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The Problem with Socialism

Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 9 months ago to Books
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From the publisher:
What’s the Problem with Socialism? Let’s start with…everything. So says bestselling author and professor of economics Thomas J. DiLorenzo, who sets the record straight in this concise and lively primer on an economic theory that’s gaining popularity—with help from Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders—despite its universal failure as an economic model and its truly horrific record on human rights. In sixteen eye-opening chapters, DiLorenzo reveals how socialism inevitably makes inequality worse, why socialism was behind the worst government-sponsored mass murders in history, the myth of “successful” Scandinavian socialism; how socialism is worse—far worse—for the environment than capitalism, and more. As DiLorenzo shows, and history proves, socialism is the answer only if you want increasing unemployment and poverty, stifling bureaucracy if not outright political tyranny, catastrophic environmental pollution, rotten schools, and so many social ills that it takes a book like this to cover just the big ones. Provocative, timely, essential reading, Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s The Problem with Socialism is an instant classic comparable to Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson.

Thomas DiLorenzo is professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland and a member of the senior faculty of the Mises Institute. He is the author of The Real Lincoln; How Capitalism Saved America; Lincoln Unmasked; Hamilton’s Curse; Organized Crime: The Unvarnished Truth About Government; and The Problem with Socialism.


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  • Posted by 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    And until the socialists do run out of money to steal, they loot from producers, pervert the thinking of would be producers, destroy free markets, and steal the freedom of innocent people. The damage starts long before the fake money created from nothing runs out.
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    Posted by $ AJAshinoff 8 years, 9 months ago
    In a nutshell...

    "“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
    - Margaret Thatcher
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 9 months ago
    I was on a train in a Scandinavian country earlier this year, and I saw the flipping KKK. They call them neo-Nazi's, but they wear white outfits and all that. I asked my colleagues what that's all about. They said they recognize there's only so much money for benefits to go around, and they can't let in but so many people. As an American, I imagine all the Google's and Facebooks people might create, and I see unlimited potential. These nice progressive people are rationing a fixed pie. Seeing those white hoods from the train gave me a visceral reaction: This is socialism. This is Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. My colleagues there are good well-meaning people, but I want no part of socialism.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes OUC both for sure. In my mind I believe they have a flawed pineal gland possibly creating a human without integrity ,without a conscience.
    Most are deviant and I feel evil. They are like puppets manipulated from the shadows.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I certainly read it from one of your posts the first time exposed to it . The dictionary said it meant govt by the worst or least qualified. I have to say it is descriptive of our current looters.
    I would add no conscience .
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  • Posted by MinorLiberator 8 years, 9 months ago
    I don't really object to any of the comments so far. All capture some aspect of the problems with Socialism. But I think the fundamental issue was raised by Mises in 1932 in his in depth analysis of Socialism in his treatise of the same name. That problem being the impossibility of economic calculation under Socialism, due to its rejection of a free-market price system. There is simply no other way to allocate scarce resources to consumers needs by any other means, and the result is always disaster and poverty. His thesis became the issue of the day for academic Socialists, and they never succeeded in proving his thesis wrong. While Socialist ideas are still around as powerful political ideas, "scientific" Socialism as an economic theory died with Mises argument, and any attempt to implement Socialism must and has always failed just as he predicted.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years, 9 months ago
    The problem with socialism and all the other isms is those in charge, those that rule and make the rules, are not engaged in the system. They hold themselves above it, almost in spite of it as the "favored class"; otherwise it wouldn't exist.
    The same but differently can be said about Capitalism, (the crony kind)...Our rulers are of the favored class, not part of the system but if they were...their would be no need for big government.
    Just the opposite of the thoughtlessness of Marx, Stalin or the Fabian Socialist.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 9 months ago
    He left out lying, I know the article is a bit of his book. When politicians can freely lie and are not responsible for the words they say, the lazy ass uneducated socialist supporters cling to the false life lines thrown to them. When the promises don't come through and the blame conveniently gets put on to the opposing sect.
    Taking away individual freedom is the result.
    To the RINO's thanks for nothing!!!
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