October 28, 2008 8:31 AM
IBD on Obama: The Audacity of Socialism
Just discovered that Investor's Business Daily has been running a series since July 28 called
Barack Obama has styled himself a centrist, but does his record support that claim?
In this series, we examine Senator Obama's past, his voting record and the people who've served as his advisers and mentors over the years. We'll show how the facts of Obama's actions and associations reveal a far more left-leaning tilt to his background -- and to his politics.
You can read one-paragraph summaries and access all 21 parts at Investor's Business Daily.
Lest you think that only people with enough money to invest will be sacrificing to make the Socialist Dream work in America, think of how it's fared in other countries. Here's a shot from Venezuela - you know, the Venezuela under Hugo Chavez, so admired by the Hollywood Elite.
When achievers are stripped of the rewards of achieving, why should they produce at all? Why not just feed at the government trough like everyone else?
And then who foots the bill?
Of course, no matter what the masses receive through redistribution, the bureaucrats mange to live high on the hog. So the myth for the masses worked up by Obama's class envy approach is that their lives will improve by taking away from the wealthy. In reality, no one's lives will improve but more people will be enslaved and freedom of the press will be eliminated so that those empowered will stay in power and continue to enjoy the trappings of wealth themselves.
For a refresher course, read George Orwell's Animal Farm, which begins:
Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the henhouses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. Word had gone round during the day that old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. Jones was safely out of the way. Old Major (so he was always called, though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say.
I found a PDF file of Animal Farm here - 55 pages - you can read it today.
The problem - as Orwell nails it in his 1945 allegory - is that while income redistribution sounds good, it never works because leaders are selfish and corrupt. Once they fool everyone into giving them the power to redistribute wealth, their double standards take over and they become worse tyrants than those they replaced.
With the freedoms we've enjoyed in America, we should all be very wary of turning this much power over to those convinced they are Saviors.
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Comments
Barbara, thank you so much for gathering and posting this info. I'm a busy mom of many and I visit your blog daily. Thank you for taking time from your very busy life to keep other moms informed.
Posted by: Michelle | October 28, 2008 10:55 AM
In the same context, one could say that "Animal Farm" also teaches us that "Maverick Reformers" would turn on us and burden us with the same problems and issues.
I would suggest developing your points to a greater level of detail.
Posted by: JillHarrington | October 28, 2008 1:25 PM
How is getting rid of the Bush tax cuts "redistribution of wealth"?
Posted by: Todd | October 28, 2008 4:18 PM
Sorry, one more thing.
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need"
Sure, it's Marxist. And it's also Christian:
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:44-45)
...
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (Acts 4:34-35)
[Note from Barbara:
Todd - You're comparing apples and oranges. We're talking about the United States political system, which is not held together by a belief in Jesus Christ. Not a small band of believers who are living out their faith and belief through the grace of God. A socialist system is not like Christianity because the government takes by force/power and bureaucrats decide what to do with your money and assets.
If you want to live like the early church, then that is your choice. But it is not up to the government to force a system of redistribution on others.]
Posted by: Todd | October 28, 2008 4:24 PM
Todd... there is a reason why Jesus wasn't a political leader.
Goodness should always be inspired rather than demanded.
Posted by: paigeu | October 29, 2008 12:02 AM
