It’s a Slippery Slope
Karl Marx
John McCain thinks giving folks a tax break is socialism, I call it opportunity.”
- Barack Obama
“It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success too. My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody … I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
- Barack Obama
“so·cial·ism - a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done”
- Merraim-Webster Dictionary
“When, therefore, capital is converted into common property, into the property of all members of society, personal property is not thereby transformed into social property. It is only the social character of the property that is changed. It loses its class character.
You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property. But in your existing society, private property is already done away with for nine-tenths of the population; its existence for the few is solely due to its non-existence in the hands of those nine-tenths. You reproach us, therefore, with intending to do away with a form of property, the necessary condition for whose existence is the non-existence of any property for the immense majority of society.
Nevertheless, in most advanced countries, the following will be pretty generally applicable.
- Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
- A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
- Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.
- Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.”
- Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto
“Yes, socialism has now washed over free market capitalism and only a very brave, or foolhardy few would protest.”
- Sam Donaldson, ABC News 10/14/08
Sound familiar?
Subscribe to Posts
badguy
says:
Added on October 21st, 2008 at 10:50 amFinally, a blog about that nasty term, “socialism”.
This topic was prominently discussed on “Real Time w/Bill Maher” this past week. I didn’t catch the guy’s name – independent Senator from Vermont – but he had some interesting things to say about the topic.
How is socialism different from the practices of the early, 1st Century church?
BuddyO
(blog author) says:
Added on October 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pmFrom Acts 4:34-37
Big difference here, the first sentence “All the believers were one in heart and mind”. This was communal charitable living out of a common purpose and genuine generosity. Sharing what they had because they shared a bigger purpose. There was no mandate except for honesty.
Socialism is governmentally enforced mandated charity; where wealth is spread equally to all except for those who do the spreading (they get substantially more). Even Marx figured out that it was flawed and doomed to failure, thus the impetus for the creation of the Communist Manifesto. We are not capable of weilding this kind of power over people. Charity must be a willing, selfless act, one from the heart or it’s no good to anyone.
Look at the model God gives us, the way He loves us. He wants our love in return, but He will not mandate it. In the same way,we should be taking care of those who need (the poor, the hungry, the widow) but because that’s where our heart is, not because we are compelled by the state to do so.
Christian Beyer
says:
Added on October 21st, 2008 at 8:23 pmBad, Buddy’s right. The difference is that in the early church it was voluntary and with government it is enforced. And usually it is mismanaged as well. So I think governmentally prescribed socialism is an impending train wreck. But….
Unless those people who call themselves Christians (among those of other moralistic traditions) begin to consider voluntary “socialism” seriously then enforced socialism is inevitable. We already are there.
I’ve said it before – the church will continue to lose it’s validity when we have multi-millionaire preachers, clergy living in mansions and (more importantly) very, very wealthy ‘believers’ who think that capitalism has it’s roots in the Bible. IMHO think it is still the best evil of all the worldly evils out there but it there is still nothing remotely resembling this competitive system in the Gospel.
Christian Beyer
says:
Added on October 21st, 2008 at 8:25 pmNice to see some vital signs over here again.
BuddyO
(blog author) says:
Added on October 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 amThe thing with this is that’s how the far left, who are typically Atheists, will react. I think there is a innate pull in humanity (even the rocks cry out) that leads people to be compassionate and caring for those who are less fortunate. When you do not have Christ as a foundation to rely on, the best solution is Government intervention.
Right, and there’s nothing there to help with the problems of internet infrastructure and cell phone abuse either…
Christian Beyer
says:
Added on October 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pmLook, you promised me that you would stop bringing up cell phone abuse. It was long time ago, I learned my lesson and made amends with my phone. It’s bad enough that I have to keep that sticker in my window.
BuddyO
(blog author) says:
Added on October 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 amT to the Gizzle
says:
Added on October 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pmI need to write a post about Obama and socialism. He’s a pretty flaming socialist to me and we seem to talk about this at work every single day. Okay…I am going to attempt to focus and write a post.
Christian Beyer
says:
Added on October 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pmTara? Is that you? Maybe you should be sitting down. You must have a fever.
T to the Gizzle
says:
Added on October 29th, 2008 at 9:31 pmHAHAHA, I know!!!! You may want to sit down for this, but I now tend to favor capitalism over socialism and I understand why people hate capitalism. If you become obsessed with competition and making money, than capitalism will get out of control (as it has). For other business geeks like me, I see the market as a fun way to come up with new ideas, constantly challenge the “status quo” and try to address a need. There are many fantastic social entrepreneurs who develop community programs from a business standpoint. I just can’t imagine how boring it would be if the government took over everything. Especially the idea of a state-run music venue
, that deserves a page full of sad faces.
Wow, Buddy I agree with you! Socialism does seem to be (for many) a replacement for Christ-centered kindness. But to me, Christ-centered kindness is so much more involved than what socialism offers. If only we could put our feet up and allow the government to take care of that “giving back” portion….
~Tara
BuddyO
(blog author) says:
Added on October 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pmO … M … G !!!
Does that mean you’re changing your vote?!?!
That’s the problem though isn’t it? We all want to put our feet UP instead of putting our feet FORWARD and actually doing something… taking responsibility for ourselves and the part we are called to play in society.
My mom sent me a quote yesterday from Gerald Ford:
“A government big enough to give you what you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”
How true is that? It’s not Government’s role to ‘give us what we want’, the price is too high. We need to be responsible and accountable for and to each ourselves and each other.
search marketing
says:
Added on November 12th, 2011 at 11:37 amNice post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired! Very helpful information particularly the ultimate phase
I maintain such info much. I used to be seeking this certain information for a very long time. Thanks and best of luck.