Where’s the Historical, Functional Working Model of Socialism?

18 Replies to “Where’s the Historical, Functional Working Model of Socialism?”

1. “nothing more than an unproven theory” – I would stipulate that ALL of the historical evidence categorically proves that the ‘theory’ has never worked at all and indeed is unworkable. Period.

2. It’s obvious why there hasn’t been a single working example of socialism worth bragging about:
   1. They have never had the right person as leader.
   2. The experiment was undercut by capitalists.
   3. Real socialism has never been tried.
   But next time, just watch out.

3. There may be unproven theory, if you insist.
   There on other hand is Mt. Everts size of real life experience of failure, misery, waste, suffering
   And so on and nearly endlessly, so on.

4. Socialists/communists will keep trying over and over again until they “get it right”. Those who suffer for it are considered as either acceptable sacrifices for the cause or insufficiently committed to the revolution, thereby worthy of elimination.
   Lenin, Stalin, and Mao are rejoicing from the beyond at this prospect.

5. I think many socialists are driven by resentment — particularly if they perceive that there are others who are more successful than they are. This makes them want to upset the apple cart. A classic example are university professors. While from the outside they appear to be very privileged and successful people, you would be amazed at the pettiness and backbiting that goes on inside these institutions. To an outsider, these are “smart” people, but once inside the institution they are surrounded by many other “smart” people and they must compete for attention and ego-strokes. Balking at the system is one way to do that. They also balk at the running of their own institutions and resent administrators who need to make these places work in a broader world. In short, they are spoiled and insecure. I think that is what leads them to be bullies and bite the hand that feeds them. I think if you looked at other groups (unionists, teachers) where there are many socialists you would find similar patterns of weakness and resentment motivating them. Young people who support socialism are a different kettle of fish. I think they are just naive — and of course, easily manipulated. They think socialism =’s fairness.

6. “And since there isn’t one, why is the left willing to risk and gamble EVERYTHING on what is nothing more than an unproven theory?”
   Because they all think they are either going to be on the committee and really rake it in like Hugo Chavez daughter, or they think the committee will give them something they don’t have to work for. And somebody else will pick up the tab.

7. My theory is that socialists are not comfortable with any system that lacks rigid top-down controls. The idea of a diverse and free-willed people, each one doing and thinking as they wish, gives them the heebie-jeebies, nor can they comprehend how this might result in a workable economic or social system. No, it’s a proletariat marching together in perfect unison and unity-of-purpose which turns their crank.

8. Having been inside the post-secondary system, particularly as a graduate student, I must agree you as I’ve seen much of it first-hand. It’s filled with pettiness, oneupmanship, and back-stabbing while maintaining a thin veneer of civility and respect to the outside world.
   The main reason for this appears to be the prospect of tenure and its perceived image of a job for life. Once granted, there’s the striving for promotion through the hierarchy. Being department head looks mighty impressive on one’s CV, but why stop there when one could, with a bit more effort, become dean or even a member of the university’s senior administration.
   But, as Henry Kissinger described it, academic politics are so vicious because the stakes are so small.

9. It depends on how you define “working”.

10. The only example that comes close to a functioning socialism are Hutterite colonies which are held together with a strongly religious glue. There is likely a small upper limit to how large they could grow before failing. I doubt that Marx is mentioned or emulated in any way in their culture.

11. LindaL said…” on what is nothing more than an unproven theory?”
    I hate to disagree,however it IS a proven theory. Of complete failure, down grading of human rights,economy,security,etc. Have the millennials,Gen X,SJW’s, etc forgotten the USSR,Cambodia,China,Turkey,and others so easily? Opps. My bad. They have not been taught the failures of socialism,communism,despots, and tyrants. I actually am glad that when the shIIte hits fan in 50 years, I won’t be around to witness it. I would say God help our kids and grandchildren,however,God is illegal know.

12. You missed out reason 4: They ran out of other people’s money.

13. Yes, close, but none are perfect, and they don’t believe in socialism. As you said they do it because they believe it’s how God wants them to live as a community (and because many are scared to try anything else.)
    They agree with you about a size limit, that’s why they split off new colonies when they grow too big.

14. “why is the left willing to risk and gamble EVERYTHING on what is nothing more than an unproven theory?”
    Because they’re using your money. If it doesn’t work out, they don’t lose anything. Leftists never gamble their own money, nor donate it to their causes either.

15. “why is the left willing to risk and gamble EVERYTHING on what is nothing more than an unproven theory?”
    Because they’re using your money.

16. Of course communism and socialism work. Everyone is poor, nothing of any great consequence is created, religion and free thought are suppressed, a handful of people have power over every aspect of others’ lives. It works as Marx et al meant it to.
    All it takes is for values like Judeo-Christian ones, merit, hard work and individuality to be gotten rid of. What is left is regression.

17. Why is the left willing to risk and gamble EVERYTHING on what is nothing more than an unproven theory?
    Because they want the power to push everyone else around. They don’t care about the reality that it doesn’t work.

18. The leftards like Bernie Sanders will claim that socialism works in Sweden or Denmark. But those countries’ productive sectors are primarily capitalist (and moreso than the USA). They do have high transfer payments, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to continue it as a workable policy. They have gotten away with it for a small time because their populations are small and more culturally homogeneous. Their recent experiments with mass muslim immigration will likely end that.