In Theory

At USA Today Alex Berezow explains the inevitable outcome of socialism:

In an ideal socialist society, “the people” own the means of production. Everyone’s basic needs are met. Leaders are elected democratically.

When implemented, however, human nature intervenes. Powerful elites take charge. This group, which usually consists of a charismatic individual and his politically loyal kleptocrats, becomes the true owners of the means of production. They exist largely to serve themselves, so voices of opposition must be suppressed. Free speech is abandoned and, eventually, fair elections are too.

Look no further than Venezuela for an example of how an allegedly socialist utopia necessarily leads to a communist crackdown. We are watching history repeat itself. As the socialist system collapses, Maduro implements tyranny. That’s how it works. That’s how it always works.

Make no mistake. The same is true of capitalism. Human nature will always intervene. Deals will always be cut for the politically connected or your relatives or just people that a powerful politician likes. It’s why the laws constraining monopolies go unenforced. It’s why Jeff Immelt was named a high advisor to Barack Obama in an area in which he was a prime offender.

It is true of every -ism. It is fine for your views to be informed by socialism, capitalism, egalitarianism, libertarianism, or a thousand other values. When they become your views it inevitably points the road to disaster.

My solution to that is to keep government small and close, limited and pragmatic and pay attention to it. That doesn’t prevent the disaster. It just mitigates the risk.

Fellow St. Louisan Yogi Berra once said that in theory there is no difference between practice in theory. In practice there is. That’s the problem with the -isms.