The Problem with Socialism
Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 9 months ago to Books
From the publisher:
What’s the Problem with Socialism? Let’s start with…everything. So says bestselling author and professor of economics Thomas J. DiLorenzo, who sets the record straight in this concise and lively primer on an economic theory that’s gaining popularity—with help from Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders—despite its universal failure as an economic model and its truly horrific record on human rights. In sixteen eye-opening chapters, DiLorenzo reveals how socialism inevitably makes inequality worse, why socialism was behind the worst government-sponsored mass murders in history, the myth of “successful” Scandinavian socialism; how socialism is worse—far worse—for the environment than capitalism, and more. As DiLorenzo shows, and history proves, socialism is the answer only if you want increasing unemployment and poverty, stifling bureaucracy if not outright political tyranny, catastrophic environmental pollution, rotten schools, and so many social ills that it takes a book like this to cover just the big ones. Provocative, timely, essential reading, Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s The Problem with Socialism is an instant classic comparable to Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson.
Thomas DiLorenzo is professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland and a member of the senior faculty of the Mises Institute. He is the author of The Real Lincoln; How Capitalism Saved America; Lincoln Unmasked; Hamilton’s Curse; Organized Crime: The Unvarnished Truth About Government; and The Problem with Socialism.
What’s the Problem with Socialism? Let’s start with…everything. So says bestselling author and professor of economics Thomas J. DiLorenzo, who sets the record straight in this concise and lively primer on an economic theory that’s gaining popularity—with help from Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders—despite its universal failure as an economic model and its truly horrific record on human rights. In sixteen eye-opening chapters, DiLorenzo reveals how socialism inevitably makes inequality worse, why socialism was behind the worst government-sponsored mass murders in history, the myth of “successful” Scandinavian socialism; how socialism is worse—far worse—for the environment than capitalism, and more. As DiLorenzo shows, and history proves, socialism is the answer only if you want increasing unemployment and poverty, stifling bureaucracy if not outright political tyranny, catastrophic environmental pollution, rotten schools, and so many social ills that it takes a book like this to cover just the big ones. Provocative, timely, essential reading, Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s The Problem with Socialism is an instant classic comparable to Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson.
Thomas DiLorenzo is professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland and a member of the senior faculty of the Mises Institute. He is the author of The Real Lincoln; How Capitalism Saved America; Lincoln Unmasked; Hamilton’s Curse; Organized Crime: The Unvarnished Truth About Government; and The Problem with Socialism.
Yes, the solution will be gradual but it must be done by someone who is ethical and opposes government programs. If you keep consenting to statist control, the gradual solution is just delayed again, as it has been for 30 years of GOP betrayals interspersed with aruably more "honest" Democrat socialism.
Everyone is not statist, but Trump is.
Back in the 80s New Zealand had a revolution in government and turned away from socialism to free market solutions. It you read the accounts from the insiders who achieved that miracle, its clear that it was only done because they were relentless in pursuit of free market solutions, not because they made continual compromises. I think this is an example that should be followed in the US.
(NZ gradually returned to more socialism, so there is no rest for those who know that liberty is the solution.)
Trump has used the system. I admit I do too. I think it's really stupid to have tax credits for buying "energy efficient" furnaces, but when I replaced mine I took the money. I guess I'm a statist too.
I don't think any career politicians is really going to make significant inroads in the power of government. I think it will take someone who has spent most of their lives in the private sector. Trump has done so. Yes, he does make me bang my head against my desk from time to time -- but then he may have a better understanding of what the populace will support than we do.
Resistance is futile.
You propose to entrust government to Trump, someone who has a proven record of looting for his own benefit, and who throws irrational proposals out just to get votes. Same old rubbish.
So just ignore history and conclude that no one will ever fix government so it gives you an excuse to consent to statist evil.
There is a small minority of people who really understand freedom, some more that kind of like it, but I think Romney was right that 47% (and that was THEN) just want free goodies and are out for themselves only.
If Trump finally straightens out immigration, gives us some fairer trade and generally makes the government a little less wasteful, I'll consider it successful and vote for someone who will do even more next time.
As I said, almost the entire country is statist. You will not solve that by a dictator taking control who will, in a few short years remove all of the support for government that has been carefully built up over decades. You solve that by education -- and possibly a few good examples.
Samuel Adams
"The socialist poison in America is the greatest danger to our society. That's why HilLIEry is so dangerous - far more than Trump because Trump is really naive about these things. HilLIEry, Obama, and Sanders and the so-called "progressives" have created a path to the destruction of the greatest wealth-producing machine the world has ever known which they will blame on the very people who created it because a 19th century German "philosopher" created a ridiculous idea that there should be economic equality and that "the state" should impose this, and this would "miraculously" lead to peace and harmony. We have over 100 years now of how IT HAS FAILED EVERYWHERE!! And yet they insist that everywhere else just didn't do it "the right way". That's because IT DOESN'T WORK!!" -- Patric Hale
Patric writes eloquently and enthusiastically pro-capitalism and anti-socialism, and has switched to supporting Gary Johnson. I may drop in some more of his comments that this group may enjoy.
I agree that the response is. It would have worked "if only". But human nature can't be subjugated by "if only..." And will defeat any statist plan.
An explination of a complex issue from a intellegent person, well done
In the fifteen minutes he was gone, hundreds of cars, trucks and buses passed by, each with different destinations, routes, purposes, and options. I thought, a socialist is a person who thinks that they are capable of controlling and managing an economy thousands of times more complex than the those cars and that they could do it better than all those drivers individually.
No wonder socialism ends up as a massive wreck.
Insuring that you will forfeit your liberties and future.
Have you ever watched your coworkers get drunk because there is a "free bar"? These are people who can certainly afford to buy alcohol in sufficient quantities to become drunk without concern for the price. They generally avoid doing that, but if it's free, they'll make asses of themselves.
Must be a quantum entanglement of sorts...laughing
Load more comments...