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A post I read on another forum I frequent...
In here you will see some things that even people on this board have quoted
-Opiates of the masses -
-From each according to his ability to each according to his need -
- Power corrupts ...._
I don't think there is any doubt, after listening to Obama's (and Michelle's) speeches; as well as looking at their various relationships and associations, that this is what they desire for our country.
These ideas were taken from many sources. If you have read any of Marx you will realize that this is the road we are headed down if Obama is elected. Is this what we really want? The famous saying - "There are none so blind as those that will not see" comes to mind. I would change that to say "There are none so blind as those that will not do their own research; and who depend on someone who may have another agenda to do their thinking for them."
According to Marx, socialism is a stage on the way to communism.
Utopia as Karl Marx envisioned it has three main characteristics. The first concept is that there should be no government, no central controlling body allocating resources. If something needs doing then some person, or group of people, will just do it for the good of all. Second there will to be no private ownership of anything. All things shall be held in common. If you need something, just take it. ("From each according to his abilities; to each according to his need.") Finally, there will be no religion. Marx was of the opinion that religion was created by the rich and the powerful to keep the lower classes down by pacifying them with the promise of a better existence in the fictional next life, if they accepted their lot in this life. ("Religion is the opiate of the masses.")
Marxism appeals to an innate sense of fairness in people. Nobody has more than anyone else. Everyone works for the good of everyone else. The problem is that Marx could not envision a way to get to his Utopian society beyond the masses violently overthrowing their oppressors. He also had a serious misunderstanding of human nature.
There have been various attempts to get to this Marxist ideal over the years which usually started with the creation of a socialist government. Humans aren't psychologically ready to live Marxism, so those that desire this "Utopia" realize that there needs to be a government formed or elected which will take everything away from them and train them to work for the good of all. Hence the creation of a interim socialist government. In the socialist era, the government owns everything and allows the allocation of all resources. Since the people own nothing they must now learn to do everything for the good of the whole. Finally after the people have been properly trained, the government is disbanded and the Marxist utopia is achieved.
However, anyone can see from this that human nature gets in the way. The people in power start to enjoy the power ("Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely") hence they begin to act to ensure they remain in power. Also, a very broad lazy streak runs through much of humanity. Most people only do as much work as they have to in order to survive. If the government is going to take from Joe the plumber and give it to me, then why do I need to work? Joe then sees that his hard work is going to help support me, a lazy bum who doesn't contribute anything myself, and thinks why should I bother. This normal human thought process means that the people never reach a state where the government, even if it were inclined to do so, can step aside. And the corruption just continues to fester.
Marxism and communism were initially the same thing. However as people tried to institute them, Marxism became the ideal that can never be achieved and communism came to be synonymous with the failed, corrupt, transitional, utrasocialist governments.
Socialism is any form of government that takes control of various industries away from the private sector (such as the Coal Industry?). All governments have some elements of socialism in the mix because there are just some things that the private sector cannot do. The current debate is over just how much the government should do.
In here you will see some things that even people on this board have quoted
-Opiates of the masses -
-From each according to his ability to each according to his need -
- Power corrupts ...._
I don't think there is any doubt, after listening to Obama's (and Michelle's) speeches; as well as looking at their various relationships and associations, that this is what they desire for our country.
These ideas were taken from many sources. If you have read any of Marx you will realize that this is the road we are headed down if Obama is elected. Is this what we really want? The famous saying - "There are none so blind as those that will not see" comes to mind. I would change that to say "There are none so blind as those that will not do their own research; and who depend on someone who may have another agenda to do their thinking for them."
According to Marx, socialism is a stage on the way to communism.
Utopia as Karl Marx envisioned it has three main characteristics. The first concept is that there should be no government, no central controlling body allocating resources. If something needs doing then some person, or group of people, will just do it for the good of all. Second there will to be no private ownership of anything. All things shall be held in common. If you need something, just take it. ("From each according to his abilities; to each according to his need.") Finally, there will be no religion. Marx was of the opinion that religion was created by the rich and the powerful to keep the lower classes down by pacifying them with the promise of a better existence in the fictional next life, if they accepted their lot in this life. ("Religion is the opiate of the masses.")
Marxism appeals to an innate sense of fairness in people. Nobody has more than anyone else. Everyone works for the good of everyone else. The problem is that Marx could not envision a way to get to his Utopian society beyond the masses violently overthrowing their oppressors. He also had a serious misunderstanding of human nature.
There have been various attempts to get to this Marxist ideal over the years which usually started with the creation of a socialist government. Humans aren't psychologically ready to live Marxism, so those that desire this "Utopia" realize that there needs to be a government formed or elected which will take everything away from them and train them to work for the good of all. Hence the creation of a interim socialist government. In the socialist era, the government owns everything and allows the allocation of all resources. Since the people own nothing they must now learn to do everything for the good of the whole. Finally after the people have been properly trained, the government is disbanded and the Marxist utopia is achieved.
However, anyone can see from this that human nature gets in the way. The people in power start to enjoy the power ("Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely") hence they begin to act to ensure they remain in power. Also, a very broad lazy streak runs through much of humanity. Most people only do as much work as they have to in order to survive. If the government is going to take from Joe the plumber and give it to me, then why do I need to work? Joe then sees that his hard work is going to help support me, a lazy bum who doesn't contribute anything myself, and thinks why should I bother. This normal human thought process means that the people never reach a state where the government, even if it were inclined to do so, can step aside. And the corruption just continues to fester.
Marxism and communism were initially the same thing. However as people tried to institute them, Marxism became the ideal that can never be achieved and communism came to be synonymous with the failed, corrupt, transitional, utrasocialist governments.
Socialism is any form of government that takes control of various industries away from the private sector (such as the Coal Industry?). All governments have some elements of socialism in the mix because there are just some things that the private sector cannot do. The current debate is over just how much the government should do.
