Marxism Lite

By Craig Ziemba / guest columnist

March 02, 2008 12:56 am

— The domestic proposals of both Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama are a fascinating glimpse into the underlying philosophies that guide the Left. Although throughout history, Marxism has failed miserably everywhere it’s been tried, it nonetheless still holds a powerfully seductive appeal.
Marxism’s plan to empower the State to equalize incomes and lift up the poor sounds much better than the capitalist philosophy which empowers individuals to raise themselves up through hard work in a free market. The basic premise behind Karl Marx’s theory is that the State should own the means of production and distribution of wealth (or property). Personal rights, earnings, and private property are subordinated to the State ostensibly for some well-intentioned greater good (decided by guess who).
In the past century, Marxist governments forcibly converted Russia, China, and much of the Third World into centrally-planned economies with disastrous results. Starvation, mass migrations, genocide, and repression resulted in what historians estimate were somewhere between 75 and 100 million deaths. The worker’s paradise never materialized. State-run economies and societies proved to be vastly inferior to free market capitalism when it came to providing not only the chance for wealth, but also for basic human needs. Freedom, both personal and economic, it turns out, actually provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Communist-style Marxism was such a disaster that very few even on the Left will claim it as a model today. But the root belief that the State should control various aspects of economic and social life still persists. Today’s Leftists practice a kinder, gentler, style of socialism in which the State seeks more power to “help the children” or the poor. Call it Marxism Lite.
Obama’s promise of federally-run health care and Hillary’s proposals for more food stamps, summer lunch programs, and government child care from birth to five years of age are classic examples of how Leftists propose to empower the State, and by extension themselves, by offering to use the coercive power of the government to right perceived wrongs.
When Barak Obama speaks of lifting up the poor, it sounds compassionate, even noble. But listen a little longer and you’ll see that he plans to lift up those who pay no income tax by further raising taxes on middle and upper income wage earners in order to redistribute wealth in the Marxist tradition. The sad truth is that if you could wave a magic wand and instantly redistribute every cent of America’s wealth equally, five years later you’d still have rich and poor, haves and have-nots because some are always willing to work harder and save more than others.
Taking from one citizen or group of citizens what they have lawfully earned to give to another group of citizens is wrong whether it transfers money from the poor to the rich or vice versa.
And don’t kid yourself: the kinder, gentler approach to socialism won’t last. All Marxist systems eventually operate with a heavy hand because they have to in order to stay in power. Their dominating character is contrary both to the human spirit and especially to the American ideals of independence and self-reliance. Additionally, those of us who still believe in quaint things like our Constitution and Bill of Rights can see that Marxism is diametrically opposed to the ideals of limited government that our future President must swear to defend and uphold.

Craig Ziemba is a pilot who lives in Meridian. To schedule Craig to speak to your civic organization or church, email him at craigziemba@aol.com