontal assault. The “Don’t Tread On Me” crowd (me included) wouldn’t stand for it if it was really called what it was. But using the populist language of class envy was enough to get Obama elected and to get death threats on AIG execs.
I am keenly interested in socialism right now for several reasons, in no particular order:
1. I watched a YouTube video with Ted Nugent, discussing the 2nd Amendment, and he kept repeating the phrase, “I am a FREE MAN!” That has been rolling around in my head for several weeks.
2. I read Atlas Shrugged, not because I knew how profound it was, but because Deb had read it several years ago, and has been recommending it to me ever since. I am struck by the immoral nature, the complete assault on freedom, of the idea that someone, by virtue of their need, has a claim to what another person has. That of course is the crux of socialism, and President Obama has certainly embraced that idea. Taking from someone at the point of a gun, to give to someone else, and them claiming credit for being compassionate, is not admirable in my book.
3. I followed that up by reading 1984, and am currently reading The Brothers K….Chilling.
4. I attended a conference last year sponsored by the Acton Institute, committed to combining good intentions with sound economics. I am convinced that the direction President Obama (and a willing Congress) is taking us will lead to an economic train wreck. Why exactly are we embracing “solutions” that Western Europe is abandoning as failed?
Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head. In the last four months I’ve seen our banking system for all intents and purposes nationalized (just ask the financial institutions who are trying unsuccessfully to repay the TARP $$…and look at the attempt to turn the govt’s share of common stock – without voting privileges – into preferred stock, with voting privileges), I’ve seen our gov’t decide how much money companies should be allowed to pay their staff, I’ve seen a big segment of the auto industry nationalized…and that’s only 100 days!
I have a real concern that we are giving our freedoms away and are going to be shaking our heads soon, saying “What the heck just happened?”.
I’m very interested in your perspective from the Netherlands. I’d like to hear more on your take on gov’t policies there. I know they dropped the ball…Clinton had midnight basketball, but I never got free midnight showarma there!
–xn
@Mark
I think there are two ways to look at the same issues. You can look at it like you do, losing certain freedoms, and having more government control. On the other hand you could look at it from a social perspective that by giving up some of your freedoms, pay a little more taxes, more security and equality is created. That’s how I see the policies over here. By no means perfect, and no free shoarma at midnight…, but there is a definite safety net for those who can’t participate in society. Years ago most of the government owned companies were privatized (KLM, train, postal services etc), with the economic crisis there is a trend backwards, especially in the banking world, like the US. I think the economic crisis for a large part was caused by fear, the bubble of unbridled expansion burst, causing fear and uncertainty, people started to hang on to their money, banks stopped lending money and companies folded or are about to. Strong companies ended up going bankrupt due to a lack of cash, not because they were unhealthy companies. I think most of the governments tried to lower the fear and uncertainty by building in some guarantees for consumers, such as injecting large sums of cash and sometimes taking over to keep a bank from closing.
Anyway, I don’t know what the answer is, I just know there is something in between capitalism and socialism, a place where there are checks and balances, where there is true democracy and freedom, but still a sense of community where everyone is taken care of, maybe social capitalism…a free market with a bottom-line.