Socialism is a political theory that has failed because it is based on a fundamentally flawed assumption. Socialism is based on the assumption that humans are primarily social animals who will work for the communal good rather then for personal gain. Socialism rejects the fundamental basis of capitalism that an individual will work for their own interests before they contribute to a social interest. Defined by Adam Smith in his founding work, Wealth of Nations, as the invisible hand, capitalism succeeds when individuals decide what is best for them and are dedicated to pursuing an individual goal.
While it is pleasant to think that individuals will sacrifice themselves for the greater good of all, it requires heroism, and most of us are simply not capable or willing to be a hero. Socialism has failed in the past and will fail in the future, because people will work harder for themselves and for goals they personally set; then they will for a State or a community. We value our own goals higher then we value the goals of others.
Examples of the failure of socialism litter the history books. The USSR failed because individuals wanted personal power more then they wanted Russia to be powerful. In China socialism failed because peasants wanted food, consumer goods and children more then they wanted Mao’s socialist utopia. We are watching socialism fail in N. Korea as the leaders of that nation try ever trick in the book to trick their starving masses into hating us more then they hate starving. Sadly the leadership may prefer a nuclear World War to losing power in that nation; and equally sadly our president may also prefer a World War to the failure of his socialist policies like health car and nationalized industries. Our last Socialist President clearly chose a World War to distract the population from his New Deal Socialism.
In short socialism, and it’s extreme version, communism, fails not because they were badly attempted, but because it does not understand humanity. It is time to shelve the failed experiment in the dustbins of failed inquiry. Good try, but not good enough. By the way someone should let AL Gore, AKA fat Boy Gore know that socialism has been deemed a failure. And do not forget to let the UN know, and that we will expect their closure in the very near future now that the reason for their existance has been debunked.
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