Bernie Sanders And Socialism aka: Legal Plunder

Socialism ~ A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

“If you look at the issues — you don’t have to worry about the word ‘socialist’ — just look at what I’m talking about. If you go out and ask the American people: Is it right that the middle class continues to disappear while there has been a massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top one-tenth of 1 percent? Trillions of dollars in the last 30 years have flowed from the middle class to the top one-tenth of 1 percent. And the American people say, ‘No, that’s not right.’ And if you ask the American people: Do you think it’s right that despite an explosion of technology and an increase in worker productivity, the average worker is working longer hours for low wages? They say no. And what the American people are saying pretty loudly and clearly is they want an economy that works for ordinary Americans. For working people. Not an economy where almost all of the income and all of the wealth is going to the top 1 percent. That’s what we have now.” ~ Bernie Sanders in the Des Moines  2016 Register Newspaper

As the self ascribed "Democratic Socialist" Bernie Sanders continues to rise among Democrats giving Hillary Clinton all that she can handle, I thought it important to speak out on the political theory that Mr. Sanders actually embraces and explain how his democratic socialism, by nature, is one of the most problematic political philosophies in America today. In a sense Sanders claims to be an FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) restorationist, even hailing Roosevelt as the ultimate Democratic Socialist, but there is something more ominous about socialism that the American public needs to know, that Sanders certainly isn't volunteering.

[PLEASE excuse the previous paragraph (which has been corrected) as it was hijacked to reflect support for Sander's socialism, but we DECRY socialism, especially the political socialism and servitude that Sanders endorses]

To some that have never really examined the issue, it all seems like a distinction without a difference. Then, unfortunately, due to the initial lure of socialism's promise to right economic and political wrongs, and level the playing field of life, many Black people, by means of civil rights which FDR embraced, have been sold a bill of goods on socialism, and have never been told why what they have been fed is so dangerous and illusive.

Socialism looks appealing. Everyone that does not have, certainly wants to have. Those at the bottom always look up and see them at the top achieving, seemingly effortlessly. However, what happens when you achieve or arrive at the top? Under a free system, one can go from rags to riches without being encumbered and at any level pursue happiness as one wishes. In fact, in a free society, happiness or achievement is not judged by material achievement only. One can be poor, as the poor are assessed, and still yet be happy. However, under socialism, individual success is based on the status quo, or the comparison between what one has or possesses as compared to what others have or posses. Whether one is ready for achievement or not, under socialism all must be "equal", and all must have the same, and those at the top are considered to be "evil" because they have gotten or received more than their "fair" share of gain. The term "fair" is defined by some mythical "community" idea of what fairness is and is altogether subjective and could change any moment in time. eg: what may be "fair" today may be a "crime" tomorrow under the right or wrong circumstances.  

Under socialism steps are taken, normally through law, to hamper excessive achievement, and redistribute individual achievements to all members of the group, as to eliminate classes and overbearing special interests. Though this sounds alluring, especially to them who have either underachieved, or to them who are furiously working to achieve, ultimately the collective, as opposed to the individual, defines its own standards of achievement and social norms. The individual voice is muted. One may be free to speak, but the ideas go nowhere and are not welcome when they are contrary to collective views.

Economically, socialism creates the ultimate glass ceiling, in that one can never be independently wealthy or successful without looking over the shoulder for the impending legal take (aka: Legal Plunder) in one form or another. 

In short, taking from someone else, what has not been otherwise earned, and redistributing what has been earned to those who have not contributed to what has been earned, is not only the ultimate form of indentured servanthood and enslavement, but has never proven itself to be a good idea over the long run either philosophically, socially or materially.  

The intent of saying any of this is not to bash the character of individuals who believe in socialism or what the late French Economist and author Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) coined as "Legal Plunder". As he pointed out in his day, good people can have very troubling philosophical and political views. 

The aim is to sound the alarm, and warn America that socialism may sound nice, and have its allure, but in the end is a very bad philosophy and political theory if people are convinced that Life (individuality), Liberty and Property proceed from God, and that they precede all human legislation and are superior to it. (Pg. 1) Which is a concept that all free societies hold in esteem above other philosophical beliefs. 

The Law & Socialism

Political theory and law is the primary instrument of socialism. This is why I believe it is such an issue of importance when it comes to a Presidency. Without political power socialism has little ability to do anything on its own. Just think of it...Someone is waiting for you to take your pay check against your will at payday. Now the IRS and State(for those subject to State Income Tax) does this without your approval. eg: it is "legal" for them to do, because it is the law.

However, if someone was waiting for you to receive your check, they then take it from you, give you a lesser amount of it so that everyone, including people you don't know, can have the same amount...No matter how you have worked, everyone is redistributed the same amount; in most circumstances you and I would call that unfair, illegal and pretty much robbery, especially if the paycheck was more than what you ultimately received. However, those that did not labor but yet received, would find it an incentive to do nothing, if the result is the same. To keep anyone from uprising or to keep society from overturning under this type of action, law must be set in place to make people humble and control themselves, such as the law of the IRS and State. So socialism must use legal means in order to be effective. The tenets of socialism must be written into the law.  So then the force of socialism,is the law itself. 

"But it is upon the law that socialism itself relies. Socialists desire to practice legal plunder, not illegal plunder.Socialists, like all other monopolists, desire to make the law their own weapon. And when once the law is on the side of socialism, how can it be used against socialism? For when plunder is abetted by the law, it does not fear your courts, your police and your prisons. To prevent this you would exclude socialism from entering into the making of laws? You would prevent socialists from entering the Legislative Palace? You shall not succeed, I predict, so long as legal plunder continues to be the main business of the legislature. It is illogical-in fact, absurd- to assume otherwise."  ~ Bastiat, Frederic(1801 -1850)  "The Law, The Classic Blueprint for a free society" [2014 - FEE (Foundation For Economic Education) ISBN 978-0-89803-175-1] Pg. 16

Clearly socialism has not changed since the 1800's. Its aim is the same. It provides an appeal to all men that pursue Life, Liberty and that posses property. Going up, is not the problem. The problem is what happens along the way and what happens when achievement is made.   

"The law can be an instrument of equalization only as it takes from some persons and gives to other persons. When the law does this, it is an instrument of plunder"  ~Bastiat, Frederic(1801 -1850)  "The Law, The Classic Blueprint for a free society" [2014 - FEE (Foundation For Economic Education) ISBN 978-0-89803-175-1] Pg. 23

Current analysts continue to say that a Bernie Sanders tax plan would not only lead to an income decrease for every American across the board, but also a tax increase and an overall less productive America in GDP. Here is what the analysts warn about the implications of a Sanders socialist policy:

• Senator Sanders’s plan would raise tax revenue by $13.6 trillion over the next decade on a static basis. However, the plan would end up collecting $9.8 trillion over the next decade when accounting for decreased economic output in the long run.
• A majority of the revenue raised by the Sanders plan would come from a new 6.2% employer-side payroll tax, a new 2.2% broad-based income tax, and the elimination of tax expenditures relating to healthcare.
• According to the Tax Foundation’s Taxes and Growth Model, the plan would significantly increase marginal tax rates and the cost of capital, which would lead to 9.5% lower GDP over the long term.
• On a static basis, the plan would lead to 10.56% lower after-tax income for all taxpayers and 17.91% lower after-tax income for the top 1%. When accounting for reduced GDP, after-tax incomes of all taxpayers would fall by at least 12.84%.
  Forbes Opinion 2/2016

This is not an endorsement for Hillary. Believe me she certainly has her issues as I have addressed HERE on this blog. However, a Sanders Presidency is nothing that I would want to be under in the United States either. 

We are left with the thought then, are we on a slippery slope to socialism as a nation? Are we that out of tune with values of freedom and a free society until we can't distinguish the trap from the cheese luring us in? 

All I know is that when I achieve by means of my own labor and effort, I will not allow anyone telling me that I owe them anything! Jesus instructed me to live so that I owe no man anything but love (Rom. 13:8). Under a socialist presidency, we will always be indebted to the state or somebody as they believe that the government distributes liberty, happiness, property and in many cases even life itself.

There are certainly injustices that exist in a free society. However, as they say I would rather have the unequal bliss and happiness of freedom than the equal sharing of misery.

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. ~Winston Churchill

Blessed!