from the book: Shadow Dancing on the Grave of Hope:
One of the central errors of the left is, “If there is inequality, there must be inequity.” If a group has a lower income, less education, poorer housing, etc., this must be the result of systemic and systematic discrimination toward them. This is such nonsense that only university-based or government-sponsored groups maintain it. Groups differ in many ways; behavior toward work, attitudes to the use and value of time, dependability, attitudes to training and education, reverence for deferred goals, saving, and etc. To expect groups with different value systems to achieve at the same level is a fevered dream. Yet much of the rhetoric of “social justice” supporting government intervention is directed by the notion of systemic discrimination. Favored groups become net tax consumers which further degrades their ability to function. And that’s socialism for you.
“The most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. Therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive."–Thomas Sowell. Dr. Sowell could have added that places such as political organizations, universities, government schools and other state-run institutions are places where ideas do not have to work and, in accord with his observation, these are the places where the ideas of the political left find homes. Socialism is supported by the young, university professors, politicians, members of the social sciences and social services–all members of groups which need produce nothing but spin to show the exceptional potential which can only be unleashed by application of their progressive concepts.
Socialism in action is a few people making decisions which affect millions. Free enterprise is millions of people making decisions which affect primarily themselves.
A socialist believes that perfection is attainable with enough legislation and that efficiency is irrelevant. A libertarian believes that perfectibility is irrelevant because it is unattainable and that legislation drives mankind further from efficiency.
Socialist theory holds that socialism has two main virtues. The first is that it is a more efficient and equitable economic system. This has been disproved in all cases. The second is that the relentless indoctrination by socialist institutions will produce a “new socialist man” who will be wise, socially responsible and eager to serve the state with selfless heroism, giving his time, effort and fortune to the common good. This has also been demonstrated to be false because most of the pretended altruism under socialism is, as Ambrose Bierce said, “The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." Karl Marx. Karl hadn’t consulted a behavior analyst. If he had, he would have been told that application of his incentive-destroying rule would decrease ability (from–output) and increase need (to–amount of free stuff required). This guiding principle of communism ensures, according to a reinforcement analysis, that ability will be reduced and needs increased, outcomes which have occurred wherever this has been tried. The rule about “redistribution of income” reduces the incentive of both the tax-producer and the tax-consumer. “Why should I work harder if my wealth is taken from me”, and “Why should I work for wealth if it is given to me?” A lot of people try to get on the “free government money” bandwagon by demonstrating their great level of “need” and victim status.
The belief in benign and effective government agencies leads to the widest separation between the recipients of the service and the providers, to the widest separation between pay and usefulness. It ensures the service will be many times less efficient than non-government alternatives. The less influence the recipient has over the economic benefits of the provider, the less productive the service will be. Socialism will never be successful because those who make economic decisions have no stake in the outcome. Thence, their behavior is ineffective and wildly wrong.
Cheerio and ttfn,
Grant Coulson
Cui Bono–Cherchez les Contingencies
