Capitalism Breaks Out in Venezuela
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 7:55PM Why won't communism/socialism die? How many need to be killed? It's already well into the hundreds of millions of direct deaths caused by communism. Yet, still, so many still cling to its philosophies.
Socialism, after all, is just communism-lite. And LOTS of people still believe in socialism. In fact, it could easily be argued, that socialism is by far the most popular form of government on the planet. Every modern country, to one degree or another, is socialist.
Socialists like to think that all they are is really nice people. They think it isn't nice that you have money and don't give it to people who have less money. So they force you to, at the barrel of a gun. Real nice.
But socialists need to be asked, if socialism is so great, why not go all the way and make it so every single person has the same amount of 'wealth' by redistributing all wealth. After all, if doing it half-way is so great, why not go all the way?
Karl Marx, a ne'er do well, believed that a truly utopian society must be classless and stateless. Marx's main idea was simple: Free the lower class from poverty and give the poor a "fighting chance". In order to liberate the lower class, Marx believed that the government would have to control all means of production so that no one could outdo anyone else by making more money.
Yes, we wouldn't want someone to outdo anyone else and make more wealth! Great idea, Karl.
Today there aren't too many outright communist states. The USSR collapsed after trying it out. China nearly did the same and both countries saved themselves by adopting capitalist economies. All that are left now are Cuba and Venezuela.
Below is an amazing news report on "anarchy" having broken out in Caracas, Venezuela in a 45 story highrise building known as the Tower of David. It shows how capitalism can break out even in the heart communism - proof that capitalism, or free markets, is natural. You never see pockets of communism break out in an otherwise free market system!
The tower, constructed in the 1990s, once had grandiose plans. It even had a helicopter pad on the roof to shuttle in bankers and businessmen throughout the day. Construction came to a halt when Hugo Chavez began imposing his twisted communist ideas upon the country.
The tower lacks almost all amenities, yet, a number of homeless people have made it their home and installed all sorts of services. They've jury rigged water and electricity to as high as the 29th floor and smart entrepreneurs operate stores on every floor! There is even a "building coordinator" who helps orient new tenants.
It is a true testament to the power of free markets and the power of the people to organize themselves even in the most dire of circumstances.
Yet, listen to Zulma Bolivar, a "City Planning Official" in the video. She is shocked and outraged that these people have not been expelled from the building. Exasperated, she states, "the Government lets the people go inside without any restriction!"
This is the evil face of communism/socialism. Zulma Bolivar, who is part of the government, wants to evict the people who happily live in the tower. She doesn't know them nor know of what is going on there. She believes that because they are living in "anarchy" (living without government control) that she needs to "save' them by throwing them out of their homes and onto the street.
The really sad part about Communism is that it is such an obviously flawed system yet people keep trying it over and over again. Karl Marx described three necessary steps towards achieving his idea of utopia. Note that the first two steps require violence.
- Phase 1: A revolution must take place in order to overthrow the existing government. Marx emphasized the need for total destruction of the existing system in order to move on to Phase 2.
- Phase 2: A dictator or elite leader (or leaders) must gain absolute control over the proletariat. During this phase, the new government exerts absolute control over the common citizen's personal choices -- including his or her education, religion, employment and even marriage. Collectivization of property and wealth must also take place.
- Phase 3: Achievement of utopia. This phase has never been attained.
That pesky Phase 3 seems to never be achieved. Yet, people like Zulma Bolivar keep trying and trying. And when outbreaks of capitalism and anarchy occur they look at it as something that needs to be squelched immediately.
Socialism/Communism is a social disease and an evil system of violence and coercion. The sooner the world figures this out the sooner we can get on with peace and prosperity.
Reader Comments (4)
Jeff, you have obviously read and understood Marx. To know your enemy is wise, and I think you have done so. Your historical review is pretty solid with one exception I noticed. History is in fact replete with outbreaks of communism in capitalist societies. Generally, capitalist societies have allowed the experiments to run their course, and no real harm has occurred. I'd have to pull out my history books, but among other communist movements, there has certainly been the early Christian Church. There was also a massive outbreak of new world idealistic communities in the early 20th century and if you have a look, you`ll find such movements throughout American history in particular. I'm sure university courses have been taught on the subject, scholars specialize in it, etc.
What does a bunch of homeless people in an asset they don't own in venezuela equate to capitalism? Or was that anarchy? Or do they mean the same thing maybe? Probably doesn't matter any more than the fact that the tower had grandious plans or was that the owner's plans that got canceled?
it is a crying shame that capitalism can't commpete with socialism in the free market. But wipe the tears boys and move on, they are just words that point to some no-existant narrative. Maybe the tooth fairy and some gold will make it all better.
Jeff, The above attribution of "author" is obviously not you. I have followed Chavez's assault on the Venezuelan free markets from the bottom up as a former Crystallex investor. In context, this is a great story, illustrating that there are many things that Chavez can't control. In Venezuela, even the gold in the ground can't be mined, so it doesn't make things "all better" in that unfortunate country. Only the high oil price keeps Chavez afloat, and he's been in trouble each time it dipped.
I still cannot comprehend how so many people missuse the term socialism as if it is a communistic redistribution of wealth with no market incentives or liberties.
Take some of the world's most socialist countries. Northern Europe has more socialism than most, countries like like Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
What has socialism meant there? Are their economies is dissoray? Have people no liberties and have they given up working because they are taxed too much?
No! These countries have some of the worlds lowest levels of unemployment, crime, and poverty, while also boasting high levels of education, infastructure, and civil liberties.
Why? Because here everybody has the same opportunities. Everybody can go to a good school and university afterwards. Everybody has access to healthcare when they need it. If they do not have the means to get by on their own the goverment helps them - they may not get to be middle class, but at least they have food and shelter (which is more than can be said for millions of Americans, many of whom are working but do not get enough money to provide for their families).
And yes. Those who have more pay more. Taxes are higher. But that does not mean there are no wealthy people. There is a large upper middle class in all these countries. There are many millionares and billionares. And their businesses have remained in these countires despite the higher tax rates, because the system gives them skilled, industrious labour, they cannot find elsewhere.
Sociliast coutries does not force everybody to be equal. You can still have nice things and live a life of luxury if that is what you need. Socialism just means everybody has equal rights and opportunites. That no one should be born with privilidges that others cannot achieve with a lifetime of hard work. Can you really tell me that is not fair? That a millionare cannot give up his fifth megamansion so that unprivildged children can go to school and eat.