Maggie's Farm

About 5 years ago there was a Political QQQ posted.  Today I'll post another by the same person.

 "How can an act done under compulsion have any moral element in it, seeing that what is moral is the free act of an intelligent being?" ~Auberon Herbert

I recently was in a heated debate with someone who called volunteerism a "Republican guilt complex", stating that government directed welfare was better and anything done voluntarily would never live up to overall needs as effectively.

I disagreed.  I believe compelling people to do something doesn't make them good.  Furthermore, it opens the door to corruption, destruction, and destitution.  Politicians view the money collected as 'theirs' and they will do as they please with it.  But you get to feel good.  You 'did' something, right? 

I 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.  

There was a lot to consume, but it did leave me with many thoughts.  Not the least of which is that the U.S. is bordering on its own French Revolution, of sorts.  The Woke/Cancel/BLM/CRT crowd are aligned in one thing.  Eliminating what they view as injustice and privilege - which is, in essence, the elimination of liberty.

Mikhail Bakunin:
"Liberty, without socialism, is privilege and injustice. But socialism without liberty is slavery and brutality."

The founders of Marxist revolutions were acutely aware that Socialism/Marxism was unworkable. Even Bakunin knew it - though he couched his 'reality' by saying it "might" work with liberty.
The problem is, of course, socialism cannot work with liberty. It's unworkable. Once people can do as they please, the system reverts to a mad form of crony capitalism - basically fascism. If you're not doing what the government wants, what's the point? In a weird way, fascism IS socialism "with" liberty...

And there's the rub. While I do not believe liberty is privilege and injustice (far from it, I do believe liberty is whatever you want it to be and if you fall into the realm of permanent victimhood, then so be it. Don't blame the system, blame your world view and yourself), I understand the nature and value of how a system of liberty makes things better for everyone. Even if some privilege and some injustice sneak in. Because the alternatives are, frankly, far, far worse.

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...