Note: I have not actually read the Communist Manifesto, although immediately after listening to this lecture it went on my booklist. I can't wait to read it! :)
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In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx lists 10 socialism-related principles that he wanted to instill in societies across the globe. You might wonder if any of these principles are present in any form in our society - lets take a look.
1. Elimination of the root of all sin (which he believed to be the abolition of all private property rights)
-- He did not want to cause everyone to cease business and industry-related activity, but he wanted the state to have complete control over all businesses and industries. Basically, he wanted the state to control everything, and the people own nothing.
-- The ultimate question is, can the government at any time, on any pretext, seize your property without recourse? If that is the case, then this principle has been fulfilled. Is this true for our country? Yes.
2. Progressive or graduated income taxes
-- In other words, the more you make, the larger percentage of taxes you should pay.
-- We are the freest nation on the face of the earth - and we have adopted this principle.
3. Abolition of family inheritance rights through progressive taxation
-- He wanted the state to be able to control the distribution of the funds from a deceased person's estate - this control would be gained through certain levels of taxation.
-- In the end, the state will control the distribution of wealth from one generation to the next.
-- Do we have inheritance taxes? Do we have arcane rules and tons of paperwork regarding inheritances? You bet. We have adopted this principle as well.
4. Confiscation of rights of rebels and aliens
-- He wanted the state to have the power to impose political penalties on the crimes it deems as repulsive to the state.
-- Example of this in the US: If you are a crack dealer, and you go down to the Metro and deal crack, the first four times, you are likely to spend less than 48 hours in jail. If you just PRAY in front of an abortion clinic and refuse to pay your fine, you can go to jail for four years.
-- There is also a certain suspension of rights of aliens in this country - suspension of Constitutional liberties to those who have been deemed rebels.
-- Therefore, we have, in large measure, adopted this principle.
5. State control of banking and trade
-- Marx wanted the medium, method, and mechanisms of exchange to be governed, regulated, and controlled by the state.
-- In the US, we have rules and regulations regarding how much, when, where, why, and to whom money can be loaned out.
6. State control of transportation and communication
-- He wanted rules and regulations of what you can say, when you can say it, and licenses for transportation and communication. We have these.
7. State control of economic exchanges
-- The very fact that political campaigns today are largely based upon what presidents, congressmen, state representatives, etc, can do for us in the economy tells us how much we've adopted this principle. The president is not supposed to have ANY control over the economy!!!!!!!
8. State control of labor and industry
-- Marx wanted wage and price controls, industrial and labor and management standards. These are exercises of the revolutionary zeal by governments to control the character of the culture.
-- We have adopted this principle as well...
9. Corporatization of agriculture
-- In other words, the government paying farmers to and to not plant certain things, to and to not use certain fields, to regulate the amount of product that goes overseas. This is true of our society.
10. State control of primary and secondary education
-- This means the government having control over the prerogative of the parents to tell the parents what they can and cannot do, what standards they must teach by, what tests they must give... This also includes the exercising of authority to pay for certain schools that you might not even go to. Sound familiar?
-- We have adopted this principle in large amounts as well....
--George Grant
7. State control of economic exchanges
-- The very fact that political campaigns today are largely based upon what presidents, congressmen, state representatives, etc, can do for us in the economy tells us how much we've adopted this principle. The president is not supposed to have ANY control over the economy!!!!!!!
8. State control of labor and industry
-- Marx wanted wage and price controls, industrial and labor and management standards. These are exercises of the revolutionary zeal by governments to control the character of the culture.
-- We have adopted this principle as well...
9. Corporatization of agriculture
-- In other words, the government paying farmers to and to not plant certain things, to and to not use certain fields, to regulate the amount of product that goes overseas. This is true of our society.
10. State control of primary and secondary education
-- This means the government having control over the prerogative of the parents to tell the parents what they can and cannot do, what standards they must teach by, what tests they must give... This also includes the exercising of authority to pay for certain schools that you might not even go to. Sound familiar?
-- We have adopted this principle in large amounts as well....
--George Grant
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