Maggie's FarmWe are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for. |
Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page
Categories
QuicksearchLinks
Blog Administration |
Monday, July 11. 2022Options in LifeI would like to say I'm sorry for disappearing for so long. Not that I'm essential to the inner workings of Maggie's, but I've seen a few people (specifically Doc Mercury, who pulled me in) simply vanish. I'd prefer to not just disappear. But it's been a strange time for me the past 7 months. I'll share more on that at another time. I am writing specifically because I finished the podcast "Revolutions" which, frankly, is worth the time and effort if you have it. I listened on the train every morning and evening - and then at the gym when there was no train. As it turns out the most interesting revolutions were the French and Russian. Which were also the longest portions, by far. So it's always fun to hear someone say "I'm a trained Marxist." Because Marx left no blueprints. Unlike most other economic systems, which follow some basic laws or guidelines, Marxism has none and never did. It was just an ideal propped up by bland sayings which pulled at heartstrings, morality, and a general feeling of what is "fair" and "just". I like to say that "fair" means different things to different people. There is no "fair". "Fair" is what a 5 year old says when it wants what it wants. "It's not fair." The sad part is, even as Leftists push for "fair" they are the first to invoke "life isn't fair" as they destroy people along the way. Ironic, and sad. But Eric Hoffer was wise to all that...
Posted by Bulldog
in History, Quotidian Quotable Quote (QQQ)
at
11:27
| Comments (25)
| Trackbacks (0)
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
Socialism, communism and fascism are all variations of Marxism. Fascism has been redefined in an attempt to label it "right wing" but it is in fact hard left socialism plain and simple. Both Fascism and socialism are merely precursors to communism. Communism is the goal of Marxism; total control of everything by the state. Most socialists today would deny this and that is because they are simply useful idiots used by Marxists to help them push a country into a socialist and then communist government. Once communism is achieved the useful idiots are not needed and they are rounded up and killed.
The entire Democrat party has been taken over by communists. Yes, most think and act like socialist but they are either full on communists or useful idiots. Most of them got to where they are by simply using their position of power to become rich. But as the communist took over they found that to stay in power and become richer they had to toe the line and support ever more communist dictates. But that is what left wing politicians do: go along with the power structure in order to reap the benefits, so they willingly sold their souls. You have to wonder if any Democrat congress people ever have second thoughts about their choices. But that would mean that they actually thought at all. But this is where we find ourselves. On the precipice of a great depression, inflation, numerous economic bubbles bursting, shortages of everything, incompetence in government AND the very real possibility of war. This is all about to get real. The "Revolutions" podcast is top notch. One thing Tim Duncan makes clear is that weak leadership and fiscal irresponsibility are precursors to revolution. Then, if the revolution doesn't install a dictator, the future counter-revolution will.
I would surely agree that fiscal excesses trip revolutions. Most date the enlightenment from the early 1700s. For the US I would make that 1720, the collapse of the South Sea Bubble which occurred in British finance. It lasted for nearly 65 years which ended in the American Revolution and our separation from Britian.
For France it was the Mississippi bubble which occurred around 1719-20 and involved the infamous John Law. Again that depression, like the South Sea Bubble drug on for years and likely precipitated the French revolution. I think the difference between them was that the Americans focused much less on punishing religious belief and more on separating themselves from vindictive British rule. The French not only focused on French rule but also severely punished French religious belief killing thousands of Vendees and basically sacking the Catholic church. not too far off-topic, I hope...
It occurs to me that we don't do "revolutions" here in USA: we do "awakenings." Joseph Bottum and Joshua Mitchell are current commentators. I'll check out the podcast. I've been interested in Napoleon lately and have listened and watched everything I can found about him and the revolution. I haven't taken the time yet to come up with a reading list for it, just getting an understanding of the basics. Podcasts and TV shows are good for that.
Paul Johnson has a very good short biography that was part of a series(it isn't kind to Napoleon), Paul Roberts recently came out with bigger version which I think is more favorable, haven't read it but he is a good writer. Of course there are are some good youtube videos including a LindyBeige one about his worst enemy, a British general or admiral, very entertaining.
I see some of you have read Hoffer, a very insightful thinker on understanding how people are attracted to this dead-end ideology with such moral certitude. I would also recommend - The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hanah Arendt. Also, On Revolution. In both books she brings a unique perspective and draws many profound insights to periods of serious civil unrest. Also, any book on the Spanish Civil War is instructive. Neighbors killed neighbors. How a society ever recovers from that experience is hard to fathom.
"Neighbors killed neighbors. How a society ever recovers from that experience is hard to fathom." And yet we managed to recover.
This revolution must return America's government to a more human scale.
The genius of Western civilization is its scale. It kept society and government accessible, in theory, to anyone with the literacy and god-given compunction to petition it. Communist governments jettison scale for efficacy, and therein lies their oppression. Corporate fascism similarly steamrolls individual or provincial tastes in favor the grand, bland, one-size-fits-all marketing approach. It's cheaper that way: a similar inhuman scale that results inevitably in inhuman results. The American Constitution demands a scaled government responsive to its citizens. In this, it is the only (?) bulwark against the imposition of foreign structures grossly out of proportion to the human clay they pretend to govern. Welcome Back, Bulldog. I'll have to check this podcast out - who is the lecturer / speaker, please? Cheers...
Mike Duncan. I'd recommend the British History Podcast by Jamie Jeffers, as well.
Mike Duncan did Revolutions and A History of Rome - also top notch. In a graduate-level history class, one student stated, "Well, I'm a Marxist, so I see everything from a Marxist view point." I thought, "Damn, dude. Why confine your mind?" I doubt he could have defined Marxism if his grade depended on it. That was in a university in Texas, so I doubt he went anywhere with his Marxism.
I studied Master's Economics at The New School. I wanted a view of the Left from the inside. Interestingly, it was the late 80's, early 90's and most Marxists had shifted significantly to be more moderate, if not downright capitalist. Heilbroner, one of my mentors, actually said "Capitalism has won."
That said, there were still plenty of Marxists. And they work within a very confined and bizarre mind-space. They are literally incapable of understanding human nature, and have no interest in it. They are more concerned with what they want and the power to get what they want. That is it - literally. Nothing more. Marxists are about power. If you try to convince them otherwise, you'll be part of their problem rather than anything else. They don't really care about the poor and disenfranchised. To them, those people are just what are now known as "useful idiots" to help them on their path to power. BD: Yes, power. And we must always remember the ruthlessness with which Marxists retain power. Russia, China, North Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba -- none has shared power, but all show no hesitation in removing opponents by whatever means necessary.
I think it's pretty fair to say that Marxists are unable to thrive unless they are comfortably surrounded by a Capitalist society, and the more naive, the better.
I am guessing this one by Tim Duncan, the “History of Rome” podcaster
https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/revolutions_podcast/ I appreciate hearing about this podcast.
Victor Davis Hansen has an outstanding podcast as well. Bull Dog and I have been at odds on a few things over the last 20 years. Not many. I am glad to see he is still here and still engaged.
Really? The only person I can ever think of being at odds with is someone I prefer to ignore. As commenters go, that person is more annoying and more poorly informed (though seems to think otherwise) than anyone else I've met online or in life.
That said, I don't remember ever being at odds with you - but even if we were, I'm sure it was respectful and enlightening. Unlike the other person who is just a boorish tool. Thank you. It means a lot after all these years. I am so glad we never really were "at odds"!
I agree the entire Revolutions series is excellent (although I admit to skipping the Mexican so I could get to Russia, but I do plan to go back. The biggest surprise to me though was Haiti - I didn't think I'd be interested at all, but found it fascinating.
Agreed. I found the Mexican Revolution (which was really his primary interest) a bit plodding. I did learn a lot during it - mostly that almost all Revolutions suffer from the same problems of people just wanting power...and the consequences of this desire. But also that a lot has to do with cultural differentiation, too (which was VERY apparent in the Russian series).
Overall I agree, the Haitian Revolution was a huge surprise AND explains a lot about why Haiti is such a disaster overall. Mainly French mismanagement and abuse (even after they gained their 'freedom'). I also happened to be training a young Haitian woman while I was listening, so I got a firsthand POV at lunches when I'd share what I learned. Her father left 20 years ago, he was a mid level bureaucrat that was forced out. Sad story, really. Thanks for the post; I'll take another look at Katkov; "The trial of Bukharin" I now say I'm conservative because there is too much to do.
|