A letter from a Socialist
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Color Key: Yellow and Black are the Socialist's writings.
Aqua is mine.
Subject: Comments on your website
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 23:17:37 -0700
From: Name and e-mail address withheld by Bob
To: papillonart@earthlink.netDear Sir,
I stumbled across your website this evening and had a few comments I wanted to share with you. First, let me make clear, I am a socialist. Having said that, I was deeply disturbed by some of the things I found on your page.(Does it take this little to make her deeply disturbed? I give out medications to help ease this condition often in my work.) I understand that politically, you and I will never agree on much of anything at all. Further, I want to make clear that I do not mean any of this as a personal attack on you. On the contrary, some of your comments, such as the following, felt very much like a personal attack on me and the things I believe in. (Nothing personal, for you anyway)
"1. WEBSITES THAT PROMOTE SOCIALIST LIES.
These websites are worth looking at to familiarize yourself with the stilted, difficult to read style the socialists apply to confuse unknowing people."That's a direct quote from your site....and one which I felt was a personal attack against the morality, intellect, and intent of every socialist, myself included. (She hasn't yet read the "Empty Hands" article yet-I can hear her screaming "It ain't true!") It is clear to me that you have very little knowledge about what socialism is or what it is about. (Do I pick up a personal attack on my education?) According to my beliefs, and the beliefs of the other socialists I know (takes one to know one I guess), the former USSR, China and any other totalitarian government you can think of was NOT a socialist state. Eastern Germany claimed to be a socialist state. You know what else? Eastern Germany also claimed to be a democracy. It was neither. Totalitarian governments the world over have perverted the name of Socialism for their own benefit. But the fact remains, a Marxian Socialist State has NEVER existed on this globe. (Au contraire mon ami: Marx himself set up the structure that Lenin followed.)
I take great offense to your reference to our "lies" and our tendency to confuse "unknowing people". (I'd hate to be around when she really gets mad!) I can't imagine what poor experience you have had with a socialist to give you these views but I am sorry for it. (Thanks. I feel better now.) It is my belief that anyone, in whatever political party they may choose, should have all the facts regarding said party in the clearest most concise way possible. Further, I have never willfully lied about the goals and aims of this party, nor has anyone I associate with. (You don't have to-you do it unwillfully.) I do not walk around telling everyone I meet that I am a socialist. (If she'd like I can plant a sign advertising it on her front lawn.) In fact, I only bring it up if someone asks. Any political movement, whatever it is, must come from the will of the people. (Marx didn't think so.) The people must reach that will of their own accord rather than through anyones (not my spelling error-it is hers) propaganda. (This sounds suspiciously like Democracy...shudder the thought...oh my, capitalism!)
"SOCIALISM IS THE COMMON MAN'S NIGHTMARE.
FREEDOM AND CAPITALISM ARE THE COMMON MAN'S MIRACLE.
BOB SCHATAN, MAY 1999."I agree that freedom in (I promise, it's her mistake again-she works for an attorney too!) an important component in any man's (or woman's) happiness. (Let me get this straight. She thinks Socialism promotes freedom? And she thinks it'll make people happier?) But at what price? Freedom would be a splendid thing if we could say that everyone in this great nation had it, but the fact is, they don't. We don't have nearly as much freedom in this country as we think we do and the worst of it is, some people in this country have less freedom than you and I. (Illegal aliens have practically all the rights as U.S. citizens, who is she talking about?) Is this government of ours really "of the people, by the people, for the people"? When taxes are raised do we blame our neighbor? No, we blame "those guys in Washington". Those guys in Washington aren't like us and they don't vote with our best interests in mind. (Conservatives do!) What kind of freedom do we really have? We have the freedom to own private property, right? Sure...unless you own something the government decides it wants...oh, like say the Zapruder tapes (Huh? Did I miss something here? What's this got to do with the subject at hand?) or a stretch of land that would be useful in building a new highway. Oh, but we do have freedom of the press, right? Uh-huh....right. Because the press always presents the unbiased truth with disregard for the political and economic positions of the major conglomerations that owns it. (Her attempt at sarcasm.) Sure. So far we do have freedom to bare (her misspelling) arms. (Use sunblock please, it's getting warm here.) To a certain extent. So far. I'm a gun owner myself. And I don't believe in taking guns away from the masses. (Marx did-he said so!) Why not? Because taking away guns takes away the peoples (no apostrophe) ability to defend themselves against their government and that should never happen. (Noted Socialists in California's left wing dominated congress just passed the very first gun confiscation (making the SKS Sporter rifle illegal as of January) bill in the history of the United States) Sure in a socialist state the individuals wouldn't actually own the guns but what difference does that make as long as you are still allowed to keep them in your home? (Do you understand the logic here? I don't.) Freedom means very little to a lot of people unless you have equality. (She hasn't read the Constitution of the U.S.-we are created equal but after that point you have equality of opportunity. And, another fact is that in reality no one is equal. And life isn't fair. No one is promised equality in everything except Socialists making promises they know are lies) I work in a law office that specializes in Bankruptcy and believe me, I see a lot of people this system has failed...(Do you see the logic of connecting people overspending on credit cards and then being unable to afford the debt and "a failure of "the system?" I don't. This is why the Libertarians' ideas make sense: each person is responsible for themself and the government is not in the business of being a nanny to pick you up if you fall) a lot of people that don't have choices or freedoms...a lot of people who would give their eye teeth to be like you and me.
"IF WE STOPPED IMPORTING THEIR [China] JUNK THAT IS DISPLACING AMERICAN WORKERS CHINA WOULD LOSE ITS LARGEST IMPORTER."
Capitalism is the common man's miracle, eh? It is importing from China that is displacing American worker? I beg to differ. Capitalism itself is displacing the American worker. Capitalism is all about the almighty dollar. It is market driven by supply and demand. Producers of goods and services are, according to Capitalist theory, justified in taking their work to other countries in order to maintain a lower price for the finished product. (She's trying to equate slave workers in China earning NOTHING for their work with any country that is free. Illogical and it also contains a hidden dig at me as if I was unaware of this.) If foreign production plus any shipping and handling costs is still less than the cost of American production the corporation is fully justified in taking their work to that foreign nation. It might be nice for us if they didn't take their work to another country but then again, it might not...we might pay $3.00 for what is currently a .50c bic pen just because it was made with American hands. In the 1980's General Motors cut 150,000 American production jobs even as it added employment abroad. Why? Because the foreign production workers were CHEAPER than Americans. Saztec International, a data processing firm based in Kansas City, pays key-punch operators $2,650.00 a year in Manila. No that was not a typo. The average yearly income in Manila is roughly $1,700.00 so these people have hit a goldmine. But what about the people back in Kansas City who could have been doing this job? Saztec would have had to pay them at least minimum wage (and probably a bit better than that) which works out to over $10,000.00 a year (pre-tax, based on $5.15/hour and 40 hours a week). The company can employ 3 workers in Manila for every one worker in Kansas City. You would be crazy not to take your work to Manila. It is Capitalism that is causing the loss of American jobs to foreign countries. (Not really, we give them all the low skill low wage assembly work, we keep the brains and high wages at home.) And nevermind how bad this is for these foreign countries. (What? Countries around the world are begging for American corporations to move jobs there, it adds immensely to their country's economies.) Remember Bhopal? (Sure I do. But don't forget about the Indian disposal of atomic energy reactor rods after they were expended. They had local poor Indians trundling them down to pits on open stretchers. It killed far more than Bhopal and was never publicized. They did that to themselves.) And more recently, Kathie Lee Gifford's sweat shops? I am sure that you, as a healthcare professional, are aware of the capitalistic, but immoral judgment, of the tabaccoo (her spelling) companies. They knew 40 years ago that cigarettes were unhealthy and in fact dangerous. Did they care? No, because admitting that cigarettes were dangerous would cut into their profit margin and we can't have that. (Let me add some facts to her sloganeering: people who smoke die on average 15 years sooner than non-smokers. Thus they actually use less of the Social Security dollar than a similar population in age. In addition, it said all the things that cigarettes did right on the side of every pack sold. This means that smokers took responsibility for their habits. That is the Libertarian principle: being responsible for their actions and paying for their own mistakes. How about putting a similar warning on every carton of ice cream and on every cone..."This product when consumed causes atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. These products are incompatible with those having allergies to milk, artificial stabilizers, emulsifiers, colors, and flavor enhancers... Think about that and stop thinking of smokers as victims. Socialists like you would take away their freedom of choice based on your own perverted "politically correct" target of the moment.) Capitalism is not about morality it is about money and only money.(What crap! Cavemen who had no concept of money competed to get more food for their offspring. Capitalism is the exact same concept as competition. In the days prior to money the most successful got to pass their genes on to the next generation. The less successful didn't. Morality comes into play with the laws governing fair trade. Fair treatment of the individual-a concept foreign to Marx's thinking-is ensured by the laws of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.)
Have you ever read Adam Smith? Interesting fellow although I quite disagree with him. (Gee, did you write any books describing fundamental economic theory? "I quite disagree" sounds so superior, so snotty) But to the point, Smith is considered the father of modern capitalism (although he would be appalled by what we dare call capitalism) and he assumes that all people are basically good, that given the chance we will all do that which is the morally correct thing to do. (It sounds a lot more realistic than thinking like a paranoid that all people are evil.) I am strong enough in my own convictions to admit that if Smith were correct in his basic assumptions capitalism would be a beautiful thing. (You are a superior being. I bow to your superiority. Let me clean your shoes with my tongue.) Unfortunately, our society has proven over and over again that we are not all basically good and that a large percentage of us are all to (her mistake again) susceptible to the corruption of money. (Oh really. And I thought she worked in a Bankruptcy law office.) And given that fact capitalism doesn't work. (Where DOES she get her facts?) Capitalism is based on Greed, Exploitation, and Competition...everything we try to teach our children NOT to be. An incredible paradox. (I don't know if she has kids. If she does and they learn to believe everything their mom thinks then they will develop irrational fears of the children around them wanting everything they own. This is interesting...doesn't it follow that Marxism says that ownership of things is evil? And exploitation shouldn't be encouraged...God knows [whoops, I typed the "G" word-can't have that either with Marxism] they may want to clear more land to plant more crops-don't want to displace any endangered bacteria. And competition, if she teaches them to be anti-competitive we'll have nothing to worry about, they'll fail at everything because they won't know what to do when kids from foreign countries come to this country, learn English in 4 months flat, then wind up Valedictorians in high school, then go on to own the businesses in a competitive world. They'd tell her kids, sorry, your mom failed to teach you anything but politically correct trash. Now you are stuck with minimum wage jobs because you are a bunch of SHEEP-LIKE SOCIALISTS!!!! BAHHH, BAHHH! BLEET, BLEET!!!)
I know I won't change your mind. That isn't my intent. I simply hope to help you understand that socialists are not evil, lying, propoganda (her spelling again) spewing machines like you seem to believe. To use a tired old politically correct cliche', Socialists are people too. (I disagree. Socialists are sheep who blindly follow the leader and are completely intolerant of FREE THINKING!) I disagree with your political beliefs but I would never dare insult you by calling your (her spelling) a liar and a manipulator of innocent minds. (That's ok. You did a good job anyway.) You see, I believe you simply tell the truth as you see it. And name calling just isn't necessary for me to defend my political beliefs. (That's ok. Your friends do it for you.You should see some of the mail I get.)
Regards~
LNC"...In a few hours, a horse stands, and walks, and runs. Look at one, newborn or full grown, at full gallop, and you have to think---whatever gave us the temerity to make a servant of that?"
--Charles Kuralt, "American Moments"
(The answer: farming. Do I get a prize for FREE THINKING?)