Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Heinlein and me, and stuff

re: stuff
Tom Brosz — (archived)

Although I know you offered your suggestion that the world already has its examples of left-driven societies in the failed Communist states in earnest, it reaches too far. I could make a similar analogy with right-driven societies and Franco's Spain. The right undermines its cause when it tries to connect the dots between Social Security and the Comintern. Some of those dots are not dots, but freckles. They're organic, and there is no connection to be made.

I see not one bit of difference between Franco and Stalin, except perhaps in degree. Those who distinguish between "leftist" and "rightist" dictatorships are usually doing so for political reasons of their own. The fact that Hitler and Stalin wound up at each others throats is totally irrelevant, and no more puts them at opposite ends of a political spectrum than a Sicilian gang war means that the Mafia participants have important philosophical differences.

It's individualism versus collectivism. Everything else is window dressing.

There is one significant difference between Hitler and Stalin, as far as American society goes. I have yet to see an openly-practicing Nazi in a position of cultural, political, or educational influence in this country. The same, unfortunately, is not true of Marxists.

Social Security is not Marxism. But it is a collectivist concept. It is not voluntary, it redistributes wealth through the government, and it is used primarily to buy power for politicians. Many of those who applaud Social Security would also like to see health care become a government monopoly. And they have other ideas as well. These dots do connect sometimes.

I also think Heinlein's juveniles were some of his best work.

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