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BERNIE SANDERS AND DEMS: Are In Love With Socialism – Except It Never Works

If Bernie Sanders is not a quasi Fabian-Socialist (de facto Communist) – then no one is.  See for yourself by watching his recent interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
 
Sanders wants a federal government that will take control of every aspect of American life, right down to paid babysitting after childbirth.  He wants the federal government to undermine America’s Free-Market System – the American-Spirit – the American-Way – that has made our nation the most prosperous in world history. 
 
He fails to recognize the importance of America’s competitive, free market system, free economic investment, entrepreneurialism, the work ethic, individual initiative, personal responsibility, equality of opportunity versus equality of result, etc. – or any of the other qualities that have made America exceptional. 
 
But even more disturbing than an old man with all of these de facto Marxist/Fabian-Socialist/quasi-Communist ideas, is the number of Democrats who support his antiquated, out-of-date ideology – which has been proven ineffective throughout the world, over the past 150 years.  In fact, most of the failed de facto Marxist/Fabian-Socialist/quasi-Communist nations – in Russia, China, Eastern Europe, South and Central America – have been shifting to competitive, free-market systems.

In his desire to help the poor and less fortunate, it is unfortunate that Sanders rarely emphasizes the primary cause of poverty, i.e., the lack of productivity of poor people in our free market, free trade, competitive, constitutional, law-and-order economy.
 
Sander’s emphasis is almost always on the redistribution of wealth from those who earned it and own it – to those who didn’t.  He’s even proposed a maximum tax rate of 90%! 
 
Needless-to-say, a societal (tax-payer-provided) safety net for those who cannot provide for themselves is necessary and justifiable.  However, long term government handouts to able bodied citizens is a mistake that only encourages sloth and the loss of self esteem. Happiness results from earned achievement, not government handouts.       
 
The prosperity of a nation and its people comes from work, entrepreneurial effort, investment, specialization, trade, law-and-order, personal property rights, honest government, proper use of time, etc.  The United States has achieved the highest standard of living for the greatest number by deploying these factors – by its development of the American-Way.
 
When necessary, government entitlements for the poor have only a short-term, positive effect – and, in fact, over time they enhance strategic poverty by encouraging dependency and sloth.

When government taxes workers – and pays non-workers– we will get more non-workers.  We now have 22 million underemployed workers. Government policy should make the poor, rich – not the rich, poor!
 
The ongoing prosperity of a nation is dependent upon the growth of its gross domestic product, i.e., the collective productivity of its people.  Government entitlements generate just the opposite by underwriting sloth and government dependency.
 
While it is understandable that most people fully understand these fundamental laws of economics – these cause-and-effect relationships – it is discouraging when highly intelligent leaders fail to rise above the parochial understanding of the fundamental causes of poverty and prosperity.
 
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and their fellow Democrats often speak in disparaging terms about businessmen/women and their profit motive.  They say businesses should be focused on job creation for the poor.  Frankly, that’s the wrong focus.  Businesses should focus on serving the needs, wants, and expectations of customers and clients  – at a profit (surplus for “non-profits”).  Without profit and/or surplus, the funds are not available to foster growth, entrepreneurialism, jobs and strategic prosperity.       
 
For a clear understanding of its causes and effects, read “The Poverty of Nations – A Sustainable Solution”by Dr. Wayne Grudem and Dr. Barry Asmus.  In plain understandable English they explain the economic, sociological, political, Biblical, and leadership factors that account for poverty and prosperity – and that have a strategic positive effect in our country and throughout the world.

Share if you think Bernie Sanders and other Democrats have it all wrong on Socialism.

William Pauwels

William A. Pauwels, Sr. was born in Jackson Michigan to a Belgian, immigrant, entrepreneurial family. Bill is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and served in executive and/or leadership positions at Thomson Industries, Inc., Dow Corning, Loctite and Sherwin-Williams. He is currently CIO of Pauwels Private Investment Practice. He's been commenting on matters political/economic/philosophical since 1980.

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