[CS-FSLUG] Linux Is Capitalism in Action

[Alan Trick]

On Sat, 2006-05-20 at 13:03 -0700, Chris Brault wrote:
> Interesting,
> 
> > Where socialism went wrong is that it tried to impose Righteous Thinking 
> > on people, but still allowed for abusers to take over.  I still believe 
> > socialism is the most close system to Christianity, except that it does 
> > not work.
> 
> The problem with socialism, as I've heard from Swedish people who moved 
> to America, is that:
> 
> 1) Socialism does not reward hard with "getting ahead", rather it 
> rewards hard work with greater taxes for those who do not work (imposing 
> Righteous Thinking).  Since these people are not volunteering to help 
> nor are they getting a choice in who is helped, this does not reflect 
> Christian thinking but rather is a form of exploitation.

The problem with capitalism is that it does. Our modern capitalistic
society is the only civilized group to approve of usury. Not only that,
but it is one the fundamental realities in a capitalistic system.

> 
> 2) This type of thinking leads to the inevitable conclusion that not 
> working is easier than working.  If you'll always have your needs met 
> whether you work or not, and hard work won't get you ahead, the 
> inevitable question is, "why bother working?"

I could just as easily say that life leads to the inevitable conclusion
that not living is easier than living. Once your dead you won't have any
needs at all!

My point is that the problem here is not social, but spiritual. Neither
capitalism will (or can) offer a proper solution to the problem.

> 3) Thus socialism dies not motivate people to work harder but instead to 
> either move somewhere else where taxes are lower (say Finland) or else 
> work only as much as necessary to get by.
> 
> 4) Socialism breeds an oppressive tax system which in turn produces 
> people "dependent" on "mother" government to take care of them.

Nice use of rhetoric. The chief difference between a socialistic and a
capitalistic society is that in socialism the government controls the
people, and in capitalism it is the corporations. At least the
government is subject to some level of public scrutiny, while most
corporations would be categorized as either a despotism or an oligarchy.

> 5) This system relies totally on workers. Everyone who can must work! 
> Men and women regardless of marital status or how many children they 
> have must be working and paying taxes (stay at home moms are frowned up 
> by the government so much that they've imposed penalties for people who 
> choose to do so).

I really don't see how this is much different than capitalism. Different
implementations maybe, but same result.

> 6) A country like Sweden can not absorb unskilled immigrants without a 
> cost to everyone.  They tax the system without giving back the same.  As 
> we all know, socialism can not deal with an overabundance of poor people 
> without collapsing.  Thus socialist governments must control their 
> people to a great extent, influencing and propagandizing them to think 
> the "socialist way"; otherwise, their form of government would devolve 
> into Mexican-style chaos. And since immigrants haven't been brainwashed 
> into socialist thinking ... well ... you know all about France.

And the US is different! Cultural confrontation is not a uniquely
socialist problem. The reason the US doesn't have this problem is that
the country has a bad habit of fighting wars, which makes the people
abnormally patriotic; and their geographic remoteness from North Africa.

> When it comes to open source, this type of government must be a 
> blessing. You have educated people who have time to spend on free projects.
> 
> I also suppose that those who really do need help do get it (mainly the 
> poor).
> 
> Of course, in the end, Christianity support a Theocracy with Jesus as 
> king and a social system where neighbors help neighbors and Christians 
> are in charge. I don't see that form of government on earth.

"My kingdom is not of this world"