Socialism is a one-way trip to disaster

A few years ago, I had occasion to examine potential threats to our democracy. The national debt, exportation of wealth and our economic dependence on foreign countries headed my list of concerns.

My list was unchanged until recently. I believe our national march toward socialism is now more of a threat to our future than the debt. I cannot believe than anyone who has taken even a cursory look at world history would suggest we embrace socialistic ideals. At no time in the life of the known universe has it been successful. Yet, we have two leading presidential candidates who proclaim themselves to be socialists, and seem to be proud of it.

Socialism can be made to sound sooo... good. Everyone shares what they have. There is no poverty. The rich donate capital and the workers donate their labor such that everyone benefits. The government ensures the equitable distribution of wealth. Utopia! But it doesn’t work.

The world is populated with normal human beings. Those with resources to invest want a return on their investment. Workers want to be compensated in accordance with their skills and initiative.

Nations who have tried socialism are gradually giving it up. The Soviet Union collapsed. China adopted a form of capitalism and rewards entrepreneurs. Argentina is still trying to hold on to socialism despite defaulting on its debt every 20 years or so.

When governments redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor, the wealthy move away, and the government goes bankrupt. The current situation in Puerto Rico is a textbook example of what can go wrong. Forty years ago, the island began to increase their social welfare programs requiring increased taxes on industry.

As companies moved away, the government borrowed heavily to continue the social programs. They were in danger of default when hurricane Harvey devastated the infrastructure and left them with nothing but outstanding notes. Citizens are on the brink of riot because the government doesn’t have the resources give them what they have been enjoying for the past several years.

I was discussing this with a friend the other day, and he expanded the discussion into politics in general. I try to avoid discussing partisan politics, but my friend, who is even more conservative than I am, wanted an audience, so I listened politely. He said the Republicans need to refine their techniques.

Most Republicans want to roll back social welfare programs all at once in one big push. He sees the only way to recover is through gradualism. Socialism has come upon us like erosion, a little at a time, and must be reversed the same way.

After considerable thought, I concluded my friend was wrong. Social programs cannot be eliminated by consent of the governed. It simply can’t be done. Voters become dependent on government programs.

Over the past few years I have read experts on the economy who say, “The benefits of Social Security far outweigh the cost. Thus, the nay-sayers are proven to be wrong.” I find fault with that logic. Our society was changed by Social Security. I agree that no right-thinking citizen would propose doing away with it now that retirees are dependent on their government checks. But that doesn’t mean it was a good idea in 1935. Our nation would have survived just fine without a government pension system.

Every so often experts predict the trust fund is in danger of going broke. What will happen if they are right? We are drifting toward socialized medicine. It will come as sure as the wind. When it does, we will be dependent on government for our health care, and reversing the decision will be impossible.

Social welfare programs are funded by taking money from those who are successful and spreading it around. As we increase the number and cost of programs, we make it harder and harder for good companies to make a profit.

Profit is not a dirty word. Profit is the source of funds for all government programs. When reasonable profit margins become too difficult, companies either move to a better economic climate or they disappear, taking the government’s money pump with them. Then the whole house of cards comes tumbling down as it did in Argentina, Russia and now in Puerto Rico.

Socialism is a one-way trip to disaster.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 19 years.